Grande Prairie, AB – Today, Peace Wapiti Public School Division (PWPSD) released its School Re-entry Plan for the 2020-21 School Year. (Updates since the release of this document by PWPSD on August 7, 2020 are noted throughout as NEW.) The plan was developed by Central Office and school administration who formed the PWPSD Relaunch Committee after the move to at-home learning in March, and follows direction provided by the Government of Alberta in their 2020-2021 School Re-entry Plan.
The Government of Alberta released the following information on Tuesday, August 4, 2020:
School health measures now include mandatory masks
As part of a number of new school safety measures to combat COVID-19, mask use for Grade 4 to 12 students, and all school staff, will be mandatory when school returns for the 2020-21 year.
This is our fourth update to families. Earlier this week, the Government of Alberta announced that students across Alberta will return to classrooms for the 2020-21 school year under Scenario 1: In-class learning with enhanced health and safety measures.
The following documents, published by the Government of Alberta, include highlights from the announcement.
Parents' Guide: 2020-21 School Year Get the Facts: Back to Class for 2020-21 Self-Screening Tool For more details, visit http://www.alberta.ca/returntoschool.
On July 21, 2020, the province announced that students across Alberta will return to classrooms for the 2020-21 school year under Scenario 1: In-class learning with enhanced health and safety measures. Read the full media release from the Government of Alberta here
Today, Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 3:00 p.m., Premier Jason Kenney and Education Minister Adriana LaGrange will update Albertans on the school re-entry plan for the 2020-21 school year. Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health will provide an update on COVID-19. Watch it live on the Government of Alberta YouTube channel. For those who miss the live announcement, you will be able to view a recording of the event at your convenience.
In our second update on June 26, 2020, we shared the results of the PWPSD Re-entry Survey, provided answers to your questions, and included a screening tool that must be used at home for daily self-assessment. Beginning in September, anyone who will access our schools for work or education must self-screen for symptoms each morning before leaving home.
On Wednesday, November 4, 2020, Peace Wapiti Public School Division (PWPSD) was advised of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Harry Balfour School (HBS) and Whispering Ridge Community School (WRCS).
In an interview with 2dayfm GP on November 4, 2020, PWPSD Deputy Superintendent Darren Young discussed the PWPSD Board's current top three 2021-2024 Capital Plan priorities: a new Grades 9-12 high school located east of Grande Prairie, a new K-8 school in the Clairmont area, and a replacement Peace Wapiti Academy located north of Grande Prairie.
PWPSD schools will honour the 40th anniversary of the Terry Fox Run through online fundraising campaigns and school run events, beginning Wednesday, September 23. In keeping with the current guidance to reduce attendees at outdoor events, and to protect the health and safety of students and staff, school run events will not be open to community participants and volunteers. Local media may take photos at a distance. A follow-up report on the total funds raised will be released in October.