Medicine Hat, AB (January 9, 2022): Below you will find a summary of the most significant changes to our
2021-2022 MHPSD School Plan. These changes have been made after a review of the most recent guidance provided to school divisions (
Government of Alberta Guidance for Schools (k-12) and Busses). That guidance was received early Friday evening. Please note that, in most cases, where the government used the terms “strongly recommended” and “recommended” we have accepted that recommendation and placed it in our own plan.
Throughout the pandemic Medicine Hat Public School Division’s focus has been fixed on three guiding principles:
- The safety and well-being of students and staff is the TOP priority.
- High quality teaching and learning will be supported through sound inclusion practices, flexible learning environments, and high value professional learning.
- Protect families and our community from disruptions to learning.
This latest wave of the pandemic may prove to be our most challenging yet. Because we no longer receive information from Alberta Health Services regarding positive cases in schools (students or staff) we have no reliable data to help us project student and staff absence levels. We are thankful to our staff and families who share information about absences so we can plan ahead, however, we fully expect that there will be occasions when do not have enough staff to serve a class, grade level, or school.
As this email is being written, we are receiving notifications from staff that they are unable to report to work face to face due to the onset of symptoms or because they have tested positive. We are also aware that our substitute teacher and educational assistant pools have been depleted because they too are experiencing symptoms or are testing positive. It is likely that shifts to at-home learning will be necessary due to staffing challenges.
Please know that we look forward to returning to a place with less disruption and challenge. Like the community we serve, no teacher or staff member is the creator of this challenge, nor are they the architects of the response. They have been working hard under extremely challenging circumstances for a very long time. They care about your children and our community and are doing the very best they can. They have invested in learning a broader range of tools to support our students.
I am constantly amazed by the commitment of the staff who serve our children and youth and am thankful for the tremendous support the community has given us throughout the pandemic. Thank you.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES to our 2021-2022 MHPSD School Plan based on updates from the most recent Government of Alberta Guidance for Schools (k-12) and Busses.
DAILY SCREENING PRACTICES - ILLNESS: Each day, before leaving home, staff, students, visitors, and volunteers who will access the school for work or education, must self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms using the applicable checklist for their age group by completing the Alberta Health Daily Checklist. Parents can follow the Student Isolation Requirements Flow Chart to help make their decisions
MASKING IN SCHOOLS AND ON BUSSES: Staff and students in K-12 are required to properly wear masks at all times while on school buses when inside MHPSD schools and properties. Students in ELP will be required to wear a mask on school busses but will not be required to wear masks during the school day. Parents may choose to send their children to school wearing a mask at their discretion.
SPORTS AND EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND PERFORMANCES:
Sports: Athletic games and practices are permitted, as is league play. Spectator attendance is not permitted at this time. Schools will continue to provide live streaming options when possible.
Performing Arts: Singing & vocal performance, dance and live instrumental music are permitted as part of the educational curriculum, within limitations. Students are able to participate in an extracurricular performance activity, however audiences and spectators are not permitted at this time.
STUDENT GROUPINGS/COHORTS:
Kindergarten through grade 6: A student’s assigned class will be considered their cohort. Cohorting should be maintained during activities outside the classroom, such as recess and lunch breaks. If students from two different cohorts wish to socialize, they should remain 2 metres apart.
Grades 7 - 12: Middle schools and high schools cannot reasonably cohort while offering a full range of programming.
PROHIBITED EVENTS: To reduce interactions between cohorts, multi-classroom/cohort gatherings such as assemblies, whole grade, or whole school groupings are not permitted at this time. Virtual assemblies are encouraged.
STUDENTS ENTERING/EXITING THE SCHOOL: Schools have designated entrances and exits to support cohorts and distancing for staggered entry. Each school will have a plan in place to encourage distancing and to ensure masking prior to school entry.
VISITORS/PARENT/VOLUNTEERS & SERVICE PROVIDERS: In accordance with MHPSD Policy 546 all persons over the age of 12 are required to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a negative rapid test result in order to enter all Division facilities. A self-test completed offsite or self-produced documentation of a negative test result is not valid. This requirement does not apply to students attending school or regular curriculum events. Any visitor that enters an MHPSD building will be required to wear a mask; mask exemptions will not be accepted. Any visitor that is not able to wear a mask may meet with school staff virtually.
EDUCATIONAL EXCURSIONS/FIELD TRIPS: Excursions to outdoor destinations are permitted. Distancing between cohorts is expected.
Excursions to indoor settings are permitted so long as cohorts travel separately and do not mingle at their destination. Host businesses and organizations must assure the teacher that volunteers and staff are either fully vaccinated or have provided proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours.
