PWPSD School Re-entry Plan 2020-21
PWPSD School Re-entry Plan
PWPSD School Re-entry Plan
The PWPSD School Re-Entry Plan, released on August 7, 2020, adheres to Alberta Education and Alberta Health school re-entry guidelines. Updates from government are noted throughout as NEW. In addition to the re-entry plan, PWPSD also emailed regular planning updates to families during June-August 2020 (see below).
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PWPSD Remote Learning
Students can only transition to remote learning at the designated dates. Three weeks before the start of each term or semester, families should contact their school to request remote learning. View the one-page Teaching and Learning supplement for re-entry points when remote learners may return to in-school learning throughout the 2020-21 school year.
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PWPSD Stay at Home Guide
![]() Wondering if your child should stay at home and be tested? The PWPSD Stay At Home Guide is designed to help parents make that decision. Remember, no student with symptoms is allowed in school.
Published Sept. 11, 2020.
Revised Nov. 3, 2020.
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PWPSD School Re-entry Infographic
![]() The COVID-19 Info for PWPSD School Re-entry 2020-21 infographic provides at-a-glance guidance on a variety of school re-entry topics during COVID-19.
Published Aug. 31, 2020.
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Alberta Education: School Re-entry Plan
- An announcement from the province on August 4, 2020 indicated that mask use for students in Grades 4 to 12, as well as all school staff, is mandatory for the 2020-21 school year. Staff are required to wear masks in all settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained, and students are required to wear them in all shared and common areas, such as hallways and on buses. While mask use for Kindergarten to Grade 3 students is optional, all students and staff received two reusable masks from Alberta’s government. The announcement also included information about face shields for staff, provision of hand sanitizer and thermometers to schools, and testing capacity.
- On July 21, 2020, the province announced that students across Alberta would return to classrooms for the 2020-21 school year under Scenario 1: In-class learning with enhanced health and safety measures. However, school authorities were asked to prepare for implementing any of the three possibilities during the upcoming year, including on short notice, to respond to the current public health situation.
- On June 10, 2020, Alberta Education announced a comprehensive re-entry plan for the upcoming school year which allowed schools and parents to prepare for learning while putting student and staff safety first. The plan included three scenarios for September 2020.
- Alberta's Daily Health Checklist, Updated by the Government of Alberta, February 21, 2020
- COVID-19 in a school (K-12) setting: A resource guide for schools before, during and after a COVID-19 outbreak, Updated by the Government of Alberta, February 22, 2021
- Limited school and team sports allowed as of Feb. 8, released by the Government of Alberta, February 6, 2021
- Guidance for school re-entry - Scenario 1, Updated by the Government of Alberta, January 20, 2021
- Implementing School Re-entry Guidance: Additional Considerations, Updated by the Government of Alberta, January 20, 2021
- Updates to COVID-19 reporting in schools, released by the Government of Alberta, January 14, 2021
- K-12 students return to in-person learning, released by the Government of Alberta, January 7, 2021
- How long to stay home from school, published by the Government of Alberta, October 8, 2020
- Halloween during COVID-19, published by the Government of Alberta, October 1, 2020
- COVID-19 School Status Map, launched by the Government of Alberta, September 9, 2020
- Letter to parents from the Chief Medical Officer of Health, published by the Government of Alberta, September 8, 2020
- Federal education funding for COVID-19, Government of Alberta media release, September 2, 2020
- Student illness: If a student has COVID-19 symptoms, published by the Government of Alberta, August 28, 2020
- Parent Guide, updated by the Government of Alberta, August 27, 2020
- Get the Facts: An FAQ for Parents, updated by the Government of Alberta, August 20, 2020
- Animated videos on the return to school and masks for schools, published by the Government of Alberta
- School health measures now include mandatory masks, August 4, 2020 media release
- K to 12 school re-entry website, Government of Alberta
- 2020-21 school re-entry plan, Government of Alberta
- Guidance for school re-entry - Scenario 2, Government of Alberta
- Alberta's relaunch strategy, Government of Alberta
- COVID-19 info for Albertans, Government of Alberta
PWPSD School Re-entry Planning Updates
In June, PWPSD committed to keep families informed of the progress of school re-entry planning. The following are six updates provided to families during the summer of 2020. PWPSD school re-entry was based on recommendations provided by Alberta Education and Alberta Health, and prioritizes the safety of our staff and students, and their families.
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Update #6: August 20, 2020 – Supports to help prepare students for school re-entry in September
Update #6: August 20, 2020Supports to help prepare students for school re-entry in SeptemberWellness and well-being of students, staff and school communities is a priority of PWPSD’s relaunch. In our sixth and final update to families, we are providing supports to help prepare students for school re-entry in September.
The most important thing to remember right now is that your children will be returning to the familiar, welcoming environment of their school, to teachers and staff who care for their well-being. We provide a range of supports and services to address students’ physical, social and mental well-being. Our staff regularly attend sessions and complete further education to better support student mental health and wellness.
We focus on a well-rounded approach of positive behaviour supports, including:
We will follow three principles in our school re-entry process:
Resources to use when talking to your child about school re-entry:
Parents who wish to continue with remote learning should contact PWPSD Central Office at (780) 532-8133 by August 24.
