COVID-19 Update

March 20th, 2020

The COVID-19 Update is a component of the Prairie South Schools Pandemic Plan. Every Prairie South Schools COVID-19 Update will have a date and time included at the top right corner of the first page. The most recent information is the current information. If an update is silent on a particular matter, the previous update can be considered as current direction for that matter.

All schools and facilities in Prairie South are currently closed. If you need to speak to someone at the school division about an urgent matter, please call the main switchboard at (306)694-1200 or email Director of Education Tony Baldwin at baldwin.tony@prairiesouth.ca

The source of truth for COVID-19 information in Saskatchewan is the Saskatchewan Health Authority website at www.saskatchewan.ca/coronavirus.

The following communication has been provided by the Provincial Response Planning Team. Prairie South will be implementing our Supplemental Learning Plan when we are notified that it is safe for our staff to do so.

March 17th, 2020
Dear Parents:

We are writing today to provide an update related to the provincial response to COVID-19 and the plans that are underway in Prairie South. We know there is much uncertainty for families and staff, and wish we had all of the answers to your questions. Our goal continues to be to support your children and your family, and we are committed to providing information as we become aware of it.

On March 16th, the Government of Saskatchewan announced the indefinite suspension of PreK to 12 classes in Saskatchewan beginning March 20th. “Indefinite” may mean that school is finished for the year, or it may mean that when the COVID-19 outbreak stabilizes, we will be able to return to school sometime sooner than next fall. When we have more information from the Ministry of Health, we will let you know.

Today the Ministry of Education announced a pause period for school programming in Saskatchewan from Friday, March 20th to Friday, March 27th inclusive. As a result of this announcement, Prairie South has activated our Business Continuity Plan which will see a stoppage of work throughout the school division with the exception of essential business services.

When the pause is lifted, our teachers will reach out to provide instructional support for our students and resources for parents. In the meantime, remember that an hour of reading followed by a discussion of what was read is an amazing ELA lesson and a batch of cookies with measurements of ingredients makes for yummy math. Being an attentive mom or dad will help your child feel settled during this challenging time. We continue to work actively with the Ministry of Education to plan for continued learning opportunities for students and families and we will have more information for you related to this in the coming days. The Ministry of Education is also working on a plan to ensure the successful completion of grade 12 for students registered in that grade.

Once again, further information will be sent through School Messenger and will be posted on www.prairiesouth.ca as well as our Facebook and Twitter accounts. For information about COVID-19, please visit www.saskatchewan.ca/coronavirus.

Respectfully,

Director of Education

Robert Bachmann

Chair, Board of Education

March 16th, 2020
Dear Parents:

I am writing today to provide an update related to the provincial response to COVID-19 and the related plans that are underway in Prairie South. Our goal is to support your children and your family during this time.

Today the Government of Saskatchewan announced the indefinite suspension of classes for PreK-12 students beginning Friday, March 20th. Grades 8-12 students may remain at school today but are not able to attend beginning tomorrow with the exception of students who are unable to care for themselves independently.

Parents who are able to make immediate arrangements for childcare should do so. All parents will need to make arrangements for childcare by Friday, March 20th as schools will be closed beginning that day. Until Thursday, please notify your school if your child will not be at school.

We are working actively with the Ministry of Education to plan for continued learning opportunities for students and families who wish to access these opportunities and we will have more information for you related to this in the coming days. We are also working on a plan to ensure the successful completion of grade 12 for students registered in that grade.

I recognize that the provincial response to the COVID-19 outbreak will affect families in different ways. While I don’t know how it will affect your family, I am committed to using the resources at Prairie South Schools to support you in the coming days. Please continue to be in contact with your school principal and your child’s teacher; they will be available to support you.

Further information will be sent through SchoolMessenger and will be posted on www.prairiesouth.ca as well as our Facebook and Twitter accounts. For information about COVID-19, please visit www.saskatchewan.ca/coronavirus.

Thank you for your support over the past week and in the coming days.

Respectfully,

Director of Education

COVID-19 Update
March 16th, 2020 11:30 am

The COVID-19 Update is a component of the Prairie South Schools Pandemic Plan. Every Prairie South Schools COVID-19 Update will have a date and time included at the top right corner of the first page. The most recent information is the current information. If an update is silent on a particular matter, the previous update can be considered as current direction for that matter.

The source of truth for COVID-19 information in Saskatchewan is the Saskatchewan Health Authority website at www.saskatchewan.ca/coronavirus.

Section One. Students.

• The Government of Saskatchewan has announced the indefinite suspension of classes for PreK-12 students beginning Friday, March 20th.
• Grades 8-12 students may remain at school today but are not able to attend beginning tomorrow with the exception of students who are unable to care for themselves independently.
• Parents who are able to make arrangements for childcare are to stop sending their children to school immediately. No students will be allowed at school beginning on Friday, March 20th.

