March 20, 2020
Hello Families,
The Ministry of Education has asked the division to share the attached message with all of our SRPSD families: Ministry of Education message to families. If you have difficulty in seeing the original message through the attchment, the key points are summarized below:
- First, thank you to students, parents and caregivers for your understanding during these extraordinary times. We appreciate your patience and your flexibility. We are workinghard to address the needs of students, staff and school communities as schools close starting today, March 20.
- The closure is considered indefinite. How long schools are closed and classes are
suspended will depend on decisions made by Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health
Officer. - For the upcoming week, we feel it is most important for school staff to pause, enact social distancing and focus on caring for themselves and their families. More information will be coming from school divisions about the next steps. Essential services, such as maintaining our buildings, will continue during this pause.
- Premier Scott Moe and Education Minster Gordon Wyant have committed that students will progress to the next grade or class and those who are eligible to graduate will do so.
- As has been stated, we are committed to ensuring that supplementary educational
opportunities will be provided for students. Further information on this will be
forthcoming. - We know there are many questions about the details and the Response Planning Team is actively working on this. We are committed to supporting students.
- Education staff are continuing to be employed and paid, as they normally would be.
- The Response Planning Team is continuing to provide updates and information to School Divisions. School Divisions will continue to provide information to students and parents as it is available.
As always, we encourage you and your family to do whatever you can to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19. For information, please see www.saskatchewan.ca/coronavirus.
Yours in Education,
Barry Hollick, Board Chair; and
Robert Bratvold, Director of Education