SHIFTING TO AT-HOME LEARNING: Within Alberta Education’s plan school jurisdictions may shift an individual class or grade level to at-home learning based on the level of absence among students and the availability of qualified staff. The decision to shift an entire school to at-home learning rests with the Minister of Education, in consultation with school jurisdictions.
We will make every effort to ensure that the decision to shift to at-home learning is communicated with as much advance notice as possible, however advanced notice may not always be an option. It is very possible that we will have circumstances where a staff member must leave due to the onset of illness, and we have no qualified replacement. In these limited circumstances, we may need to engage a fan-out to send classes home. We are prioritizing our teaching resources for younger grades in the hopes of avoiding the need to send them home.
It is critical that families begin to consider what they might do if this circumstance arises.
If a shift to at-home learning occurs, your child’s teacher/school will communicate, as soon as possible, direction regarding the start-up of at-home learning. We remain committed to the effective use of Google Classroom/Edsby to support learning. As has been the case for nearly two years, schools will support families who do not have a device to support on-line learning. Families are asked to contact their child’s school to sign out a device.
Mask and Rapid Test Distribution: Masks and rapid tests will be sent home with students, through their classroom/homeroom teachers. Families will receive an email prior to masks/test being sent home, so they can watch for their arrival. We understand that some families do not want or need these supplies and we do not want them to go to waste. If you prefer that your child DOES NOT bring home masks and/or a rapid test kit, please contact your child’s school and let the know. Masks and rapid tests are being provided to families to use at their discretion; it is not mandatory to use either. We recommend that you follow the guidance provided from AHS, see below.
MASKS: Ten government issued masks will be sent home with each student; it is not mandatory to use a government provided mask. Students may wear any mask that meets AHS guidelines. It is mandatory that students in k-12 come to school each day with a mask on and follow MHPSD masking expectations*. The remaining 10 masks will be distributed at school for midday mask changes. A mid-day mask change is not mandatory but is strongly recommended. Please review the AHS guidance on masks.
*Staff and students in K-12 will be masked at all times regardless of seating arrangements. Student can remove their masks to eat, for recess and to participate in physical education.
What types of masks will be provided? We expect to get more details about the type of masks being provided, currently this is what we have heard from AHS:
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Adult masks are Level 3 and child masks are Level 2. Level 3 masks have greater than 98% filtration efficiency and protect against heavy levels of aerosols, spray and/or fluids. Level 2 masks have greater than 98% filtration efficiency and protect against low to medium levels of aerosols, spray and/or fluids.
RAPID TESTS: The rapid tests come in a box of five. Each ECS-12 student and staff will be given one box for each distribution that will provide them with enough tests for 2.5 weeks. School staff will NOT administer a rapid test to a student at any time. Our only job is to get them from the government to you. You are NOT required to use them. We are passing these tests to staff and families, use your own discretion. AHS has provided the following guidance:
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The rapid test is recommended to be used twice per week, 72 hours apart (i.e. Sunday and Wednesday or Monday and Thursday). Additional information is available online.
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A how-to video and a rapid test program fact sheet translated into multiple languages offers tips on how to use the rapid test kits. Both are available online.
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Rapid tests should be stored between 2 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius. The BTNX tests should not be frozen. If they are accidentally frozen, they can be thawed for 30 minutes to room temperature and then can still be used.
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There is no requirement to report a positive rapid test result to AHS or schools.
Medicine Hat, AB (January 7, 2022): Students will return to the classroom on Monday, January 10 and the Minister of Education has been clear that she intends to keep schools open. As has been the case since the beginning of the pandemic, our planning is built with three priorities in mind. Our first commitment is to the safety of our students, staff, and community. The second is to the provision of continuous, optimal learning for our students. Finally, we are committed to protecting our community from disrupted services to their children and youth. To protect our school environments and keep them open for in person learning we will continue to be vigilant in our safety expectations.
The government is providing some tools to help us accomplish the above goals.
The Government of Alberta is providing rapid test kits and medical-grade masks that can be used at the discretion of families and staff. Our initial shipment will include a two-week supply of masks (20 per student/staff) and test kits. They are expected to start arriving in school divisions next week. We will distribute the supplies to schools as soon as we have them. A recurring biweekly schedule for ongoing mask deliveries will be established after the first shipment is completed.
Mask and Rapid Test Distribution:
Masks and rapid tests will be sent home with students, through their classroom/homeroom teachers. Families will receive an email prior to masks/test being sent home, so they can watch for their arrival. We understand that some families do not want or need these supplies and we do not want them to go to waste. If you prefer that your child DOES NOT bring home masks and/or a rapid test kit, please contact your child’s school and let the know. Masks and rapid tests are being provided to families to use at their discretion; it is not mandatory to use either. We recommend that you follow the guidance provided from AHS, see below.
