August 28, 2020
Please read carefully the information on this site to gain an understanding of the measures we are taking to provide for the safety and health of our students. The CBE will continue to make adjustments as our context changes. While this plan is set for now, updates are expected via the CBE corporate website. Parents are advised to check regularly.
We are asking that families start the first day back to classes with our new procedures. It is necessary that students be assessed using the self-screening form daily before school. The following link will allow you to download the most current Alberta Health daily checklist. Please print a copy of the Self-screening Questionnaire. Students showing symptoms as described on the Self-screening Questionnaire must remain home.
Back to School Week Entry Procedures
Prior to September 1st all families will receive introductory communication from the classroom teacher. Please note that this is the teacher who has been assigned to your child for the beginning of the year, however, the class lists may not be completely finalized and there may be changes during the first few weeks of school. Please note your child's teacher's name as your child will need this information on the first day of school.
Tuesday September 1 8:55-9:10am:
Teachers will be wearing high-visibility vests and will be carrying large signs with their name and grade clearly posted. Teachers will be wearing masks. Teachers will be posted at their designated meeting spot at the following locations (see attached map):
Grade 1 in the compound area
Grade 2 at the school edge of the field adjacent to the compound
Grade 3 in the NE field
Grade 4 in the NW field
Families who are dropping of their children on the first day are asked to park on Terry Road NW or Thornhill Drive NW and will direct their child to their designated meeting spot. If adults accompany their children they are asked to practice physical distancing and are not to directly approach the teacher.
Students arriving on the bus will be directed by other school staff to their designated meeting spot. Students are reminded to continue to wear their mask.
Students are to stand in line, practicing physical distancing, wearing a mask. They are not to approach the teacher directly as the teacher will greet them with a wave and will do attendance at approximately 9:10.
Once all students are in line, the teacher will do attendance. The teacher will then proceed into the school with his/her students. Parents may not accompany their children into the school.
Once in the classroom the teacher will repeat attendance to ensure all students are present.
Please view the accompanying video which shows the line up and physical distancing procedure.
All Remaining Days 8:55-9:08
We will begin our Soft-start entry. Students will proceed directly into the school upon arrival, using their designated Grade Level door. School Staff will be outside to help direct students to their doors.
Teachers will greet students inside the doors and will supervise entry into the school, through the hallways, and into the classroom.
Students will practice physical distancing while hanging up their belongings, following the procedure that their teacher has taught them.
Attendance will be taken at 9:10. Any students arriving after 9:08 will need to enter the school through the main door and proceed to the office for a Welcome slip.
Health Measures:
Hand Washing: Students will be instructed on handwashing protocols using sinks, soap, and paper towel in the classroom and/or washroom. Students will be instructed on the location and use of hand sanitizers. Frequent reminders to either wash hand or use sanitizer will occur.
Hand sanitizing stations are located in entrances, exits, classroom without sinks and near high touch equipment.
Most classrooms have sinks that students can use to wash their hands.
Illness at school:
Students exhibiting signs of illness will be moved to the Infirmary Room located in the Main Office. This area will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after the student has left.
Staff will monitor the comfort and safety of students in the Infirmary Room.
It is critical parents / guardians or a pre-identified emergency contact pick up an ill child within an hour of being contacted by the school.
Masks: Masks are mandatory for all students from kindergarten to grade 12. This includes classrooms and public spaces such as hallways, learning commons, bathrooms, etc. Mask guidelines, including support for students and staff who are unable to wear a mask due to medical conditions or other needs, are currently being developed.
Volunteers and Guest Visitors:
Although volunteers are valued members of our community in their support of our students, to minimize outside contact of established student cohorts, there will be no volunteers working in the school. Individuals are encouraged to communicate with the school through email or by phone.
In-person guests such as guest speakers and artists in residence will not be invited into schools to minimize outside contact of established cohorts.
These decisions will be revisited throughout the year.
School supplies: Schools will be providing student supplies e.g., pens, pencils, erasers etc. Students are not to share their personal supplies, e.g., pencils.
