K-12 Students Back-to-School
On Tuesday, July 21, 2020, our province announced that K-12 students would be returning to school in September. Our government encourages students to prepare for a return to school, and we want to let concerned parents know that we are continuing to prioritize the protection of the health and safety of Alberta’s educational support staff, teachers, and students. That is why we not only put this plan in place but also why we left parents with the option to withhold their children from attending school, should they feel worried about doing so.
K to 12 education has changed significantly since our government decided to cancel in-school classes to limit the spread of COVID-19, and I know that students, parents, teachers and school boards did their best to adapt to alternative learning. However, we all know that students who attend schools learn best in the classroom with their teachers and peers, and thus, our goal is to get Alberta’s K to 12 students back to regular learning come September.
Re-entry Toolkit to Help Prepare Families for September
Our government has developed a re-entry toolkit to help prepare parents and students for what they can expect in September. This toolkit includes videos for students explaining some of the health measures in place for their safety and well-being, a guide for parents wanting to know what precautions they should take for their children, frequently asked questions, school posters, a self-screening questionnaire in multiple languages, and links to health guidelines and best practices for curbing the spread.
For more information follow this link:
Combination of Public Health Measures with Back-to-School Scenario 1
The plan is for students to re-enter under scenario 1 – the conditions students will be returning to – with schools having the ability to implement a number of public health measures, including frequent surface cleaning, placing hand sanitizers at entrances and classrooms, grouping students in cohorts, and planning their school days to permit adequate social distancing.
The goal here is for school boards and respective districts to have the ability to create a plan and subsequent procedures to best meet the needs of their students. Our plan is not a “one size fits all” approach because different schools have different needs, and they need to have autonomy to make those decisions uninhibited by unnecessary red tape and governmental interference.
Students, educational support staff, teachers, parents and school visitors will also be expected to use a daily self-screening questionnaire to determine whether they can enter the school. Additional public health measures may be established prior to September on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health – Dr. Deena Henshaw—in consultation with Alberta’s educational system.
Albertans can be assured that our comprehensive re-entry plan will allow students to return to school safely, while still supporting educational excellence in the classroom. The Minister of Education and her department continue to work regularly with education partners and the Chief Medical Officer of Health to ensure Alberta’s schools are prepared to welcome students back in September with big smiles and open arms.
We Thank Our Teachers
Re-opening schools would not be possible without the devoted efforts and commitment from Albertans in curbing the spread. Thank you to all Albertans who have done their part, and let’s keep it going as there is more work to be done.
For any further question on the constituency of Lac Ste Anne Parkland feel free to connect with your MLA Shane Getson by calling the phone number : 780.967.0760 (click2call), by email LacSteAnne.Parkland@assembly.ab.ca or by mailing us to:
Constituency Office
#18, 4708 Lac Ste. Anne Trail North
P.O. Box 248 “Onoway PO”
Onoway, AB
Canada T0E 1V0
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MLA Shane Getson (UCP)
Shane Getson was elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland on April 16, 2019.
Engagement
I currently serve as Deputy Chair on the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund and as a Member of the Standing Committees on Resource Stewardship.
Check often my Engagement page to discover my Focus Projects for 2021, among which I want to introduce you to the importance of Utility Corridors. I have the firm belief that the usage of these corridors will contribute immensely to Alberta's future so, for more details please contact me at your convenience.