Coldstream FAQ
Frequent questions about start up September 2020
Questions and more information
Questions compiled as at September 3, 2020
Key protections – staying at home when you are sick.
- Parents to be screening your child each day and not sending if sick
- Systems in place if your child becomes ill at school. (see original back to school plans for more details.
- Will be important to have a contact person if your child does become ill.
Some questions and clarity around this:
If someone at home is sick, does everyone in the household have to stay home?
- No – only stay home if you have symptoms
- If – a confirmed case, then health officer will advise and recommend who should be at home.
How long does my child have to stay home ? Do we have to get a test each time they have any symptoms?
- If your child has symptoms at home or is sent home due to symptoms, language is ‘must be cleared by a health professional to return to school’. This doesn’t mean you need a note or must have a test. This is where, you as the parent/caregiver will have access to determine when it is ok to return. This may be in the form of a call to 811 or your doctor where they would advise you – stay home until symptoms are gone – get tested etc. You would then confirm with the school that your child is clear to return to school.
What if my child has allergies ?
In the spring our guideline was to have parents provide a letter from their doctor. The change now is that a letter is not needed. What we would ask for, especially with elementary aged students, is to have parents be in contact with the school and teacher about your child’s allergies – what we might see – what may trigger them etc. Keep us informed if things are flairing up.
We need to all realize that children will get ill at school and need to be sent home. They did before and they will now.
If a child is sent home, there are disinfecting protocols we follow for any areas they were in. This includes extra support from district to come and disinfect the medical room and our enhanced cleaners would go into the classroom or area the child has been and do another clean.
What we will monitor closely is to make sure to minimize any stigma of getting ill at school – not assuming worst case – or making it something a child worries about coming forward to us with etc. You can help with this by speaking positively with your child about it. They needn’t fear if a classmate has gone home. They can feel confident that this is one of the many ways we help make sure our school is safe.
Is there a protocol for a student in the class testing positive? Does the whole class have to quarantine?
If a positive case of COVID19 occurs, it will be Interior Health that will assume the decisions and direction that we take. They will determine all communication, isolating etc based on their contact tracing processes.
What happens if someone at the school gets COVID?
In this situation – we will totally be guided by the Health officer. They will advise us of all responses and communication – who stays home, who is informed etc. They would be connecting with us to get all information about the learning groups, places, etc to assist with their planning.
What is the plan if the teacher is the one who has to stay home due to them being sick?
We would replace teachers with our TTOCs for any illness (COVID or otherwise).
If the class needed to stay home and the teacher was well, they would resume online learning for the group.
What if your children are in different bubbles and one gets sick? Do we keep all of our children home to monitor?
No, only those with symptoms would stay home. You would take guidance for this from your 811 call or your family doctor.
Masks
- As per the district plan – these are mandated for 6-12 and strongly encouraged for K-5
- Our Grade 5/6 classes would like to have the consistency in their rooms so will be asking our 5s to follow the same expectation as the 6s
- This will apply to all common areas (hallways, busses etc) and when distancing outside the cohort can’t be maintained
- Students don’t have to wear a mask in class
- Students and staff can choose to wear a mask – again – we will be working to ensure that this is a choice that can be made for anyone.
2 masks will be provided for every student
You can help at home by showing your child how to put their mask on / off – and maybe looking into a solution for them not losing them (write name inside – lanyards or clips so they don’t fall off etc)
Staff will be following these same guidelines – as will any TOCS, maintenance workers or visitors to the school.
What other options are available for us if face to face learning isn’t advised.
This may be different for every family.
Our district has seen the need to be responsive to families and have been working very hard to create the flexibility needed.
What it looks like:
VLearn is an existing virtual program within our district. Over the past weeks, they have been adjusting, planning and staffing to help accommodate the growing need for more support.
- Families can connect with Vlearn – join this programming
- You can stay connected to our school
- There are options of rejoining face to face instruction at quarterly intervals throughout the year.
- If you would like more info please email me and we can connect you to learn more/ apply etc.
- Our district is committed to make things work for our families. While our guidance from the PHO is that for most students, the best option is to return to school for face to face instruction – we also know that each family has their own stories/concerns or needs and we want to meet those needs.
School site access
- Well this doesn’t feel very welcoming!
- Key foundational practice is to have a controlled environment – so that means, only staff and students access the building.
- We have systems in place to allow us to make this work. Things like our drop boxes, calling for an appointment to meet – doing virtual transfers of things rather than drop offs etc.