Section Two. All School and School Division Staff.

• All staff will continue to report to work as they do regularly up to and including Thursday, March 19th. Direction related to staff attendance after March 19th will follow.
• All information shared yesterday related to self-monitoring, self-isolating, and travel continues to be in effect.

Section Three. Schools.

• Prairie South transportation services will continue as regularly scheduled up to and including Thursday, March 19th.
• We are working on a plan to ensure ongoing learning opportunities for students and families who choose to access them during the time that classes are suspended.

Please follow regular communication processes as we work together to support children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you for your work connected to COVID-19.

COVID-19 Update
March 15th, 2020 5:30 pm

The COVID-19 Update is a component of the Prairie South Schools Pandemic Plan. Every Prairie South Schools COVID-19 Update will have a date and time included at the top right corner of the first page. The most recent information is the current information. If an update is silent on a particular matter, the previous update can be considered as current direction for that matter.

The source of truth for COVID-19 information in Saskatchewan is the Saskatchewan Health Authority website at www.saskatchewan.ca/coronavirus.

Section One. Students

• If students have cold or flu-like symptoms, they should stay home from school and their parents should contact Healthline at 811 to receive advice. If they arrive at school with these symptoms, they should be isolated at school and their parents are to be called to pick the student up.
• If a student has been out of Canada and returns to Canada on March 15th or later, they are not to attend school for 14 days after their return.
• If a student has returned to Canada on March 14th or earlier, they should come to school and self-monitor for 14 days. In the event that they develop cold or flu-like symptoms, they should stay home from school and parents should contact Healthline at 811 for advice.

Section Two. All School and School Division Staff.

• If staff have cold or flu-like symptoms, they should stay home from work until the symptoms diminish.
• If a staff member has been or is currently out of Canada and returns to Canada on March 15th or later, they are to self-isolate and not attend work for 14 days after their return. Medical leave can be accessed through the normal process. If the staff member does not have sufficient medical leave in their bank, they should contact Diana Welter for direction.
• If a staff member has returned to Canada on March 14th or earlier, they should come to work and self-monitor for 14 days.
• Until further notice, staff who have out-of-Canada travel scheduled on March 17th or later should cancel travel plans. In the event that the staff member considers travel to be essential, contact with Diana Welter is required prior to travel. Staff who choose to travel outside of Canada on or after March 17th can access vacation leave (if available) or unpaid leave in order to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return.
• Decisions related to leave for staff who are currently outside of Canada and are required to isolate in place (ie: are unable to return to Canada) will be made on a case-by-case basis. Staff members who find themselves in this position should contact Diana Welter.

Section Three. Schools.

• Schools will continue to operate as normal. Students and staff should practice social distancing and frequent hand washing.
• Facilities staff have increased their attention on cleaning high touch surfaces in common areas.
• Some parents will exercise their right to choose that their child(ren) will not attend school even if school is operating normally. Teachers are not expected to prepare extra materials for students not in attendance.
• Full-school assemblies are to be cancelled. Other large groups or gatherings of students from multiple classroom groups are discouraged.
• All Student Led Conferences are postponed. Parents and teachers should continue to communicate as normal to discuss student progress.
• Curricular trips may continue to happen at the discretion of the principal in consultation with the Superintendent of Operations.
• Community use activities in schools are canceled until further notice.
• Decisions about other significant activities including graduation ceremonies will be made in accordance with emerging information from the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

Please follow regular communication processes as we work together to support children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you for your work connected to COVID-19.

09 March 2020

Hello Prairie South Parents:
We have been notified by the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation today that members of the STF will be imposing a Restriction of Services sanction beginning March 12th, 2020.

The STF have notified school divisions in Saskatchewan that teachers will not be providing any extra-curricular or voluntary service beginning March 12th until further notice. Teachers will be at school 15 minutes prior to the school day and will leave school 15 minutes after the school day. The only exception to this will be that scheduled student led conference times will proceed as planned.

I have directed principals at all Prairie South Schools to cancel all extra-curricular activities effective March 12th. These activities will be cancelled until further notice regardless of whether a teacher is facilitating the activity.

Prairie South busses will be operating as normal during this period of sanctions. For parents of students who do not ride the bus to school, please ensure that your children do not arrive at school earlier than 15 minutes before the beginning of the school day.

This is a challenging time for our staff and the families we serve. I am committed to supporting students, teachers and other staff and families during the period of sanction activity. As additional information is provided to us by the STF, we will make it available at your child’s school, www.prairiesouth.ca and on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Respectfully,

Director of Education