Dear PSB Families –
Welcome back to the 2020-2021 school year! We are excited to be returning to in-person learning in schools next week and look forward to seeing your children. All schools have been working hard to prepare for the return to school and will provide you with specific details about your child’s school.
We would like to provide you with some information that applies to all 56 schools in the Public Schools Branch.
Back To School Website – All school operational plans can be found on the Back to School Website. https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/topic/back-school
Communication with Parents – Schools work hard to provide excellent communication and information to parents on a wide variety of school specific matters. The PSB will provide parents with system related information through the following. Check us out!
PSB website
PSB Facebook
PSB Instagram
PSB Twitter
Pre-Screening your Children – Every morning we ask that you check-in with your child to see how they are feeling. Your school will provide you with a pre-screening checklist that will help to decide if your child should come to school. If your child is feeling unwell and is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, we ask that they stay home and suggest you call 811 or your healthcare provider for information. The pre-screening checklists can also be found on the PSB website and PSB social media.
At School – If you child feels unwell while at school, a staff person will call you and ask you to come pick up your child. If the child is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, the school will suggest you call 811 or your healthcare provider. If your child is advised to get tested for COVID-19, your child must remain home until a negative result is found. Others in the household do not need to self-isolate at this time. If your child is not tested for COVID-19, they should still remain home until symptoms improve and they are feeling well. We appreciate your support with these unexpected circumstances.
COVID-19 Positive Case in Schools – Schools and the PSB have developed a protocol in the event of a student or staff person testing positive for COVID-19. This would include timely communication with those impacted, working collaboratively with CPHO to determine contact tracing and case-by-case decision making on if classes, cohorts or schools would need to remain home.
Contact Information – Please ensure your contact information is up-to-date at your school. It is important that the school can reach you or a caregiver for your child when necessary.
Alternate Arrangements – Sometimes unpredictable events occur that require your child to go home from school early. Please ensure alternate arrangements are made in the event that your child needs to go home when feeling unwell or in the event of an early school closure due to a power outage, inclement weather, etc..
Visitor’s in Schools – Schools remain welcoming environments to students, staff and visitors. With our ongoing focus on student and staff safety, visitors in schools will be reduced and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. We encourage parents and other visitors to limit the number of visits to schools.
Meet the Staff Events – Many schools usually host mid-September “Meet the Staff” events to provide parents an opportunity to meet the staff at each school. At this time, PSB schools will not be hosting in-person events. If you have questions or concerns, we encourage parents to reach out to their child’s teacher.
Masks in Schools – Please visit the PSB Guidelines for Return to School 2020 to see the new masking guidelines. It will be important for us all to work together to help students understand the guidelines. Please purchase a personal, non-medical mask for your child and talk to them about wearing it. Please watch these videos with your children before school!
Mask Video 1 – New school year – new routines
Mask Video 2 – How to wear a non-medical mask in the community
Before/After school activities – All before and after school activities have been “paused” during the school start up. Schools will communicate further when this changes.
Helpful Information – A few other links and videos that you may find helpful are below. Please take some time to watch or read them with your children.
Back to School Info – Keeping Everyone Safe
Younger children
Older children
Physical Distancing
Thank you for your ongoing support with Back to School 2020! See you soon!
Public Schools Branch