Masks
Ten government issued masks will be sent home with each student; it is not mandatory to use a government provided mask. Students may wear any mask that meets AHS guidelines. It is mandatory that students in k-12 come to school each day with a mask on and follow MHPSD masking expectations*. The remaining 10 masks will be distributed at school for midday mask changes. A mid-day mask change is not mandatory but is strongly recommended. Please review the AHS guidance on masks.
*Staff and students in K-12 will be masked at all times regardless of seating arrangements. Student can remove their masks to eat, for recess and to participate in physical education.
What types of masks will be provided? We expect to get more details about the type of masks being provided, currently this is what we have heard from AHS:
- Adult masks are Level 3 and child masks are Level 2. Level 3 masks have greater than 98% filtration efficiency and protect against heavy levels of aerosols, spray and/or fluids. Level 2 masks have greater than 98% filtration efficiency and protect against low to medium levels of aerosols, spray and/or fluids.
We are still waiting on updated expectations for masking in schools, we hope to be able to share that information with you on Sunday. Families will need to ensure that their children in K-12 have a mask for school next week.
Rapid tests
The rapid tests come in a box of five. Each ECS-12 student and staff will be given one box for each distribution that will provide them with enough tests for 2.5 weeks. School staff will NOT administer a rapid test to a student at any time. Our only job is to get them from the government to you. You are NOT required to use them. We are passing these tests to staff and families, use your own discretion. AHS has provided the following guidance:
- The rapid test is recommended to be used twice per week, 72 hours apart (e.g. Sunday and Wednesday or Monday and Thursday). Additional information is available online.
- A how-to video and a rapid test program fact sheet translated into multiple languages offers tips on how to use the rapid test kits. Both are available online.
- Rapid tests should be stored between 2 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius. The BTNX tests should not be frozen. If they are accidentally frozen, they can be thawed for 30 minutes to room temperature and then can still be used.
- There is no requirement to report a positive rapid test result to AHS or schools.
High School Exams/Exam Week
High school final exams and diploma exams will be cancelled for the second quarter. No decision has been made about the April and June diploma examinations. The exam week has been changed and students will attend to complete outcomes missed due to the extended winter break. Please watch for more communication from your child’s school and/or teacher.
Illness at school/work
Families and staff are required to review the Alberta Health Daily Checklist before attending school or work. Anyone exhibiting any symptoms must remain at home until symptoms resolve. Continue to report absences to the school and contact your child's teacher if they will be away for several days. Children and staff who are symptomatic at school will be sent home to follow AHS isolation requirements.
If this checklist is changed this weekend, an updated link will be included in future communications.
Reporting COVID cases in schools
AHS is no longer supporting contract tracing for positive COVID-19 cases in schools. Nor are they informing school divisions of positive cases associated with schools. As a result, we will no longer track cases in schools.
Medicine Hat Public School Division and Alberta Health Services will work together share data relative to student and staff absence to inform both organizations’ decision-making.
Temporary online learning
If we experience a high number of student or staff absences, it may become necessary to shift individual classes, grade levels, or schools to temporary, online learning for all school days within a period of 10 calendar days. A 10-day shift reduces the need to have extensions to the length of shifts which results in uncertainty for students, parents and staff. This also aligns with the maximum isolation period. While we will provide as much advanced notice as possible, it may be necessary to shift quite quickly to on-line learning, based on the availability of staff to provide safe learning environments for students. Temporary online learning will be facilitated through Google classroom and/or Edsby.
We want to keep students learning in their classrooms and temporary, online learning will only be used as a last resort. Once again, this will only occur when it isn’t possible to continue learning in person because of staff availability or at the direction of AHS due to student absence levels.
We intend to continue to provide the best quality education possible for our students. Any students that are isolating will have access to instruction and learning activities through Google Classroom.
What is Next?
We understand families may have additional questions and we would have preferred to provide you with more detailed information today. However, we are waiting for updated school reentry guidance from Alberta Education and Alberta Health Services. We anticipate receiving these documents sometime this weekend. Our team will review the document over the weekend and will send another email to families by Sunday Evening (Jan 9) summarizing the key points. We know that a Sunday night email is not ideal, but we don’t anticipate any surprises that will impact the following school day. If you send your K-12 child to school with a mask, necessary school materials, and appropriately dressed for this chilly weather, they will be ready for a day of learning on Jan 10.
We are grateful for your patience and understanding.
Be well,
Mark Davidson, Superintendent
Medicine Hat Public School Division
Medicine Hat, AB (Sept 8, 2021): Over the past week we have been made aware of positive COVID-19 cases in all MHPSD schools. Since positive COVID-19 cases continue to trend upward in our community, we expect that positive cases will continue to be present in our schools. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority and we continue to be vigilant in our response.