Dear Ross Road Families,
Happy New Year and welcome back to school! On behalf of the Ross Road School team, I want to thank you for your support, patience, and flexibility this past week with the gradual restart. Ross Road staff members are really looking forward to welcoming all students and families back to school on Monday. Staff have been working hard to adjust for updated health and safety guidelines, as well as make plans to provide thoughtful continuity of learning.
These next few weeks will continue to be a time of change and some uncertainty. As a school community of learners, we look forward to supporting families.
Important Health and Safety Reminders
· Complete a daily health check
· Review personal hygiene strategies including frequent hand washing
· Review proper mask wearing with your child(ren)
· Ensure your child comes to school with spare, clean masks for use
· If unable to wear a mask due to an exemption, (as listed HERE, starting on page 20), please consider one of the alternatives shared HERE
· Utilize the space available and respect the personal space of others
· Dress for the weather and send a change of clothes
· Bring a refillable water bottle
Additional Preventive Measures
· Maximizing the space between people
· Reintroduction of hallway strategies to reduce crowding
· All assemblies, meetings, gatherings, staff meetings and Professional Development will be held virtually
· Guest access to the school is limited to essential visitors only
· Classroom configurations adjusted to maximize available space
Student Illness & Family Illness
Please continue to monitor your child closely for illness and keep them home when sick. Read the links below carefully, including what to do if your child(ren) is/are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 (including what defines 'close contact').
· Complete a Daily Health Check and Stay Home when sick
· K-12 Health Check app
· Refer to the BCCDC's When to test for COVID-19 document (includes updated list of symptoms, what to do if you test positive, how long to self-monitor, and self-isolate for)
· Staff, students and families can also use the BCCDC online Self-Assessment Tool
· District information on COVID & Daily Health Check - North Vancouver School District (sd44.ca)
· BCCDC webpage around when to stay home, self-monitor, self-isolate
· Close contacts and contact tracing including who is considered a close contact of a person with COVID-19 and next steps including when to self-isolate or self-monitor
Continuity of Learning
This past week, Ross Road educators have prepared plans to support student learning. We will be using MS Teams to help families stay connected with the classroom in case of extended student absence or School Closure. Teachers will be providing a “Window to the Week" which is a weekly snapshot intended to provide a high-level overview of key classroom learning. If you need technology help, please use this link for the District Technology Support web page.
Please continue to use existing school absence protocols to report a student absence by logging them on SafeArrival (preferred) or calling the absence line before the start of the school day. Thank you for your kindness as we navigate through this. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to connect with the classroom teacher or contact us at the school.
Best regards,
Kate Lechleiter, Principal Bridget O'Brien-Kopacek, Vice Principal
klechleiter@sd44.ca bobrienkopacek@sd44.ca
The North Vancouver School District and Ross Road Elementary School are situated upon the unceded traditional territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation. We would like to thank the Coast Salish people and value the opportunity to learn, share and grow on this traditional territory.
2022-01-07 Message to Ross Road Families.docx