All students will be supplied with a pencil case containing general supplies used to complete school work. These supplies will be kept in the student's desk tray. All notebooks and other individual learning materials will be kept in the student's desk tray.
Any shared supplies will be cleaned and disinfected prior to and after use (for example paint brushes).
Physical Set-up of Schools:
Physical Distancing: Schools will arrange and monitor physical distancing when and where possible as outlined in the Alberta Education's K-12 School Re-entry COVID-19 information: Guidance for schools re-entry Scenario 1.
Classroom set-up.
Desks are arranged in rows with students facing forward
Number of students at tables will be limited
Seating plans are mandatory and will be in place for every class
Cohorts: Where possible, schools will organize students and teachers into groups according to grade level and location within the school.
French, Music and PE classes will be taught in their designated classrooms. Students will travel to and from those locations following the movement protocols and will take their personal learning supplies. Transition time between classes will be provided to enable teachers to setup for the next group.
Recess: We are providing each cohort with an area outside that supports physical distancing and promotes play and physical activity. Playgrounds will follow the guidelines of Alberta Guidance for Playgrounds. The school will not be providing supervision on the playground equipment before or after school. Each grade level will have a designated recess time each afternoon (Monday-Thursday).
Lunch Recess: One grade level will go outside during the lunch recess break (while a second grade level is eating), and will play in designated areas in order to maintain class cohorting. These two grade groups will then swap at a designated time (students who were eating will now be playing, playing students will now be eating). Once these two grade level groups have finished eating and playing, we will begin the same process with the remaining two grade levels.
Lunch: Students will eat their lunch at their desks, sitting at their regular spot, within their classrooms. Reminders will be given to students that they are not to share food or drinks. Students will wash their hands prior to and after eating lunch.
Water bottles: Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles to fill and have available over lunch and at their desks during the day. As a high touch area, water fountains will be sanitized regularly. The use of water bottles will limit movement in the hallways. Water bottles need to go home each day to be cleaned and filled.
Common Areas: Consideration has been given to managing student numbers where students often gather. School settings will limit student gatherings to less than 100 students.
Library: Protocols are in place to provide for the use of resources for students. Students will not have access to the library to browse for materials. Students may request books that for loan and these books will be delivered to the classroom. All books returned to the library will be kept in quarantine for three days prior to re-shelving.
Hallways: Tape is on the floor to indicate the side of the hallway on which to walk (travelling on the right-hand side of the hallway). Circles have been placed on the floor to assist students in physical distancing in higher volume areas (for example waiting to use the bathroom).
Bathrooms: A maximum number of students permitted in the bathroom at one time will be established. Students will be reminded to wash their hands after using the bathrooms using the designated sinks available.
Storage of Student Belongings / Change Rooms: Coat Hooks:
Students will have designated areas in which to hang up their coats and backpacks. Outside footwear will be placed on designated boot racks. Students will be taught how to respectfully access their belongings to allow to for physical distancing.
Further details can be found at: Guidance for Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation - Stage 2
Movement in School
We are minimizing occasions of large gatherings of students and managing movement overall of students in the hallways.
Entrances and exits: All students will have assigned doors for entry and exit and directed movement in the building.
Classrooms will have designated entry and exit doors.
Traffic flow in the hallways will be on the right hand side of the hallway. French, Music and PE classes are staggered to minimize the number of students in the hallway at one time.
Students will be taught how to wait in the hallway using physical distancing protocols.
Arrival and departure times at school are the busiest times for our school. To assist in the movement of students and to support physical distancing we are implementing the following:
Soft Entry Procedure as outlined above
Walking students: students are discouraged from arriving early and staying at school after dismissal.
Parents picking up their children can park on Terry Road NW or Thornhill Road Dr NW. Parents can wait for their children in the compound or by their child's designated door, following physical distancing protocols.
The health and safety of your child will remain a priority for our school and we will keep you updated as new information becomes available. As mentioned, detailed information for the guidelines for safety and health for all schools is available on CBE's Scenario 1 Information website. We are confident that, as a community, we will soon adjust to our new protocols and practices. We look forward to welcoming our students back to school and resuming our time together as a positive and caring learning community.
