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, follows Alberta Education and Alberta Health guidelines for re-entry. Updates from government since the initial release of the PWPSD School Re-entry Plan are noted throughout as NEW. PWPSD also emailed six updates to families during the summer months (see below), as new information became available. The updates were also shared on the PWPSD social media channels – Facebook and Twitter.	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.
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 September 11, 2020. Revised November 3, 2020.	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 August 31, 2020.
Guidance for PWPSD Parents/Guardians: November 30, 2020 - January 8, 2021 With a state of public health emergency declared by the Government of Alberta on November 24, 2020, PWPSD has prepared a guide for parents/guardians in response to the province-wide mandatory measures for education during November 30, 2020 - January 8, 2021. DIPLOMA EXAMS - NEW INFO: The announcement on November 24, 2020 stated that diploma exams are optional for the rest of the school year. Students and their families can choose whether to write the exam or receive an exemption for the January, April, June, and August 2021 exam sessions. The following is additional information regarding diploma exams: 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.

Alberta Education: School Re-entry Plan

Getting Ready for the 2020-21 School Year

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.

Government of Alberta: K-12 School Re-entry

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.

School Health Measures include Mandatory Masks

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.

Resources and Announcements:

Guidance for school re-entry - Scenario 1, Updated by the Government of Alberta on January 20, 2021
Implementing School Re-entry Guidance: Additional Considerations, Updated by the Government of Alberta on January 20, 2021
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 on January 20, 2021
Updates to COVID-19 reporting in schools, released by the Government of Alberta on January 14, 2021
K-12 students return to in-person learning, released by the Government of Alberta on January 7, 2021
How long to stay home from school, published by the Government of Alberta on October 8, 2020
Alberta's Daily Health Checklist simplified. No information has changed, but symptoms that legally require someone to isolate are highlighted. Updated by the Government of Alberta on October 8, 2020.
Halloween during COVID-19, published by the Government of Alberta on October 1, 2020
COVID-19 School Status Map, launched by the Government of Alberta on 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.

Update #6: August 20, 2020

Supports to help prepare students for school re-entry in September

Wellness 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:

Meaningful connections
Routine, stability and flexible learning environment
Predictability and consistency
Foundational wellness practices for all students

We will follow three principles in our school re-entry process:

Collaboration: Student engagement, school and division collaboration, parent engagement, and collaboration with outside service providers.
Assessment: Identify where students are in their mental health and well-being. Provide continual check-ins for ongoing monitoring. Outline a clear process to ensure early identification for those in need of further support.
PWPSD’s Student First Framework for Learning: A document that guides staff in providing increasing levels of support to students – from promotion to prevention, to early identification, intervention and specialized services.

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.

APPLE Schedule of PWPSD School Re-entry Planning Updates to Families

Update #1, June 8, 2020:
Launch of PWPSD’s School Re-entry Planning process and survey.

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:

PWPSD 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.)
Teaching and Learning supplement
Direct mail piece

Update #6, August 20, 2020:
Mental health supports available to students, a vital element in the school re-entry process.

Additional Information

Online registration for new students

In September, parents of returning students received a code by email to update existing information on file.

COVID-19 info for Albertans from the Government of AB

Be Prepared

Determining when to cancel buses – PWPSD exercises care and caution during times of inclement weather

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

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 www.alberta.ca/returntoschool.

The PWPSD School Re-entry Committee is continuing its planning work during the summer months and we will continue to provide regular updates throughout the month of August.

Update #3: July 2, 2020

Recommended hand hygiene for students and staff, and enhanced cleaning measures for schools and buses

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.

For now, we continue to target Scenario 1 in our re-entry planning: a return to normal school operations with health measures in place. In the event of a regional COVID-19 outbreak during the summer months, Alberta Health and Alberta Education will advise us on the next steps, which could include a move to Scenario 2 where schools are partially reopened, with restrictions; or Scenario 3, a temporary return to home learning until the situation is brought under control. The same may be true if cases rise during the school year.

