Preparing for Stage Three
RETURN TO PART-TIME IN-CLASS LEARNING
As SD83 prepares for Stage 3 (voluntary return to in-class learning), we would like to share our ongoing planning, and explain the preparations that are already under way. We will continue to update you as needed as we move towards the part-time return to classrooms on June 1 and beyond.

We would li ke to acknowledge that these changes may place additional stress on all our students and their families as well as our staff and their families. While there are many positives to returning to some semblance of normal, there is understandable anxiety around safety, and uncertainties around ‘how it will work’.

Much organization and thought is going into preparing our schools including:
  • Survey all families to see if they intend to send their children to school, and how often.
  • Follow up communication to families that have not completed the survey to ensure all families are contacted regarding their intentions for June.
  • Inform parents which days their children will attend
  • Reduce kindergarten to grade 5 Home Learning support and interactions for May 25-29 to allow teachers and staff to set-up classrooms and prepare to receive students
  • Have Health and Safety Teams at each school review the site-based safety plans
  • Put in place health and safety procedures at each school
  • Have every school staff ‘practice’ the week before return to in-class instruction. This will allow us to identify any improvements we need to make before the return of students.
  • Follow Ministry Guidelines around maximum class sizes (50%) and school densities (50% for K to 5) and (20% for Grade 6 to 12) and strategies to minimize physical contact
  • Organize custodial staff for daytime cleaning supports in each school to accommodate occupancy


What will schools look like?
SD83 will follow the expectations of the Ministry which includes voluntary in-class instruction across the district while continuing to support vulnerable learners and students with designated special needs.

Each class and school in SD83 may look different as each situation is being tailored to the number of students who choose to return to school and the number that continue with home learning opportunities.

Children attending school in K-5 will be learning and playing outside more frequently (playgrounds are open) and washing their hands more frequently. Schools will have daytime custodial staff cleaning as students are in the school. Each class will also have sanitizer and disinfectant to use as needed.

Busing
SD83 will follow the Provincial Guidelines of one student per seat, or two students per seat if from the same household. It will take some time to finalize this plan. Transportation is reviewing survey information from parents on who needs busing and is adapting/customizing routes to fit student/school needs. Parents will be contacted by email or phone about pick up times if they have requested busing.

If you are interested in further information please follow these Ministry links to additional resources:





School District No. 83 | www.sd83.bc.ca