Letter to Parents: Further COVID measures specific to the holiday season

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As you may be aware, Premier François Legault held a press conference yesterday afternoon, during which he outlined further COVID-19 measures specific to the holiday season. While the measures announced on November 19th pertaining to secondary schools, adult education and vocational education centres remain unchanged, there are some changes at the preschool and elementary level. For the sake of clarity, I am providing a summary of all measures which are now in effect as per the government directive:

For Students in Preschool and Elementary Schools:

• Preschool and elementary students will not attend classes at school between December 17th and January 10th (note that this is a change, as originally the date has moved from January 3rd to January 10th) inclusively
• For classes scheduled during the period from December 17th to December 23RD , and January 4th to January 8th inclusively, students will be expected to work from home; teachers will maintain daily communication with their individual students during this period
• Scheduled PD Days are maintained
• All preschool and elementary students will return to school on Monday, January 11th

For Students in Secondary Schools:

• Students will not attend classes in school between December 17th and January 10th
• Educational services will be offered to students in grades 7-11 through distance learning, according to the students’ regular timetable
• Scheduled PD Days are maintained
• All secondary students will return to school on Monday, January 11th
• Note that secondary schools in government-designated red zones will continue to rotate students in grades 9- 11 (in school one day/learn from home the following day); this measure will remain in place until the government issues a revised directive. Individual schools will communicate with their respective communities upon return in January

For Students in Vocational Training and Adult Education Centres:

• During the period of December 17 and January 10 inclusively, students will not attend on site.
• For days within this period where students were scheduled to be on site as per centre calendar, distance learning will be offered when possible. No students can be present for labs or workshops.
• Local evaluation can be done at a distance.
• Practicums may continue as scheduled.
• For students who cannot continue their studies at a distance, centres will prepare review work or enrichment activities for students. Telephone communication with students can also be undertaken.

For Students who are Registered in the Western Québec Online Academy:

• Classes will continue to run as originally scheduled, according to the WQOA
• Calendar January 4th remains a PD Day, therefore there are no scheduled classes for students

Reporting COVID-19 Cases to Individual Schools:

• During the period of December 21st to January 8th, a parent who has a child who receives a positive test result for COVID-19, is not required to advise the child’s school
• During the above-listed period, Santé Publique will notify the WQSB Director General of any WQSB students who receive a positive result for COVID-19

Emergency Daycare:

• Emergency daycare will continue to be provided for the children of government-deemed essential workers
• For additional information regarding Emergency Daycare, please consult the list of jobs qualifying for the emergency childcare service onto the governmental website.

On behalf of Director General Mike Dubeau and the entire Western Québec School Board staff, I wish you a safe, healthy, happy holiday!

Sincerely,

George Singfield
Secretary General and Director of Corporate Services and Communication

For more information regarding COVID and our sanitary protocols, visit westernquebec.ca/coronavirus, where you will find this very letter, and a wealth of other resources.