Extension to Winter Break and COVID enhancements

Yesterday the Provincial Health Officer and the Ministry of Education announced that there will be a delayed return to school — to allow more time to introduce enhanced safety measures — as local and provincial authorities work with districts to adapt to the impacts of the Omicron variant.

The full return to in-person learning will be delayed until Monday January 10, 2022. 

During this time there will be no online learning or other instruction, as it will be a continuation of the Winter Break for most students. Students with diverse needs and children of essential service and frontline workers (first responders, health care workers, teachers, etc) will be provided the option to receive modified supports and supervision through the regular school day.

Staff will return to schools on Tuesday January 4th, to work on implementing enhanced safety measures and to work with the limited number of students who may still need to attend schools next week.

If your child(ren) needs to attend school between January 4th and 7th for some or all of that time, if you are a frontline worker and you require supervision for your children through the hours of a regular school day, or if you have any questions, please contact your school’s Principal as soon as possible to coordinate the appropriate support for your child(ren) and family.

Starting January 10th, the newly enhanced safety measures and the continued protocols that will be reinforced will include, but not be limited to:

• Everyone able to wear a mask will be required to properly do so
• Continued Daily Health Checks
• Schools will be implementing new strategies to prevent crowding during transitions
• For both students and staff we will return to virtual gatherings, events and meetings whenever possible
• And we will be limiting outside visitors to only those essential to delivering on educational needs.

We will follow up with more information next week. In the meantime, thank you all for your understanding as we continue to adapt and work to keep New Westminster Schools as safe as possible.

Sincerely,
Karim Hachlaf
Superintendent of Schools / CEO

PDF: Superintendent letter on extension to Winter Break and enhanced COVID measures