Letter to parents of elementary students

On Monday August 24, the Vancouver School Board (VSB) Associate Superintendent Rob Schindel released a letter to parents and guardians of elementary students with information about the upcoming school year.

From the letter…

On July 29, the BC Government announced that schools will begin the school year in Stage 2 of the BC K-12 Education Restart Plan. At Stage 2 students return to full time in-class instruction within learning groups.

Please be assured that the health and safety of all students, staff and parents is the top priority for our schools and District. When classes resume in September, all schools will adhere to the requirements of the COVID-19 Public Health Office’s Guidance for K-12 School Settings.

The VBS developed a proposed District-wide plan for in-class instruction in September, guided by the Ministry of Education and the Provincial Health Office requirements. The proposed plan, which requires approval by the province, will help ensure the safe return to in-person instruction for students and staff.

Options for return to school

Some families are not ready for their children return to school in person. These families have indicated they would like an option which allows their children to continue learning at home, but allows them the option to hold their child’s space at their home school and potentially return to in-person instruction at a future date.

To support planning underway, additional information from our families is needed about plans at this time. Attached please find a survey that asks you to identify your preference for your Kindergarten to Grade 7 child’s attendance in September. Please note this survey is not a registration process and is intended to support our schools and District to prepare for September.

Options for Student Learning in September (Kindergarten to Grade 7)

Option 1 – Returning to full time in-person instruction (Stage 2 of the Education Restart Plan)

All schools will have safety plans for COVID-19 exposure control according to the enhanced safety guidelines under Stage 2 of the BC Return to School Plan. The student’s classroom will be their primary learning environment. Elementary students may also be grouped in learning groups of up to 60 students and staff for recess, lunch, and occasional learning activities.

Option 2 – Home Schooling

The BC School Act permits parents to provide an educational program for their children at home. Families selecting this option are required to register their child as a Home Schooler by September 30 at the child’s catchment school.

If a parent chooses to home school their child, they must let the school know their plans. Home School students are able to borrow textbooks from the school. However, Home School students are not entitled to attend part‐time classes or participate in any school activities. There are no assignments or assessments from teachers while the parent is the primary educator. As per our usual practice, space will not be held in local school or choice program for in-person instruction.

Option 3 – Vancouver Learning Network Elementary Program

The Vancouver Learning Network (VLN) is a distributed learning program operating within the Vancouver School District. Distributed learning programs are well suited for students who wish to learn at home or need more flexibility in their schooling schedule.

If parents wish to follow the provincial curriculum in a more structured educational program delivery, they should contact the Vancouver Learning Network located in the southeast wing of John Oliver School at (604) 713-5520. As per our usual practice space will not be held in local school or choice program for in-person instruction.

Option 4 – Transition Program (Under Consideration)

The District is exploring offering families who are not ready to have their children return to in-person instruction with a temporary transition option. This option will allow students to learn remotely and to receive some learning support from the District.

It is important to note that in this option, support will likely be one-on-one check-in times with an on-line teacher assigned by the District. Children who chose this option will continue to be enrolled in their local school and be placed in a learning group for possible transition to in-person instruction at set dates in the year.

In order to explore this option, we need to know how many students and families may be interested. Please note that students choosing this option will keep their space within the school or choice program where they are currently enrolled. Please note that due to staffing constraints online support will only be available in English in this option.

Parent Survey

It is essential that all families complete this Elementary Return to School Survey by August 27, 2020 to enable planning to continue.

Please complete one survey for each child in your family attending Kindergarten to grade 7 this September. The survey will close at 4 pm on August 27th.

Musqueam Education Department Contacts

Phone: 604-263-3261
Fax: 604-263-4212

Faye Mitchell, Manager – [email protected]

Lucetta George-Grant, Learning Facilitator – [email protected]

Debbie Point, Education Assistant – [email protected]