Back to School
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 left no aspect of life untouched, and education was no exception. The short-term effects of stay-at-home measures were felt immediately by millions of students across the globe
On Aug. 5, B.C. released reopening guidelines for the province’s postsecondary institutions, with “Go Forward” as the official guideline source. The document provides the basic steps that institutions should follow to help reduce the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak on campus.
SCHOOLS ARE IN STAGE 2
In September 2020, all schools will reopen in Stage 2 of the Five Stages Framework for K-12 Education. Stage 2 is a full return to in-class instruction for all students for the maximum time possible within learning group limits.
Parents will be contacted by their school or school district/authority to confirm the educational program options available. Visit your school and district websites for information updates.
INSTRUCTION METHOD
The 2020/21 school year will look different for students, teachers and parents. Most K-12 students will have access to full-time, in-class instruction, and schools will be ready to welcome them back. Self-directed learning supplements will include in-class instruction, if required.
Students who have travelled outside of Canada are required to self-isolate for 14 days. This includes students attending school from abroad. Schools will continue to be cleaned more frequently, including classrooms and high touch areas like door knobs, toilet seats, keyboards and desks.
Other changes include organizing students into learning groups, increased spacing between students in classrooms, more individual and smaller group activities, and limitations on assemblies and large gatherings.
WEARING MASKS
Students and staff are not required to wear masks in schools. Wearing a mask is a personal choice that will always be respected. The Provincial Health Officer (PHO) and the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) advise that masks are not recommended for use by young children. In young children, masks can be irritating and can lead to increased touching of the face and eyes
For older students and staff, non-medical masks will be provided upon request for use in situations where the person is interacting with someone from outside of their learning group and cannot maintain physical distance for an extended period of time. This includes riding the bus to school where a student may be sitting next to a person outside of their household or learning group.