Lakeland Ridge Weekly Update!
Friday, January 14, 2022
Dear LLR families,
We understand the strain this virus has on our school community and appreciate your diligence and partnership as we continue to navigate through these unprecedented circumstances.
Please review the EIPS School Operations Guidelines 2021-22 and COVID-19 Alberta Health Daily Checklist. Every morning before coming to school, all students, staff, and visitors are reminded to complete the COVID-19 Alberta Health Daily Checklist. If you are feeling unwell, you are asked to please stay home. The Division also revised the Stay-At-Home Guide for Families for your reference. It’s an easy-to-read one-page chart to which you can refer when your child is feeling unwell or has COVID-19 symptoms—to help determine when to keep your child at home and when it’s safe to return to school.
If your child will be absent, we ask families to please inform the school of the reason for the absence. In addition, if your child is "fully vaccinated" and is returning to school after their 5 day isolation period, please let the office know so we can inform the appropriate staff and make the necessary accommodations. It is the responsibility of the parent/student to inform the school if an alternate eating arrangement is required. Please email Amy.Desaulniers@eips.ca or call the school at 780-416-9018. Specific information regarding returning to school after being illness can be found in the next section of our update.
Just a reminder that Alberta Health Services (AHS) no longer notifies schools of positive COVID-19 cases, therefore schools will not be informing families of potential cases among our staff and student population.
Students Returning to School After Illness
As per the updated COVID-19 Alberta Health Daily Checklist, children who are fully immunized are required to isolate for 5 days from the onset of symptoms or until symptoms resolve, whichever is longer. If a child is not fully immunized, the child must isolate for 10 days from the onset of symptoms or until they resolve, whichever is longer.
"Fully vaccinated" individuals that return after 5 days after being ill must continue to wear a mask for up to 5 days after their isolation period in the following situations:
- when outside of the home in a public place
- when participating in physical activities (i.e. Phys. Ed or outside at recess)
- when in the company of others not within their household.
Therefore, students returning to school from a 5 day isolation period have two options for eating at morning break and at lunch.
Morning Break - During the morning break, elementary students will eat their snacks in the breakout rooms within their classroom or outside the class. Junior high students can eat in the Kona gym where they will be supervised and socially distanced from one another. After eating, students can wear their masks and return to their regular school routine.
Lunch - Students will have two options at lunch.
- Students can eat in the Kona gym where they will be supervised and socially distanced from one another. After eating, students can wear their masks and return to their regular school routine.
- Students can eat lunch at home for the 5-day period.
Families may also choose to keep their child home from school for the additional 5 days and access schoolwork using the Brightspace platform. It is the responsibility of the parent/student to inform the school if an alternate eating arrangement is required. Please email Amy.Desaulniers@eips.ca or call 780-416-9018.
Provincially Provided COVID Supplies for Students
Rapid test kits and masks for students went home today. Each student received 20 medical grade masks (2 masks per day per student) and one box of rapid test kits containing five rapid tests. Please check your child's backpack.
If your child was absent today their masks and test kits will be available when they return to school. Families who would like to make alternate arrangements please contact the school at 780-416-9018.
Students in Kindergarten to Grade 5 received child size masks and students in Grades 6 to 9 received adult size masks. These materials were packaged by designated staff members following proper handwashing protocol who wore masks and gloves while handling the materials. The masks distributed are all the same and/or have duplicate patterns. We suggest that you label your child's masks each day with their name or initials.
The Alberta government recommends that rapid tests be used twice per week, 72 hours apart (e.g. Sunday and Wednesday or Monday and Thursday). Here is a how-to video for parents and a rapid test program fact sheet offering tips on how to use the rapid test kits. Both are available online at https://www.alberta.ca/k-12-learning-during-covid-19.aspx.
Thank you for your continued diligence in monitoring symptoms and following the updated Alberta Health Daily Checklist.
Junior High Athletics Update
EIPS is moving forward with starting up Junior High Athletics. Practices will begin on Monday, January 17. We are in the process of updating the Athletics Calendar on the Lakeland Ridge website, however, all four basketball teams will practice after school on Monday. Those teams that use Team Snap will also receive updates once practice times are established. Officials are not available this week, therefore there will not be any league games at this time.
It is imperative that all families and student-athletes follow the COVID-19 Alberta Health Daily Checklist and stay home if any symptoms and/or positive results occur. Also, strict masking, when not playing (on the bench, traveling in and out of the gymnasium, traveling on bus etc.) must be adhered to. We will continue to monitor the health and wellbeing of our student-athletes and coaching staff and update families with any changes.
Upcoming Dates and Events
Jan 15: Drama Bottle Drive 12-4PM in the Lakeland Ridge parking lot
Jan. 31: Professional Learning Day: No School
Feb. 1: Semester 2 Begins
Feb 8: PAS Meeting 6:30 PM/School Council Meeting 7:00PM
Feb 10 & 11: Teacher's Convention (No School)
Feb 16 & 17: Parent Teacher Interviews
Feb 21: Family Day (No School)
Saffron Presentations for Junior High Students
Sun Ridge Ski Trip - Canceled
Survey: Year in Review
Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) wants to hear from you to gain a deeper understanding of your confidence in the Division and its strategic direction. As such, it’s launched a new annual survey entitled, EIPS Year in Review: Stakeholder Confidence Survey—open January 6-18.
The survey covers a range of topics, including student growth and achievement, learning supports, teaching and leading, governance, and resource allocations. The information gathered will help EIPS:
· assess stakeholder confidence—families, staff, Grade 12 students and community members;
· gather input to guide future decision-making;
· gather feedback to enhance its Four-Year Education Plan; and
· provide a platform for families, students, staff and community members to have a voice in ensuring high-quality, student-centred learning environments in EIPS schools.
EIPS will share the results in the Annual Education Results Report 2021-22.
TAKE THE SURVEY NOW!
Survey closes Jan. 18, 2022
NOTE: EIPS encourages everyone to respond honestly. Your identity and answers are confidential and cannot be linked in any way to you or your child’s school. Grade 12 students will have an opportunity to complete the survey at school. Families who do not want their child to complete the survey simply need to advise their child’s school.
Career Pathways
Please see the link to the January 2022 CP News
Career Pathways is designed to develop skills that students can apply in their daily lives when preparing for entry into the workplace or for further learning opportunities. Competencies achieved will allow students to make relevant connections with work and/or post-secondary training.
Each month Career Pathways distributes relevant planning material, presentation sessions, occupational spotlights, and other helpful information meant to support students and families. It is our hope students in Junior High begin to understand opportunities available to them and explore and reflect on a variety of experiences to help them plan their next steps. High School students continue to set goals and further develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes that increase their readiness to successfully transition beyond high school.