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COVID-19

 

Starting April 11, all updates will be posted as part of our school Weekly Reminders.

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April 1, 2020 UPDATE

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Parent and staff update:  Letter from Principal April 1, 2020

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March 29, 2020 UPDATE

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Parent and staff update:  Letter from Principal March 29, 2020

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March 27, 2020 UPDATE

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Ministry of Education Parent and Guardian update:  Letter from the Ministry of Education March 27, 2020

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March 26, 2020 UPDATE

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Parent and staff update:  Letter from Principal March 26, 2020

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March 23, 2020 UPDATE

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From the Deputy Minister of Education - Work is underway at the provincial level to help school districts and independent schools plan for how services and supports will be provided to students and communities. The Ministry is developing an integrated planning framework covering a range of topics to be made available to all school districts and independent school authorities before March 27, 2020.

 

Learning opportunities will  be put into place as soon as practically possible. The Ministry's Expectation is that this planning process will begin as soon as Spring Break is over.  For now, in-class delivery is still suspended, schools will remain closed after Spring Break, but there will be alternate delivery of instruction and continuity of learning.  Schools will need time to plan, so this does not mean that learning opportunities will immediately begin Monday, March 30. 

 

From the CISVA - The CISVA is working closely with the Ministry of Education and other provincial authorities to put a learning framework in place to be made available to schools in the coming week.  Planning and delivery will be a very gradual process. It is likely that the first weeks will be devoted to simply getting our learning model in place and making initial contacts with students and parents.

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March 18, 2020 UPDATE

 

Please, read a letter to parents, guardians, and staff from the CISVA Superintendent, Deacon Henk Luyten here.

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March 17, 2020 UPDATE

 

In-Person Classes Suspended: Under the direction of the Provincial Health Officer, the Provincial Government is directing all schools to immediately suspend in-class instruction until further notice. The Minister of Education has written a letter to parents, guardians and school/school district staff regarding the immediate suspension of in-class instruction until further notice. 

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The doors of our CISVA schools will not be open to students after spring break; however, we will be required to provide continuity of learning.  We are working hard to finalize what alternate delivery will look like for our school community and will communicate the plan and guidelines as soon as they are ready.

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Other updates

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Daily Provincial Update: There are currently 103 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in B.C. The Provincial Health Officer has reiterated updated guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada, for Canadians to avoid all non-essential international travel and self-isolate for 14 days following return from international travel (exemptions are in place for workers who are essential to the movement of goods and people). Travellers returning to B.C. should call 8-1-1 or their local health care provider immediately if they develop a fever, cough or difficulty breathing. The BC Ministry of Health has also developed a self-assessment tool to help determine whether you may need further assessment or testing for COVID-19: https://covid19.thrive.health/. You can complete this assessment for yourself, or on behalf of someone else, if they are unable to.

 

Federal Updates: On March 16th, the Prime Minister of Canada announced the closure of Canadian borders to foreign travellers from all countries except the United States to help limit the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions will come into effect on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, and will not apply to air crews, travelers arriving in Canada to transit to a third country, Canadian permanent residents, diplomats, or immediate family members of Canadian citizens.

 

Anyone displaying symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to board a flight to Canada. To assist asymptomatic Canadians in returning to Canada, the federal government has also established a COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad.

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For parents and guardians:  Here is B.C.’s new dedicated phone service for non-medical information about COVID-19: 1-888-COVID19. Service representatives are available seven days a week from 7:30AM to 8PM, and information is available in more than 110 languages. Specific public health questions re: COVID-19 should be directed to your local health authority for response.

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March 17, 2020 UPDATE

 

As of Tuesday, March 17, we are adhering to the B.C. government's announcement to suspend in-class delivery for Kindergarten to Grade 12 classes in the province amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

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St. Augustine and the CISVA are working with the Ministry of Education and FISA on plans for alternate delivery of instruction.  We will communicate all updates frequently.

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March 12, 2020 UPDATE

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Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students, 

 

In light of continuing news regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) health concerns we wish to provide updated information regarding St. Augustine's plan upon return from Spring Break. The safety of our students, staff, and families remains our primary concern and although there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the St.  Augustine community, we continue to be pro-active.

 

As of this moment, there have been NO reported cases of COVID-19 within the St. Augustine community. 

 

The health and safety of our students, staff, and community are of paramount concern. Our campus continues to be cleaned and disinfected nightly, with custodial staff using the government recommended cleaning solution, and taking extra measures to sanitize touch services such as doorknobs, light switches, and desks. Over Spring Break, a deep clean of our school and campus will take place.

 

We also continue to follow the Provincial Health Officer's recommendation to conduct risk assessments in regards to school events and public gatherings.

 

If you and your family are traveling over Spring Break, we ask that you be mindful of the COVID-19 situation in host countries. If you are visiting affected areas under advisory, you will be subject to a self quarantine. 

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In BC, the Minister of Health, Adrian Dix, announced today (March 12, 2020), that FOR NOW "Anyone who travels outside Canada will need to stay away from school or work for 14 days upon return...",  and health authorities have advised against non-essential travel outside of Canada, not only to affected areas  (https://globalnews.ca/news/6668957/bc-coronavirus-update-march-12/).  Thank you for making informed and responsible decisions as a family over the next little while.  Also, because this is a rapidly moving situation, these measures may change.  It is our responsibility to continue to stay current about this ever changing situation.  

 

According to the BC Ministry of Health,"self-quarantine" involves limiting contact with others for 14 days by staying home, avoiding having visitors to your home, and avoiding those with chronic conditions, compromised immune systems, and older adults. During this period, you are asked to self-monitor for fever, cough or difficulty breathing. Should you or anyone in your household develop these symptoms, please, call 811 and speak to your health care provider immediately. Please refer to the Canadian government's travel advisory website for specific information to help you make informed decisions.

 

In preparation for the possibility that schools are advised by Health Officials to remain closed after Spring Break, or that members of our community are placed under quarantine or self-isolation, administration and faculty are currently working on contingency plans should there be any disruption to our learning environment or school closures. We ask that you please stay tuned for more information.

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In the meantime, all families should review St. Augustine School COVID-19 Protocol, including our Spring Break Travel Guidelines.

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We strongly encourage parents keep their children home if they are sick, regardless of the reason. The Provincial Health Officer is recommending that if you have any symptoms at all of a cold or influenza, even if they are mild, to rest at home and self-isolate until you are well.

 

St. Augustine continues to work with CISVA, FISA, the BC Ministry of Education, the BC Ministry of Health, and in consultation with other local school administrators, to actively monitor the coronavirus disease and its development locally and globally.

 

Rest assured that you will continue to receive information and updates from St. Augustine School as the situation develops.

 

Please, do not hesitate to contact me should you have any further questions.

 

We thank you for your understanding and compliance. 

 

Mr. Yaptinchay

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Useful Links

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