Please find below the COVID-related information released during the 2019/2020 school year.
TIMELINE
On March 17, 2020 the Minister of Education suspended all in-class instruction for BC schools.
On May 6, 2020 Premier John Horgan, joined by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, announced B.C.’s Restart Plan. Here is the news release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PREM0026-000826 As part the plan, the province has outlined the Ministry of Education’s five stage approach to supporting students, families and staff. Here is the backgrounder (Scroll to page 3 for education information)https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/BG_Parks_and_Sites_and_In-Class_Learning.pdf
On May 15, 2020 Premier Horgan, Minister Fleming, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Henry and Minister Chen updated British Columbians on the optional, part time return to school for K to 12 students to begin on June 1. Please see more here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PREM0026-000890
CONTINUITY OF LEARNING RESOURCES
The Ministry of Education Keep Learning website
COMMUNICATION FROM DELTA SCHOOL DISTRICT
June 26 – 2020 Summer message from Superintendent Doug Sheppard
May 28 – Back to School Health and Safety Protocolsand FAQs
May 2020 – Delta School District COVID-19 Safety Plan
May 22 – Schools sent a letter to families providing an overview of the district’s proposed plan to resume in-class instruction on June 1. More specific information regarding child(ren)’s return to in-class instruction will be shared before Friday, May 29.
May 15 – Message from Delta School District regarding the reopening of schools
May 7 – Message to families from Superintendent Doug Sheppard
April 9 – Message to families regarding the Easter long weekend
April 3 – Message from Superintendent Doug Sheppard to families with information for the week of April 6
April 1 – Families are asked to please answer their phone even if there’s no caller ID or it’s an unfamiliar number – Teachers will begin reaching out to students this week.
March 20 – Facility rentals cancelled until May 31
March 17 – Message from Superintendent Doug Sheppard re. suspension of in-class instruction
March 13 – Message to families re. mental health resources available to help children who may feel anxious as a result of COVID-19
March 13 – Frequently Asked Questions – Information for families regarding travel plans in light of the COVID-19 pandemic
March 11 – Message re. incorrect report of COVID-19 at a school in Delta School District
March 5 – Message from Superintendent Doug Sheppard re. cancellation of school trips over spring break
February 28 – Message for families on how to help prevent and control the spread of COVID-19
January 29 – Delta School District’s Response to first case of COVID-19 in BC
INFORMATION FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES WORKERS
May 26, 2020 – The Ministry of Education has announced that schools will be open on June 1 with a priority for children of Essential Service Workers (ESWs) to be at school five days a week. The school-based childcare centres that have been open over the past two months to support children of ESWs will be closed at the end of the day on Friday, May 29.
Schools will be open for ESW students for instruction during regular school hours beginning June 1, and parents are encouraged to seek before and after care with the childcare providers they used prior to spring break.
The email that ESWs have used to request support over the last two months (ESW@deltasd.bc.ca) will be disabled at the end of May. You should have received some information from your school principal already. If you haven’t heard from them, or if you have questions/require additional support, please contact your school principal directly.
Premier Horgan and Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General announced they are using extraordinary powers under a state of provincial emergency to keep British Columbians safe, maintain essential goods and services, and support the Province’s ongoing response to novel coronavirus. They announced a series of ministerial orders to ensure a co-ordinated response to COVID-19 across all levels of government for the duration of the provincial emergency. https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PSSG0020-000568. Once you have clicked on this link, scroll down to see the new list of essential services in B.C. (March 26)
COMMUNICATION FROM THE BC MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
June 26 – Joint letter from Premier John Horgan and Minister Rob Fleming
June 25 – News release – Nearly 200,00 students returned to classrooms in June and Minister Fleming appoints a steering committee to work through the summer and prepare for 2020/21 school year. https://news.gov.bc.ca/22508
June 25 – Letter from Minister Rob Fleming and Andrea Sinclair to parents and families.
June 11 – Starting today, Premier Horgan launched the first video in an upcoming series of inspiring videos from some of B.C.’s finest, especially for our B.C. grads.
Watch Minister Fleming’s Twitter and Facebook, starting today, till the end of June, to see several exciting appearances from local celebs; including singers, actors and sports players from throughout the province – the videos all share a special message for our 2020 B.C. graduates. Here is the first video, released this afternoon by Premier Horgan –https://twitter.com/jjhorgan/status/1271178697890918400?s=20
June 2 – Ministry of Education Information Bulletin – https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020EDUC0037-000999
May 28 – Letter from Minister Rob Fleming and Andrea Sinclair to Parents
May 15 – Optional, part-time return to school for K to 12 students to begin on June 1. Please see more here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PREM0026-000890
May 6 – B.C.’s Restart Plan news release –https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PREM0026-000826
April 26 – The Ministry of Education put out a news release to support LGBTQ2S+ students during the pandemic –https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020EDUC0020-000755
April 24 – Check out the new “Good News in Education” webpage highlighting remarkable stories of students, educators, parents, staff and communities who are going above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic as they find new creative ways of learning and teaching. New stories will be added every week! https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/administration/program-management/safe-caring-and-orderly-schools/good-news
Minister Fleming released an Op-Ed (Education Week in extraordinary times) in the Vancouver Sun – https://vancouversun.com/opinion/rob-fleming-educators-are-taking-their-creativity-and-compassion-to-a-whole-new-level/ (April 14)
Letter to the Editor by Minister Fleming in the Alaska Highway News (April 9)
Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister Adrian Dix participate in a Global BC News Town Hall (April 9)
The Ministry of Education has secured and funded licences for the application Zoom for all K-12 public and independent schools in B.C. (April 1)
A letter from the Ministry of Education on BC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic (March 13)
French, Chinese and Punjabi translations
BC MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICER UPDATES
You can find daily COVID-19 testing numbers on the BC Centre for Disease Control’s COVID-19 dashboard: http://www.bccdc.ca/hea…/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data
May 27 – Letter from Fraser Health re. Safe Return to Schools
The Provincial Health Officer’s letter to parents and guardians within the school system re. COVID-19. (February 7)