Today’s update focuses on the recommended hand hygiene and our enhanced cleaning measures to help keep students and staff safe. As the first line of defence against the virus, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hinshaw regularly reminds us of the importance of good hygiene and disinfection. Here are some ways students, families and our school staff can support this advice:

Recommended hand hygiene for students and staff:

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.

Enhanced cleaning measures for schools and buses:

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.

The PWPSD School Re-entry Committee is continuing its planning work during the summer months and we will continue to provide regular updates. The final decision from Alberta Education will be announced by August 1st.

Update #2: June 26, 2020

PWPSD School Re-entry Planning Survey Results, FAQs, and the Screening Tool

In our first update on June 8, 2020, we shared that Alberta Education was considering three possible scenarios for school re-entry in September. Since that time, the Minister of Education has announced they are targeting Scenario 1 – Normal school operations are able to resume, with health measures in place.

The decision to target Scenario 1 was partially based on feedback provided in a province-wide survey conducted in May by the Alberta School Councils’ Association (ASCA), on behalf of Alberta Education, with 86% of survey respondents saying they are in favour of a return to school plan for K-12 students in September.

In our first update to families, we also included a survey to gather feedback on the three possible scenarios. A total of 1,332 people completed the PWPSD survey.

When asked, “If I had a choice, given the current situation, I would choose to:”

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.

As seen in the province-wide ASCA survey feedback, the majority of PWPSD families indicated their preference for a return to full-time schooling in September.

For now, our target is Scenario 1, a return to normal school operations with health measures in place. In the event of a regional COVID-19 outbreak during the summer months, Alberta Health and Alberta Education will advise us on the next steps, which could include a move to Scenario 2 where schools are partially reopened, with restrictions; or Scenario 3, a temporary return to home learning until the situation is brought under control. The same may be true if cases rise during the school year.

The PWPSD School Re-entry Committee is continuing its planning work during the summer months. We will provide regular updates to families in July and August, and we will share the final decision from Alberta Education, to be announced by August 1st.

The virus has created a new normal for us all, and with it has come unique challenges that we have had to face, head on. We commend our students, families and staff for rising to these challenges, and we take comfort in the knowledge that this virus will not last forever. Until then, we must work together to support the necessary changes.

In our email to families on June 26, we included answers to questions and concerns submitted via the parent survey. They are included in the "Frequently Asked Questions" link below. We also provided 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

View this PDF document for answers to the questions submitted by families who completed the PWPSD School Re-entry Planning Survey. The survey closed on June 14, 2020.

Update #1: June 8, 2020

PWPSD Re-entry Planning Survey

As of today, June 8, 2020, we have not received a decision from Alberta Education on school operations for the 2020-21 school year.

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.

They are:

• Normal school operations are able to resume.

• Schools are partially re-opened, with some level of restrictions.

• Teacher-directed at-home learning continues.

We understand that you may have many questions and concerns. Please know that we are parents also, and we share in your feelings. This is a unique time that requires a very careful approach to planning.

For this reason, we have developed a 2020-21 School Re-entry Committee consisting of PWPSD Central Office Administration, including Transportation, and School Principals who represent the variety of schools in our division, including high school, elementary, K-12, large and small schools, and urban and rural schools.

We invite you to complete a short survey by midnight on Sunday June 14, 2020 to help us understand your unique situation, and to share your concerns and questions.

Please remember that we will be providing regular updates to families during the summer months that will reflect the latest guidance from Alberta Education and Alberta Health. Answers to some of your questions will depend on direction from these ministries.

Back to School Info

First day of school: Tuesday, September 1. View the 2020-21 School Year Calendar

Some PWPSD schools operate under an adjusted school year calendar that includes 12 Compressed School Week (CSW) Fridays when the school is closed.

Check your school website for the school-specific calendar.

Transportation: To be announced following a decision on school re-entry.

PDF Files

PWPSD School Re-entry Plan 2020-21