Back to School FAQ

This FAQ is intended to answer some of your questions regarding the September school restart for K to 12 students.

Note: The information shared here is based on the most current information we have. As more information becomes available, we will update this FAQ accordingly.

We take all of our direction from the Ministry of Education and the Provincial Health Office. They say the schools need to be open and we oblige knowing we have a great plan in place.

There are a number of reasons for a return to in-class instruction:
- Schools are important community hubs. Social interaction is critical to our individual and collective well-being and mental health.
- Schools are critical to student learning.
- School closures have significant negative mental health and socioeconomic impacts on vulnerable children and youth.
Under guidance from the provincial government, Provincial Health Officer, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and our local health authority, SD62 schools have strict health and safety measures to ensure the safety of our staff and students. These include:
- Frequent hand washing
- Added sanitization stations
- Hand sanitizers in all portable classrooms
- Mandatory masks or face coverings for all students in Grades 4-12 and all K-Grade 12 staff in all indoor schools, buildings and buses. *Exceptions will be made for people who cannot wear masks for medical reasons
- Floor markings and/or signage to address traffic flow
- Trust in parents, students and staff to stay home if they feel ill
When school resumes in September, all students with disabilities or those who need extra support in school will continue to have full-time access to in-class instruction and the supports and services they are eligible to receive.

School districts and independent school authorities will be expected to identify students with additional support needs through a needs assessment to allow for proactive planning to ensure supports and services are in place at the start of the school year.
Parents/guardians of children with complex medical conditions or underlying risk factors should consult with their healthcare provider to determine their child’s level of risk regarding returning to school. Subsequently, parents/guardians may wish to reach out to the principal or support teacher (case manager) of their current school to discuss available options and support.

Sickness at school or home, learning from home

The provincial guidelines cover this – all of our schools are following these guidelines and conducting daily health checks to monitor for symptoms.

The guidelines state that students who show any symptoms of a cold, the flu or COVID-19 should not go to school.
- For mild symptoms without fever, students and staff can monitor at home for 24 hours. If symptoms improve, they can return to school without further assessment.
- If the staff or student (or their parent) indicates that the symptoms are consistent with a previously diagnosed health condition and are not unusual for that individual, they may return to school. No assessment or note is required from a health care provider.

Sickness at school or home, learning from home

Daily Health Check