- Our parking lot drop off will look different. We’ll have 2 rows of drop off/ pick up going each day. Parents are asked to stay in their vehicles. We’ll have staff available to help your child find their way.
- Walking your child – we’ll be asking you to say your goodbyes before the bike rack area.
- How you can help – show confidence in their child – a positive being that they’ll show more confidence and build independence.
Different model for K student drop off and pick up. We recognize the need for our K students to have more family support as they transition to school. K classes will have the first 2 days outside – and they will start at 9 – so parents will be walking their child to class . We also have permission from the local church to use their lot for pick ups / drop offs at the east end of the soccer field. More details will follow up with our K families.
How do indoor and outdoor learning groups work?
- Inside the school, your child’s learning group will be their classroom. Outdoors it will be 2 classes. Included in your class group is students, teachers and EAs if they are only working in one class.
First days of school
How will we know which class? – We will send an email on Wednesday to inform families of their child’s class. Email will also outline where your child’s class will meet in the morning.
We won’t be going to old classes this year.
Air Quality
How do we know the air quality is good?
- All systems in SD22 have been tested
- Meeting or beating standards
- Systems are monitored daily
- They have increased settings for fresh air
- Coldstream has a very up to date system. – every class has own system exchanging filtered/cleaned air.
Will teachers be providing online learning for those children that have to stay home?
If your child has symptoms and is home, teachers will provide learning activities from the class, much like they have in the past if your child is sick and missing school.
If there was a situation where a class had to isolate, including the teacher, the teacher would then begin to provide online learning until all can return.
Will there be safe arrival this year?
We are looking to get this started again. This may take a couple of weeks to initiate as it involves multiple volunteers who will need training and a specific place to work. We will be relying heavily on parents using our safe arrival call ins and / or emailing the school if your child is going to be late or away.
I know that social distancing will not be possible in classrooms, but will the kids be sitting as far apart as possible? Or will they still be facing each other across a table and in close proximity?
The language in our protocol is to provide as much space as possible in the class grouping. There is advice to avoid face to face whenever possible.
Can you clarify the hand washing / hand sanitizing stations, where will these be set up in the school.
There are hand sanitizer stands at every entrance to the school, outside the gym, entry to music room and library. Each classroom has their own sink and classes will have sanitizer available if hand washing is not possible.
Will there be PE classes, music, library etc.
Yes, we will have all programs running. There will be adjustments to programming to meet requirements. We look to reduce items that are difficult to clean. Items must be cleaned between each learning group that goes into a common area.
Timeline for bussing information.
Transportation is currently finalizing their routes and will be sending the info to parents.
Will teachers be required to wear masks while teaching?
Teachers do not need to wear a mask when teaching in their class learning group. They may choose to wear one and may wear one when they are in closer proximity to students. Teachers not connected to a class learning group may teach in the class but would be expected to have distance or masks if that is not possible.
Is pick up no later than 2:40? If parents normally pickup 2:45-3 after work, is this no longer an option for later pick up?
District wide, we are needing parents to pick up during designated times. The challenge is to manage and supervise so many learning groups. Our staggered pick up times are coordinated to make things as smooth as possible.
Please contact Mrs. Siegmueller if you have a concern about your timing. We will attempt to assist if it meets with our protocols and supervision ability.
Orientation Days – Thurs. Sept.10 and Fri. Sept. 11
What are the hours? What about bussing?
Regular hours and a full day for these days. 8:30-2:26
Busses run regular routes that day.
Kindergarten students follow their own entry schedule. Their bussing starts on Sept. 23.
What if your children are in different bubbles and one gets sick? Do we keep all of our children home to monitor?
No, only those with symptoms would stay home. You would take guidance for this from your 811 call or your family doctor.
Indoor shoes
Do we need indoor shoes?
We will be needing them, especially as weather gets wetter/snowier. For the beginning week(s) we will not require them. Please ensure they have comfortable shoes for gym. Class teachers will advise on this once we get our first routines running.
School Supplies
Will we still be doing school supplies the same way, as in will we be providing money and the school will be purchasing the supplies like previous years?
Yes. Each class has ordered the supplies.
A few differences this year:
-We will be using an online payment system. Stay tuned for how to info on this.
-Class supplies will not longer be shared between students. Classes that typically had group supplies in table tubs etc. will now have individual student containers, pencil cases or boxes.
Will there be basketball/sports practices with the learning groups?
At this time our extra-curricular sports is suspended.