May 13, 2020
Dear Parents,
This week I am attaching a letter written by the CISVA Superintendent about the next phase of learning in the CISVA for the upcoming month (CISVA Superintendent Update 5-8-2020). There are many rumors of schools opening and we will take our direction and next steps from the Ministry of Education and the CISVA.
The letter explains that we are still in a fluid situation, and anything can upset the best made plans for reopening the schools. The models at present will not allow a FULL return to normal. Those plans will be communicated later on next week. Again, any return will be voluntary. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, we will continue with the present online learning model, and with the Monday, Wednesday and Friday family support opportunity in the school gym.
At present, we have room for additional students who would like to take part in the family support opportunity held in the school gym. We have two teacher assistants and a teacher sponsor who will help students complete their assigned work and participate in some recreational activities. They do not provide direct teaching but will try to assist those students to stay on task who are struggling to complete work in their present home learning environments. We will be contacting families this week who may benefit from this more direct assistance opportunity and from more consistent daily work schedules. If you have any questions about the extra support, feel free to contact the school office.
I wish to end this letter by thanking our Grade Two, Grade One, and Kindergarten parents for their wonderful and heartfelt messages to their teachers, and for Father Richard’s and Mrs. McKenna’s First Communion drive by last Friday. It was a wonderful demonstration of support for all of us and especially for their classroom teachers. Thank you to all the parent organizers and to all the students who made these demonstrations of caring so beautiful. We are grateful for such a wonderful community of student and parents. It is what makes OLS so great! Thank you also to all those families who are consistently watching the Sunday Masses, and who continue to financially support our parish. Please visit www.olos.ca for all updates!
Also, congratulations to our wonderful community for being recognized as one of the “Good News Stories for Independent Schools”!! See the links Below:
Again, we are all grateful for Our Lady of Sorrows School and Parish Community.
Thank you to all, and please continue to stay safe and connected!
Sincerely,
Mr. Balletta,
Principal
Remember to stay up to date!
B.C. health officials announce 7 new cases of COVID-19 and 1 more death | CBC News
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said seven more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in B.C. One more death was reported Tuesday afternoon.
Click on the …..“Go to article” and any of the useful links below for updates!
Useful Links
- May 6 – B.C.’s Restart Plan news release – https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PREM0026-000826
- May 6 – As part the Restart Plan news release, the province outlined the Ministry of Education’s five stage approach to supporting students, families and staff in a backgrounder – https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/BG_Parks_and_Sites_and_In-Class_Learning.pdf
- The BC Centre for Disease Control’s COVID-19 dashboard: http://www.bccdc.ca/hea…/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data
- The Ministry of Education Keep Learning website– https://www.openschool.bc.ca/keeplearning/
- “7 Tips for talking to kids about COVID-19” poster on the Fraser Health website – https://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-topics-a-to-z/coronavirus/resources#.XqHcNc5KhPZ
- 27 – A joint letter for Parents from Minister Fleming and the BCCPAC- https://www.gov.bc.ca/safeschools
- Frequent Asked Questions “Continuity of Learning in the K-12 education system” – https://www.gov.bc.ca/safeschools
- Education Minister Rob Fleming announces on March 17, 2020 in-school classes are suspended until further notice. The Minister’s letter to parents and staff can be found at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/administration/kindergarten-to-grade-12/safe-caring-orderly/218690-covid-letter.pdf
- Information about COVID-19, including information for schools and families, is regularly updated on the BC Centre for Disease Control site: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/childcare-schools
- All joint statements from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix are posted here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/ministries/health
- The Provincial Pandemic Coordination plan: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/reports-publications/pandemic-provincial-coordination-plan.pdf
- KIDS and COVID-19 QA:http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/coronavirus-(novel)#For–schools–and–childcare
- Ministry of Health response plans – https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/pandemic-influenza
- Government of Canada – Novel Coronavirus in China Travel Health Notice: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/travel-health-notices/210
Good News Stories
Our Lady of Sorrows – Virtual Mass with Students Self Portraits! Watch the video here https://youtu.be/9pj8yCDHYis
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School – Teachers and staff at the school dressed up in colourful attire, and stood outside the school (carefully remaining at minimum the standard 2 metres apart), while holding handmade signs and playing musical instruments to greet their students, who drove by in festively decorated cars with their families. Students also held personalized signs, with messages to their school community. Read the full story here https://dalailamacenter.org/blog-post/parade-connection-one-schools-creative-response-covid-19
School District #33 – Chilliwack
Vedder Middle School staff wanted to find a meaningful way to express their gratitude to frontline health care workers for their tireless work and commitment during this exceptional time, so they created the “Heart Warming Project.” Every week a group of students complete a unique and creative art project that is displayed in the community. Recently grade 6 students decorated wood-heart cut-outs that were “planted” by teachers in areas frequented by first responder around Chilliwack.
School District#72 – Campbell River
The school district’s teacher librarians started an audiobook challenge called “One District, One Book.” Every two weeks a new audiobook will be featured that is available for free from Audible. Students across the district can download the audiobook, listen and submit a drawing, poem or other reflection on the book to be entered into a prize draw for a new book to be dropped off at their home. They can also play an online game on Kahoot to test their knowledge from the book. More info can also be found on the district home page – www.sd72.bc.ca