May 27, 2020

Dear Parents and Families,

I want to take this opportunity to thank the community for your ongoing support and understanding as we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope that our community remains safe and healthy.

On May 15, 2020, the Province of British Columbia announced the BC Restart Plan that highlighted schools would reopen for in-class instruction on a voluntary part-time basis beginning June 1, 2020. In response to this announcement the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board conducted a survey to assess how many families would send their children back to school for the month of June. The results were apparent that families are not prepared to resume in-class instruction at this time.

The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board of Directors held a duly convened Board of Directors meeting on May 25, 2020 to discuss a potential reopening for the month of June. Our Directors made the decision not to reopen for June and to continue providing remote learning until the last day of instruction on Monday, June 22, 2020.

The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board will be utilizing the coming months to develop a return to school plan with the potential goal of a full reopening in September. The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board will remain informed on the current guidelines from the Provincial Health Officer and Health Minister around COVID-19 guidelines. We will also be guided by the BC Center for Disease Control and WorksafeBC as we develop guidelines for resuming in class instruction. The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board’s pandemic response plan will be made public in August so families have time to review and ask questions prior to September.

The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board wishes you continued health and safety.

Sincerely,

The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board

Curtis Olsen

Previous updates appear below this line.

May 15, 2020

Dear Parents and Families,

Today the Provincial Government announced that B.C. Schools will be reopening on a part-time basis starting June 1, 2020. The government released a number of mandatory measures that must be implemented to ensure the health and safety of students and staff. The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board understands that our community is deserving of additional considerations to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as we transition into these new phases.

On May 25^th, 2020 the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board will be holding a Board of Director’s meeting and our members will be discussing a plan to safely move forward. The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board staff will be requesting input from parents and/or guardians through a survey to compile information on the number of students that would be interested in resuming in-class education.  This information will help guide the Board of Director’s decision to open schools in June on a part-time basis or wait until September with the goal of a full reopening.

The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board will provide our next announcement on May 26, 2020. Thank you for your patience as we navigate through the pandemic and the latest guidelines from the provincial government.

Sincerely,

The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board

Curtis Olsen

March 27, 2020

Dear Students, Parents and Staff, 

This notice is to provide further updates with respect to the COVID-19 closure at the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board. 

As of today, the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board has concluded a two-week spring break and the management team will be reaching out to staff early next week to discuss education and employment continuance. The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board remains committed to supporting our students and staff during these difficult times. 

The management team has continued virtual work during the break in order to help mitigate any hardships that students, parents and staff may face as we work towards transitioning to a new learning environment.  

The Ministry of Education has provided Districts with a two-week timeframe to plan and implement education continuance. The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board is committed to following the same timeline to ensure minimal interruption to student learning. As a unique organization, the management team and staff will work carefully to consider the needs of our community. 

The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board is committed to transparency and will keep our community informed as educational plans are developed. The School Board’s main objectives for the next two-weeks are as follows;

•  Assess the needs of students and families during the COVID-19 crisis
• Identify the requirements for education continuance 
• Determine essential staffing to carry out continued learning. 
• Determine the needs for parents working in essential services
• Identify plans to support families during the closure

Future updates to parents will be provided by the teaching staff. We will continue to use the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board website to post information. 

Please do your part in social distancing, self-isolation and working together to flatten the curve of COVID-19.  

Sincerely,

W̱SÁNEĆ SCHOOL BOARD

Curtis Olsen

Administrator

March 20, 2020

This notice is to provide up-to-date information to parents, students, staff and community regarding COVID-19. Please visit our website “wsanecschoolboard.ca” for future updates.

In recent days, we have become familiar with concepts of ‘social distancing’, ‘self-isolation’ and ‘flattening the curve’ – all part of our individual and collective efforts to slow and limit the spread of COVID-19.  Keeping these very important aspects in consideration the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board has come to the decision to follow the BC Government directive to suspend schools indefinitely. The ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱ Tribal Elementary School, W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership School, Saanich Adult Education Centre, and the SȽEȽEMW̱ Child Development Centre will remain closed until further notice in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please note, this is an organization wide closure.

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How will this affect students?

The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board’s Management Team held a virtual meeting this morning to begin discussion regarding a plan to provide continued learning to students. We will continue to meet, plan and prepare. Undoubtedly, there will be challenges; but we are committed to doing everything we can to support our families in what we know are difficult and uncertain circumstances. It is evident that we need to consider all of our student’s needs before making an informed decision that takes into consideration the safety of our community.

All students on track to progress to the next grade level, or graduate will do so as usual at the end of the school year.

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How will this affect staff?

In order to reduce any further hardship to staff, including contract employees, and on-call staff (that were previously booked to work), staff will continue to receive regular wages at this time.

The plan for continued learning for students and the expectation of staff to work from home will go hand-in-hand.  Managers, in consultation from our legal council and the BCGEU will be formulating a plan to move ahead with distance learning and educational services.

Please be assured that the health and safety of our staff and students are of upmost importance and all decisions will be made in accordance.  We will communicate with you regularly as developments arise. I anticipate providing a further update by April 3, 2020.

Please do your part in social distancing, self-isolation and keeping in mind that working together we can flatten the curve of COVID-19.  We hope and pray that our students, staff and W̱SÁNEĆ Community remain healthy and safe.

Sincerely,

WSANEC SCHOOL BOARD

Curtis Olsen

Administrator

March 12, 2020

Dear Parents, Students, Staff members & Community:

We continue to monitor the latest information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19). At this point there has not been a confirmed case within our organization, or our surrounding communities, however, the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board is taking a precautionary stand to close our facility (including the ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Tribal School, W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Secondary and Saanich Adult Education Centre) entirely effective today, Thursday, March 12, 2020.

In monitoring the spread of this virus throughout the world, it is very clear things can change suddenly. The W̱SÁNEĆ School Board is being vigilant with precautionary steps. Please remember these everyday preventative actions:

• Wash your hands frequently
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth and ears
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash, or cough/sneeze to the inside part of your elbow
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
• Avoid large crowds

We will continue to monitor the latest information during the Spring Break. The Managers are scheduling a conference call together on Thursday, March 26, 2020 to assess the situation and determine whether or not school will resume on March 30, 2020. We want our families to be prepared for all possible scenarios, including an extended closure of schools, should COVID-19 become an issue locally. We also want to ensure that we have a plan in place to safeguard our students and staff once we return to school and work. All decisions will be made in the best interest of the health of our students, staff and community.

We hope and pray that our students, staff and W̱SÁNEĆ Community remain healthy and safe.

Sincerely,
W̱SÁNEĆ SCHOOL BOARD

Curtis Olsen
Administrator