The Government of PEI’s Interministerial Women’s Secretariat has developed an online resource for parents, caregivers and educators. The Cybersafe Care website includes information on gaming, social media and cyberbullying, as well as recommended resources for help. https://www.cybersafecarepei.ca/

We look forward to welcoming students back to school on January 4, 2021. We are grateful for everyone’s cooperation over the last four months and hope you enjoyed the holiday break. 

We will continue to follow the most recent masking guidelines, which requires staff and students in grades 7-12 to wear non-medical masks at all times indoors except for the following exemptions:

• • When staff and students are able to physically distance within a classroom (6ft/2m);
  • Eating or drinking;
  • Participating in a physical activity (e.g. gym);
  • Engaging in an activity which prevents them from doing so (e.g. playing a wind instrument);
  • When it poses a safety concern (e.g. welding); or
  • When a school assesses wearing a non-medical mask is not in the best interest of a student due to physical, medical or other factors.

K-6 will also continue following the same guidelines as before the break. As a reminder, they are as follows:

• • All students and staff are required to wear a non-medical mask on the school bus. 
  • Students in grades K-6 are recommended to wear a non-medical mask indoors when physical distancing cannot be maintained.

All visitors to schools are required to wear a non-medical mask indoors at all times. 

Read the Non-Medical Mask procedure.

As the last year has shown us, circumstances may arise that would alter this plan. If that does occur, we will communicate any changes to you. 

See you in class next week!

From, 
Norbert Carpenter
Acting Director
Public Schools Branch

We want to ensure that language isn’t a barrier for accessing important PSB information. Nu Wel Com is a made-in-PEI app that translates public information from government sources, including from the PSB. Many of our public announcements are shared via the app’s notification messages. They currently offer seven languages: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Vietnamese and Spanish

The app was developed by a local company in partnership with UPEI and PEI Association of Newcomers to Canada. It is free and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and the Google Play store. You can learn more about them at https://nuwelcom.com/.

In collaboration with the Department for Education and Lifelong Learning, the Public Schools Branch has decided to update its Non-Medical Masks procedure.

Starting Tuesday, December 8, and in effect until Friday, December 18, non-medical masks will now be required for staff and students in grades 7-12 at all times indoors except for the following exemptions:

• When staff and students are able to physically distance within a classroom (6ft/2m);
• Eating or drinking;
• Participating in a physical activity (e.g. gym);
• Engaging in an activity which prevents them from doing so (e.g. playing a wind instrument);
• When it poses a safety concern (e.g. welding); or
• When a school assesses wearing a non-medical mask is not in the best interest of a student due to physical, medical or other factors.

This change introduces the previously announced masking guidance for grades 10-12 to students in grades 7-9, and extends it to December 18, 2020.

There are NO changes to masking guidance for K-6.

Download the updated Non-Medical Mask procedure.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and support!

Norbert Carpenter
Acting Director
Public Schools Branch