Dear parents,
Starting on June 1,
classes will be reopening for students to return. In preparation for students
returning, we wanted to share some information based on what we know right now.
In these strange and interesting times, these plans may change as the first day
back arrives and we see how things flow. However, I wanted to connect with you
and provide you with some items to consider.
First of all, as the BC
Government has stated, returning to school is voluntary. After reviewing the
plans laid out by our school admin, you are able to decide what is best for
your child and decide whether to send your child back to school.
Here is a list of
changes and procedures we have developed to help follow the social distancing
and safety guidelines and recommendations put forward by the BC government:
- Student Health: Prior to sending your child to school each morning, we
would ask that you check for signs of illness, including taking your
child’s temperature. If you find signs of a fever or other signs of
illness, we would ask that you keep your child at home. Whether you feel
that it might be allergies or something else not Covid related, we would
rather you err on the safe side. If a child shows signs of illness while
at school, students will be isolated and parents informed that their child
needs to be picked up immediately.
- Students will be returning in
smaller groups. As recommended by the BC
Government, class sizes are being split in half to accommodate social
distancing guidelines. At this point, the school admin have designated
Mondays and Wednesdays as the days for students with last names starting
from A-L. Tuesdays and Thursdays will be for students whose last names
begin with the letters M-Z. Unfortunately, we can not consider placing
students based on friendship groupings as that becomes too difficult
logistically.
- Blogs and Google Classroom will
still be used to provide learning activities for all students. Students returning to school will do a combination of
activities related to what has been posted online and
extension/supplementary activities along with Health/Bible, Library and
Gym. Grade 6 students will not have library periods during their time at
school. Students staying at home will still be able to access the activities
provided online. However, items like morning meetings, instructional
videos, read alouds, etc. will not be provided as teachers work to
maintain in-class learning.
- Our school week will also look
a little different. We will be
starting school at the normal time. However, we will be ending school at
2:30. This allows teachers the opportunity to contact students who are at
home. In school classes will also not be operating on Fridays, to allow
teachers time to connect with students at home.
For Grade 6: Students will only be in school on Mondays (Students with last
names starting with A-L) and Tuesdays (Students with last names starting with
M-Z) depending on their last name. The rest of the week, Grade 6 teachers will
continue to be available to connect with students at home, answering questions
and checking-in.
- School drop-off and pick-up
procedures: In order to minimize the
number of students congregating before and after school, we would ask that
you attempt to drop your child off as close to the starting bell as
possible so that students can go to class right away. Classes will be open
at 8:45. At the end of the day, students will be taken outside by their
teacher and lined-up. Parents can collect their child from the line-up or
children will be released as their parents are spotted arriving in their
vehicles. As we are trying to minimize numbers of students congregating
and practice social distancing, students can not be released straight from
classrooms to the playgrounds or field areas. Please collect your child as
close to 2:30 as possible.
- Uniforms and Gym: Students are allowed to wear their Knight clothes to
school instead of their school uniforms. Students will not be changing for
gym classes and will not need their PE uniforms.
- Recesses and lunch will be
staggered to keep the number of students in our outdoor spaces to a
minimum. Students will be encouraged to
avoid physical contact with other students while inside and outside.
- Please bring water bottles: As our water fountains will be closed to students,
students should bring a refillable water bottle.
- Supplies: For those students returning, please send all materials
that were sent home so that students have items to use while at school.
Glue, scissors, pencil crayons, chromebooks, etc will all be useful for
students upon returning. Most items will be able to be kept in school in
bags. Lockers will be off limits. Chromebooks will go back and forth with students. Please make
sure to send the following specific items:
- Pencil box with pencils, crayons, pencil crayons, scissor and glue stick (no duotangs needed)
- Your child may take along a personal toy or a small bag of lego to play with but no remote control items or any electronic items. They will not be permitted to share these with other students.
- Social Distancing
Considerations: While we will attempt to
follow the guidelines set out by the BC Government as best as possible,
students may still be in close contact with other students. However,
especially during outside periods, the focus will be on limiting physical
human contact between students. Students and staff will have the option of
wearing masks while at school. Desks will be reduced and spaced to provide
distance between students, while in class and hand washing will be done
several times a day. While the Government has stated that outdoor
playgrounds are safe to use, staggered recesses, closing the Ga-Ga Ball
pit and specifying that there should be no physical contact will all be
put into place to help with social distancing.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1
Thessalonians 5:16-18
We miss seeing all our
students. Their smiles, laughter, sparkling eyes and individual personalities
are all things we have missed tremendously over these last weeks. We recognize
that this reopening is not school as normal. Highroad Academy is working hard
to provide a safe environment for our students while also trying to provide an
opportunity for students to connect with their teachers and fellow classmates
before the end of the year. However, we certainly understand if the guidelines
feel too onerous or scary for your child. With the information that has been
provided, please feel free to make your decision based on your own family and
circumstances. If you have any further questions, please email our Elementary
Department Head, Ian Hancock, to get more information.
To all the amazing
families we have at Highroad who have journeyed with us in these trying times,
we want to say thank you. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for your
patience. Thank you for your support and prayers. Whichever decision you make,
please know that we are praying for you, missing you and looking forward to the
day when we will be together again as a Highroad community.
Blessings,
Mrs Folkerts