Jessica Stanley, School Trustee SD68

This is a great opportunity to ask questions and hear medical facts about back to school.

For those seeking a remote learning option, please check out our DL program to see if it is a good match for you.

Parents of SD68, We want to know your preferred learning option for your child(ren). We need this information to help planning for the 2020/21 school year. Please note the comment box under the 4 options - this is where you can share comments, concerns, and/or preferred alternatives. ... Let us know what you think! See more

SD 68 restart plan - pending Ministry announcement today. Please share thoughts.

Hey Nanaimo FI parents, Your FI spot is reserved next year should you choose to do distance learning this year. The school district is exploring whether we can offer online FI courses but this is made complicated by the lack of French teachers. An email survey has been sent out to K-9 FI families. Please fill it out so the school district can assess interest.

This is the BCgov plan for when kids get sick in schools

French Immersion families, The district is currently gathering information to see if there is an interest in a DL French Immersion option this year. Please take a moment to fill out this short survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DL-FrenchImmersion

We are, indeed, in unprecedented times. Like many parents, I am concerned about sending my kids back to into the schools and am unsure of the best decision for my family. It is hard to face this risk associated with in-school education without guilt and unease. There are many perspectives out there -- this being one. https://www.rippleleadership.com//the-case-for-opening-bc- I want to hear your thoughts.... What I do know is that I want to get this as right as possible and with respecting various needs and opinions. More time may be of benefit.

This is a policy that I have poured my heart into and I am excited to hear feedback from the community. As I have said at the board table, the modelling predictions of climate change are proving correct EXCEPT they are happening decades earlier. We have a responsibility to change our behaviour but also our beliefs about our place in our ecosystem. To do otherwise, is to choose peril. We have a responsibility to our children and all the children in Nananimo-Ladysmith public schools to become more aware and act according to the science. Please consider this policy and send your feedback.

Tonight the Business Committee of the NLPS Board of Education debates this proposed "Environmental Stewardship" policy. I am proud of this policy and hope that it is recommended by the committee. 1.5 Environmental Stewardship The Nanaimo-Ladysmith Board of Education of School District #68 (the Board) recognizes the interconnection among all in our ecosystem and our dependence on the land that our schools and... offices are situated upon. The land is the cornerstone of our connectivity and is a source of knowledge. The Board realizes that climate change is a result of human activity and that our actions impact the land and our ecosystem. The Board also understands that, without remediation, climate change will interfere with our capacity to achieve our mandate of educating the youth of NLPS and will undermine the wellbeing of our communities. As such, The Nanaimo-Ladysmith Board of Education of School District #68 commits to be an active part of the solution to the current climate crisis and to ongoing environmental stewardship by: Integrating environmental considerations and sustainable practices into administrative, capital planning, and programming decisions; Reviewing programs and practices to limit the nature and scale of negative environmental impact and to increase sustainable practices and environmental stewardship; Creating an environmental stewardship action plan that includes measurable targets and objectives to reduce our carbon footprint, use of resources, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions in a manner consistent with current climate science; Supporting educational and professional development opportunities to foster ecological literacy, environmental stewardship, and connection to the land among our students and staff; Advocating for and allocating resources for the effective implementation and maintenance of environmental stewardship practices and the environmental stewardship action plan; Encouraging intergovernmental and community partnerships to achieve and enhance our environmental stewardship goals; and Communicating our attempts to increase our sustainability, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint, and to become environmental stewards in our communities

We know many parents in BC are anxious about sending their kids back into classrooms and child care. Every parent must make the best decision for their kids and... family. Here are some of the things we know about kids & COVID-19: COVID-19 has a very low infection rate in kids. If infected, kids have milder symptoms (if any) and very few become critically ill. There has been very little transmission involving children outside of household settings. What to keep in mind if you child is returning to school or child care: If your child is feeling sick, have them stay home. No exceptions. Your child should wash their hands with soap and water, often. Teens should practice physically distancing with people outside their household or bubble. Young kids (who can't physical distance) should limit physical contact with people outside their household or child care setting. We will continue to provide British Columbians with the most current public health advice. We are committed to keeping everyone in BC safe. Find out more: http://www.bccdc.ca//diseases-c/covid-19/childcare-schools

Today we announced that parents will have the choice of bringing their kids back to class. The goal will be returning to full-time classes in September 2020 if ...it’s safe to do so. As we move into the next phase of BC’s Restart Plan, the science shows us that we’re ready to bring students back to school safely on a gradual and part-time basis beginning June 1. This will be welcome news for many families who have struggled to adjust to remote and online learning, and for parents who are going back to work. At every step, we will move slowly and make health and safety our top priority. BC has done well under the guidance of our provincial health officials, and now is the time to take this next step together. Please see the full details here: https://gov.bc.ca/safeschools

BC Minister of Education announces intended expansion of in-building public education for vulnerable students including some complex learners.

Guidelines for school leaders and a new website to support B.C.’s K-12 students while in-class education is suspended to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Education in a pandemic will be different and it will take time for the new system to get settled but please know the all in BCed are working hard to ensure our children's education needs will be met safely.