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Schedule of PWPSD School Re-entry Planning Updates to FamiliesUpdate #1, June 8, 2020:
Update #2, June 26, 2020:
We reported on the PWPSD School Re-Entry Survey, and provided a screening tool and answers to your questions.
Update #3, July 2, 2020:
Recommended hand hygiene and our enhanced cleaning measures.
Update #4, July 23, 2020:
Shared the final direction for the 2020-21 school year from Alberta Education – Scenario 1: In-class learning with enhanced health and safety measures.
Update #5, August 7, 2020:
PWPSD's finalized school operations plans for the 2020-21 school year, including transportation plans. Our package includes three pieces:
Update #6, August 20, 2020:
Mental health supports available to students, a vital element in the school re-entry process. Additional InformationIn September, parents of returning students received a code by email to update existing information on file. |
Update #5: August 7, 2020 – PWPSD School Re-entry Plan for the 2020-21 School Year
Update #5: August 7, 2020
PWPSD School Re-entry Plan for the 2020-21 School Year

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.
In addition to today's re-entry plan release, PWPSD has been sharing regular updates to families via email since early June, which can also be accessed on the dedicated PWPSD School Re-entry Plan 2020-21 webpage and the division's Facebook and Twitter feeds. Topics covered in the updates ranged from a survey early in June to determine parents' willingness to send their children back to school in September; answers to frequently-asked questions; recommended hand hygiene and enhanced cleaning measures for schools and buses; and the province's self-screening tool and announcement that students and staff will return to school in September under Scenario 1 – in-class learning with enhanced health and safety measures. PWPSD families can expect to receive a final email update mid-August outlining the mental health supports available to students, a vital element in the school re-entry process.
Near the end of August, some schools may opt to share school-specific operational information with their families on what to expect when school reopens.
PWPSD Re-entry Plan offers teaching and learning options for families
A one-page Teaching and Learning supplement was also released for any parents wishing to continue with remote learning as an alternative to the planned Scenario 1 return to in-school classes in September. To accommodate this model, the 2020-21 school year will offer parents of Grades 1-9 students three term re-entry points for a possible return to in-school learning, and two semester re-entry points for Grades 10-12 students. Parents who prefer to begin the school year with teacher-led remote instruction should contact PWPSD Central Office at (780) 532-8133 by August 24th to ensure their child's seat in a school will be reserved should the family decide to return to in-school learning at the next available re-entry point.
Direct mail piece includes self-screening tool
Later this month, PWPSD families will receive a direct mail piece covering the plan's highlights, along with instruction on the required daily use of the enclosed self-screening tool that was published by the province in July.
We look forward to welcoming our students and staff back in September.
Update #4: July 23, 2020 – Alberta Education School Re-entry Plan: Scenario 1
Update #4: July 23, 2020
Alberta Education School Re-entry Plan: Scenario 1
- Parents’ Guide: 2020-21 School Year
- Get the Facts: Back to Class for 2020-21
- Self-Screening Tool
Update #3: July 2, 2020 – Recommended hand hygiene for students and staff, and enhanced cleaning measures for schools and buses
Update #3: July 2, 2020
Recommended hand hygiene for students and staff, and enhanced cleaning measures for schools and buses
- Wash your hands frequently and/or use hand sanitizer often while at school. A sink and/or hand sanitizer may be available in high traffic areas, such as entrances, classrooms, and near high-touch equipment such as microwave ovens and vending machines.
- Wash or sanitize your hands upon entering a classroom; after returning from recess; and before eating.
- Avoid touching your face to reduce the chance of transmission through your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Label personal items and do not share them. Do not share food, drinks or utensils.
- More frequent cleaning of high contact surfaces such as microwave ovens, vending machines, water fountain knobs and buttons, washrooms and shared equipment; and in high traffic areas such as libraries and cafeterias.
- Items that cannot be easily cleaned and disinfected will be removed from schools.
- Buses will be equipped with hand sanitizer, to be used when boarding the bus.
- Buses will be cleaned following morning and afternoon runs. An assigned seating plan will see students from the same household seated together, where possible.
Update #2: June 26, 2020 – PWPSD School Re-entry Planning Survey Results, FAQs, and the Screening Tool
Update #2: June 26, 2020
PWPSD School Re-entry Planning Survey Results, FAQs, and the Screening Tool
- Return to school full-time in September: 73% said they would choose this option.
- Return to school part-time in September: 18% said they would choose this option.
- Continue with full-time at-home learning: 9% said they would choose this option.
Update #1: June 8, 2020 – PWPSD Re-entry Planning Survey
Update #1: June 8, 2020
PWPSD Re-entry Planning Survey
The province is working with school authorities and education system partners on developing a comprehensive re-entry plan, to be announced in August, that considers three possible scenarios.
Back to School Info
Back to School Info
PDF Files
November 30, 2020 - January 8, 2021: Guidance for PWPSD Parents/Guardians

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- Students who plan on attending post-secondary institutions are strongly encouraged to contact an advisor at the college or university to determine if consideration for acceptance is influenced by whether or not they write the diploma exam. Some competitive programs and out of country universities give great consideration to diploma exam marks.