亲爱的家长和监护人

希望您的孩子在寒假延长之后能够适应现场学习。我们非常高兴地欢迎学生们回到学校，但我知道在社区中Omicron变种病例不断增加的情况下，这可能是一个令人紧张的时期。我致力于向您及时更新我们为保护学生和教职员工安全所做的一切努力。

本周，我们系统中的许多学校受到教职工生病和隔离要求的影响。这意味着学校需要调派替代教师或其他教学人员来填补缺席。

在我们每天做出调整时，我们继续请求您的耐心。我们可能会要求您的孩子在短时间内转为居家学习。请每天晚上和上学前检查您的电子邮件，以获取可能的更新。

到目前为止，本周已经有三所学校的七个班级转为居家学习一周。这有限的转换数量反映了我们员工对维持面对面学习的杰出承诺。

当我们继续共同努力时，我想提供一些有关CBE采取的最新指导和措施的信息，以及有关卫生措施的提醒。

新 - 更新的省级指导方针

该省在其COVID-19信息指导 K-12学校和校车文件中提供了新的指导。变化包括：

• 阿尔伯塔卫生部每日清单 - 此文件已进行更新。请确保您每天查看此清单，以确定如果您的孩子感觉不适，下一步该做什么以及何时可以回校。
• 新的口罩指导方针 - 家庭仍然可以自行提供口罩，但政府已更新其指导方针。指导方针规定：如果戴非医用口罩，应采用至少三层材料构造：两层透气性好的紧密编织面料，如棉布，以及一层附加的有效中间过滤层，如无纺聚丙烯。
• 阳性病例通知 - 本周首席医疗官德纳·辛肖博士确认，AHS将不再能够支持学校中的COVID-19和呼吸系统疾病暴发管理。学校将不会向家庭提供阳性病例的通知。请继续按照正常流程告知学校您的孩子因任何原因而缺席。我们将继续监测学生的缺勤率。

提醒 - 学校中的其他卫生措施

我们继续鼓励所有符合条件的学生接种疫苗。个别学生的疫苗接种情况是私人健康信息。学校不会监测学生的疫苗接种状况以确定返校日期或持续佩戴口罩的要求。我们鼓励家庭确保他们理解基于疾病的隔离和佩戴口罩的要求。学校正重视学生和教职员工遵守当前的佩戴口罩准则。

进行中 - 进一步改善通风

在研究了改善通风设施的多种选项后，我们决定在尽可能的情况下安装升级的MERV 13过滤器，并将定期更换这些过滤器。此外，所有学校都采用机械通风系统，并设置最大化的换气。

提醒 - 口罩和快速检测

本周已开始向一些CBE学校直接运送医用口罩和快速检测工具。学校收到这些物品后将分发给教职员工和学生。

如果您的孩子在快速检测中呈阳性，根据卫生部的最新说明，他们需要进行隔离。有关阳性快速检测后的隔离要求的更多信息，请参阅Rapid Testing at Home 网站。

提醒 - 交通延误

黄色校车服务也可能受到临时人员配备方面的挑战影响而受到影响。由于司机人员的可用性，校车可能会延迟或无法行驶。如果您孩子的校车延迟，请查看CBE交通运输网站获取更多信息。这也可能影响使用卡尔加里公共交通的家庭。如果交通不可用，家庭应该有备用计划。

新 - 学习资源

虽然保持面对面学习是优先考虑的，但教师们正在计划如果必要时转为居家学习。

阿尔伯塔省教育部已经提供了预先录制的辅导课程，可以支持4至9年级学生的语文和数学技能，这些资源通过e-Tutoring Hub提供。在今年晚些时候，这些资源将扩展到更多年级和科目，并包括在线辅导。

我要感谢员工、学生和家长/监护人的耐心和理解。在这场大流行病期间，我们已经采取了措施来最小化COVID-19在我们学校的传播。我满怀希望和乐观，期待我们在这个艰难时期继续学习。

真诚地，

Christopher Usih
学校首席主管

​Dear Parents and Guardians

I hope your child is adjusting well to in-person learning after the extended winter break. We are so pleased to welcome students back to school, but I know that with increasing cases of Omicron in the community, this can be a stressful time. I am committed to keeping you up to date on everything we are doing to keep schools as safe as possible for students and staff.

This week many schools in our system have been impacted by staff illnesses and isolation requirements. This means schools are calling in substitute teachers or other teaching staff and leaders to cover absences.

We continue to ask for your patience as we make daily adjustments. We may be required to move your child to at-home learning on short notice. Please monitor your emails in the evenings and before school each day for potential updates.

So far this week, three schools have transitioned a total of seven classes to learning at home for a one-week period. This limited number of transitions is a reflection of the outstanding commitment by our staff to maintaining in-person learning.

As we continue to work together, I would like to provide some information on updated guidance and measures the CBE is taking, as well as reminders of health measures in place.

New – Updated Provincial Guidelines

The province has provided new guidance in its COVID-19 Information for K-12 Schools and School Buses document, Changes include:

• Alberta Health Daily Checklist – This document has been updated. Please ensure you review this each day to determine next steps if your child is feeling unwell and when they can return to school.
• New mask guidance – Families are still able to provide their own masks, but the government has updated its guidance. The guidance states: If non-medical masks are worn, they should be constructed of at least three layers: two of breathable, tightly woven fabric such as cotton, and an additional effective middle filter layer, such as non-woven polypropylene.
• Positive Case Notifications – This week the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw confirmed that AHS will no longer be able to support COVID-19 and respiratory illness outbreak management in schools. Schools will not be providing notifications of positive cases to families. Please continue to let your​ school know if your child will be absent for any reason through the normal process. We will continue to monitor student absentee rates.

Reminder – Other Health Measures in Place in Schools

We continue to encourage all eligible students to be vaccinated. The vaccination status of individual students is private health information. Schools will not be monitoring vaccination status for return to school dates or continuous masking requirements. We encourage families to ensure they understand isolation and masking requirements based on illness. Schools are prioritizing student and staff adherence to current masking guidelines.

In Progress – Further Enhancements to Ventilation

After exploring a number of options to improve ventilation in our schools, we have made the decision to install upgraded MERV 13 filters wherever possible and these filters will be changed more frequently. In addition, all schools are mechanically ventilated and systems are set to maximize air exchange.

Reminder – Masks and Rapid Tests

Shipments of medical-grade masks and rapid test kits for students and school-based staff have begun arriving directly to some CBE schools this week. Once schools receive these items they will be distributed to staff and students.

If your child has tested positive on a rapid test, they are required to isolate as per current Public Health instructions. For more information on isolation requirements after a positive rapid test, refer to the Rapid Testing at Home website.

Reminder – Transportation Delays

Yellow school bus service may also be impacted by last-minute staffing challenges due to illness. Buses may be delayed or unable to run for the day due to driver availability. If your child’s bus is delayed, please check the CBE transportation website for more information. This could also impact families using Calgary Transit. Families should have back-up plans in place if transportation is unavailable.

New – Learning Resources

While maintaining in-person learning is a priority, teachers are planning for potential transitions to at-home learning if required.

Alberta Education has made available pre-recorded tutoring sessions that support literacy and numeracy skills for students in Grades 4-9 though the e-Tutoring Hub. Later this year, these resources will be expanded to cover more grades and subjects and will include live tutoring.

I want to thank staff, students, and parents/guardians for their patience and understanding. Throughout this pandemic, we have taken steps to minimize transmission of COVID-19 in our schools. I look forward with hope and optimism as we continue learning during this difficult time

Sincerely,

Christopher Usih
Chief Superintendent of Schools