Return to School Plan

List of 7 items.

• We have followed guidelines set by the Ministry and are evidence-based

  This plan is being shared with you after being submitted to the Ministry of Education. It incorporates learning gained from our experiences in Spring Term, but also best practices shared by professionals throughout the summer. Staff have worked throughout the summer to ensure that our protocols and procedures meet those required by the ministry and public health authorities.

• We are striving to maximize in-class instruction for all students

  In-person learning is an essential part of a child’s education and provides the opportunity for peer engagement, which supports social and emotional development and overall wellness. Making use of Learning Group models, GNS is proud to be able to offer a structure which supports a return that prioritizes safety while providing access to full-time, five-day-a-week, in-person learning for our students.

• We are prepared to pivot to online or distributed learning options

  The school is not authorized by the Ministry of Education to deliver Online or Distributed Learning options at this time. Self-directed learning may be used to supplement in-class instruction, if required. A shift to remote learning options may be authorised if the school is mandated to pivot to a different stage of the ministry’s Five Stage Framework.

• We are supportive of the use of Personal protective equipment in situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained

  In alignment with Provincial COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines for K-12 Settings, non-medical masks are required to be used at GNS in situations where a person cannot maintain physical distance and is in close proximity to a person outside of their Learning Group or household. All employees, visitors and students in Middle and Secondary school are required to wear non-medical masks in high traffic areas such as on buses and in common areas such as hallways, or anytime they are outside of their Learning Group and physical distancing cannot be maintained. As such, we ask that all Middle and Senior students and all staff arrive at school each day wearing masks. Non-medical masks are not recommended for elementary school students due to the increased likelihood they will touch their face and eyes, as well as require assistance to properly put on and take off their mask (requiring increased close personal contact from school staff). All students, including those in Junior School, will be required to wear masks on school buses.

• We are in this together - Self-screening Tool

  To further empower our incredible parents and caregivers through this pandemic, we have included a checklist to use for daily health screening of students before their arrival at school. This checklist also includes a link to the BC Centre for Disease Control COVID-19 screening tool to determine if COVID-19 testing is required.

• We must remain vigilant

  Should students or staff have common-cold, influenza, or COVID-19 like symptoms they must stay home. It is expected that the individual be assessed by their health care provider and be tested for COVID-19. For symptomatic individuals who have NOT been tested (e.g., younger children who may be unable to manage the test, or those unwilling or unable to be tested), they must self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days from the onset of symptoms AND until symptoms resolve. If a student or staff member is assessed by their family physician or nurse practitioner and it is determined that they do NOT have COVID-19, they may return to school when symptom free.

• We will remain adaptive

  We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to influence all that we do and that our protocols and procedures will need to be continuously reviewed to make sure they are kept current. Please revisit this section of our website to access digital content from the handbook and to see any new information and updates that might be added as things evolve.