Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff and Community,
I know that all of you are being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are wondering about how to protect yourselves and your families. Our communities and our school district are working hard to embrace social distancing, self isolation and the many other actions recommended by the Provincial Medical Health Officer and Minister of Health to ensure public health, wellness and safety. Our collective efforts are essential as we all work together and individually doing all that we can to “flatten the curve” and protect our families, friends and neighbours as well as our country and the world.
Although students and many staff in SD 10 remain on spring break till March 30th, we are immersed in planning for educational programming that complies with the public health order to suspend in-classroom instruction. When spring break concludes, our teachers, EAs, and principals and vice principals return to work as well as our other support staff. We look forward to working side by side with our talented educators planning for each school, class and student. Our educators’ expertise, wisdom and knowledge of student needs is essential to meeting the needs of all of our learners as best as we possibly can. Our support staff’s roles in supporting the district at this time are likewise vital.
On Friday, March 20th, the Ministry of Education released four guiding principles to help districts guide decision making about planning when schools resume after spring break without in-classroom instruction:
Guiding Principles for Educational Programming in Light of Suspension of In-class Instruction
1. Maintaining a healthy and safe environment for students, families and staff is paramount.
2. Providing services to support children of essential workers is our top priority.
3. Supporting vulnerable students who may need special assistance.
4. Providing continuity of educational opportunities for all students.
More information will be shared on the SD 10 website on Friday, March 27th to help inform our students, parents, and guardians about what to expect in the coming weeks as we all re-vision what schools look like and how to will maintain quality learning in the midst of a pandemic.
In the meantime, please know that all of us in the school district and on the Board of Education care deeply about you and your children and about our small rural communities.
We are 100% committed to working within the public health restrictions while doing all that we can under the new circumstances. We will engage all students in continuing their learning, provide for the needs of vulnerable students, provide service for essential workers, and above all maintain a healthy and safe environment for all. The challenges are significant and yet we can do this!
Warmest regards to all and best wishes for good health in the days and weeks to come!
Terry Taylor, Superintendent of Schools
