Dear Parents, Guardians, and Adult Education or Vocational Training Students,
Premier François Legault held a press conference yesterday, during which he outlined a series of updated measures and directives. In addition, all school boards and Centres de services scolaires received updated directives from the Ministry of Education. The purpose of this communication is to provide an accurate up-to-date overview of the measures impacting the return to school.
- All in-school classes resume on Monday January 17th.
- – This return to on-site learning applies to Preschool, Elementary, Secondary, Adult Education, and Vocational Training.
In order to support a safe and secure return, the following measures are in place:
- Rapid Test Kits:
- – Rapid test kits will continue to be used (with parental consent) in elementary schools when children are symptomatic at school. Rapid test kits will also be distributed (weeks of January 17th and 24th) to families of students in the elementary schools
- – The parents/guardians of a student who receives a positive test result on a rapid test administered at school will be advised by the school administration, and provided with guidelines that are to be followed (as directed by Public Health)
- Wearing of Procedural Masks:
- – Preschool Students: Wearing a procedural mask is mandatory only while using school transportation
- – Elementary Students: Wearing a procedural mask is mandatory at all times inside the school: in classrooms, at daycare, in all common areas, while circulating, and while using school transportation
- – Secondary Students: Wearing a procedural mask is mandatory at all times inside the school: in classrooms, in all common areas, while circulating, and while using school transportation
- – Adult Education and Vocational Training Students: wearing a procedural mask is mandatory at all times inside the centre: in classrooms, in all common areas, and while circulating
- Extracurricular Activities:
- – All extracurricular activities are suspended until further notice
- Management of COVID-19 cases – Isolation Guidelines:
- – Public Health have updated the guidelines for isolation when individuals (students, staff) contract COVID-19. These guidelines outline specific situations for different vaccination status etc. and can be accessed at Quebec.ca. The key message remains at the onset of COVID-19 symptoms individuals must immediately isolate. A summary of guidelines and the management of cases in schools and centres will be available for distribution during the week of January 17th.
- – As a general rule, individual COVID-19 cases will no longer be communicated to the school community (as per revised Public Health guidelines)
- – Elementary and secondary students who must isolate and whose absence from school extends beyond two days due to isolation will receive support for their learning (daily check ins, work sent home, access to technology to complete work etc.)
- Contingency Plans
- – All schools and centres will develop contingency plans to ensure the continuation of services should there be staff shortages due to COVID-19 cases. It is important to understand while these plans prioritize keeping students in schools and centres, there may be changes to delivery and organization. When this is necessary schools and centres will communicate changes to parents.
Please consult the following webpages for further detailed information:
- Symptoms, transmission and treatment – Quebec.ca
- Guidelines specific to education (COVID-19) – Quebec.ca
Schools and centres will continue to follow the directives issued by the government and Public Health; in doing so, the Western Quebec School Board maintains its commitment to providing the safest learning environment possible for its students and staff.
Sincerely,
George Singfield
Secretary General & Director of Corporate Services and Communications