When schools reach over 10 per cent, this is reported daily to Alberta Health Services (AHS).
With this information, Alberta Health Services may determine the respective school is in “outbreak” status, requiring further communications and a reference number families should use when connecting with Alberta Health Services.
Schools continue to remain open and we are working closely with Alberta Health Services to ensure necessary measures are in place to protect all students and staff. Our current safety protocols include: enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, daytime custodial staff, staffing masking in common areas, and handwashing and sanitizing.
We remind all families to continue to closely monitor their children for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
The Alberta Health daily checklist can be found here.
Please remember to complete the checklist each day, whether children are attending school and/or getting on the school bus or not.
As a reminder, if you/your child has any of the symptoms of illness listed on the Alberta Health daily checklist, please fill out the online Alberta Health Services COVID-19 self-assessment or call Health Link at 811 and stay home/keep your child at home.
We are in this together and will be sending updates to families as information becomes available.
We want to thank families for following the protocols and keeping students home when experiencing medical illness and/or symptoms.
Current outbreak schools:
- Stettler Elementary School
- Gus Wetter School
- Donalda School
Schools removed from outbreak status in the past seven days:
- Erskine School
- Big Valley School
Percentage of students away with confirmed illness or illness-like symptoms in the past seven days:
- Big Valley School – At-Home Learning
- Botha School – 2 per cent to 5 per cent
- Brownfield School – up to 30 per cent
- Byemoor School – 4 per cent to 10 per cent
- Coronation School – 9 per cent to 12 per cent
- Donalda School – At-Home Learning
- Erskine School – 2 per cent to 12 per cent (Monday – 2 per cent and Tuesday – 3 per cent)
- Gus Wetter School – 5 per cent to 7 per cent
- Stettler Elementary School – 6 per cent to 8 per cent
- William E. Hay Stettler Secondary Campus – 1 per cent to 3 per cent
We would also like to address concerns spreading on social media that schools and the government will be implementing a mandatory vaccination program in October.
We are not aware of any plans by the Alberta Government to bring in any sort of mandated vaccination program for students.
These social media posts appear designed to inspire fear and concern.
To assist in understanding the lack of factual basis for this concern, on September 25, 2021, we received communication from Andre Tremblay, Deputy Minister of Education which states:
“Alberta has no specific provincial legislation that requires K-12 students to have specific vaccinations to attend in person school. Alberta Education is not considering mandating vaccines for students in the K-12 education system.”
Submitted
