November 18, 2021 Update:

At our recent School Council, we were requested to communicate current parent access protocols to the school. Please see the below chart for this information:

Please contact the school if you have any questions.

November 17, 2021 Update:

During our volleyball season, our games at school were closed to spectators due to the pandemic.  Near the end of the volleyball season, we announced that we were looking at the possibility of changing this policy for the coming basketball season.  After meeting with our school division and other Jr. High schools within our division, we are pleased to announce the following:

• Once basketball season begins, our league games will be open to some spectators;
• Each student-athlete from our school and the visiting school will be allowed two adult spectators;
• The two adult spectators will need to provide proof of vaccination (AHS QR code) or evidence of a recent (within 72 hours) negative COVID-19 PCR test.  This will occur near our front door in our school’s Gathering Space;
• All spectators are required to wear a non-medical mask while they are in the building;
• All spectators are required to follow social distancing rules as family groups in our mezzanine;
• All spectators are requested to arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before the game and leave the building after the game;
• This policy applies to league games; it does not apply to practices or tournaments.

We will be piloting this change until the Christmas break and then re-evaluating moving forward. Again, we welcome this policy change and thank you for your understanding and support. 

Please get in touch with the school if you have any questions.

November 1, 2021 Update

As we continue to navigate through providing education through this pandemic, we wanted to provide you with an update regarding some of our current protocols or restrictions:

• Vaccinations
  • All adults that are in our school are required to provide proof of vaccination or a recent, within 72 hours, negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Screening test;
  • Starting November 15, the QR scanner, with a government-issued ID, will be the only acceptable proof of vaccination;
  • There are no vaccination requirements for any students.
• Public in the building
  • As per our divisional protocols, our building is closed to the public;
  • We are beginning to have parent volunteers in our facility; this includes volunteers invited by specific teachers, volunteers for school events, and volunteers in our library;
  • As per the vaccination bullet, all adults that are in our school are required to provide proof of vaccination or a recent, within 72 hours, negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Screening test;
  • Spectators at sporting events – We could not implement the government restriction for volleyball season, but we hope to implement them for basketball season.  Why the difference?  We have two games simultaneously during volleyball season, hence double the number of spectators compared to one basketball game.  We are still developing the protocols for allowing basketball spectators;
  • Please ring the front doorbell if parents need to come to school to drop something off or talk to their child.  One of our staff will welcome the parent and invite them to come into the small entranceway while we go and get their child.
• Cohorts
  • Our elementary students continue to be in cohorts (homeroom classrooms) while they are in the building;
  • Our Jr. High students are not in cohorts.
• Muster Points
  • We are continuing to welcome and dismiss students from homeroom muster points.  Many teachers find this to be a way to connect with their parent group.  Please ensure your child is dressed for the weather as students are expected to gather at their muster point unless the temperature is below -15C.  Staff will open the various doors for students to enter the school when the temperature is below -15C.
• Events
  • We have investigated the possibility of having some school-based events, including student assemblies and our traditional Jr. High Christmas Formal student dance.  Unfortunately, current government restrictions prohibit large gatherings at schools.  Therefore, we are unable to hold such events at this time.  We hope to host a Jr. High Formal Dance in February if government restrictions allow.
  • Christmas Concert – Unfortunately, our elementary grades will not do an in-person Christmas Concert this year.  We plan to video each of our classes performing and sharing the video during the last week of school in December.

Thank you again for your support as we continue to do our best during these difficult times.

October 22, 2021 Update

Please see this letter from Mr. Sampson regarding spectators in the school:

October 20, 2021 Update

Please examine this recently update website and flow charts when determining if you should send your child to school when they have Covid-19 symptom(s):

AHS Website:

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16998.aspx

Flow chart 1

Flow chart 2

Please contact the school if you have any questions.

October 12, 2021 Update

Please read this important letter from our Superintendent:

October 12, 2021 

Dear families of Holy Spirit Catholic School Division, 

Throughout this pandemic, the school division has been collectively steadfast in our commitment to keeping our students and staff safe – physically, mentally, spiritually, and academically. We continue to assess and implement measures that we believe will have a positive impact on the health and safety of our schools. 

Immunization, as communicated by Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, is the most effective means to prevent the spread of COVID-19, mitigate outbreaks, and protect ourselves and children who cannot yet be vaccinated. In an effort to maintain in-person learning while ensuring the comprehensive health of our staff and students, it has been determined that all individuals in direct contact with our schools must be fully vaccinated unless they require an accommodation pursuant to a protected grounds under the Alberta Human Rights Act or participate in a regular, rapid testing program that ensures they are not COVID-19 positive. 

This requirement, which will come into effect on October 25, 2021, will apply to all staff, visitors, contractors, volunteers, and personnel from community agencies who come into our school buildings. This does not apply to students. Currently, children under 12 are still not eligible for vaccination and there is no provincial legislation that requires K–12 students to have specific vaccinations. Further, in keeping with the Education Act, every child in Alberta is entitled to have access to an education program. 

More information will be shared as appropriate. In the meantime, I ask again for your prayers and support of our staff, who continue to go to incredible lengths to ensure that the needs of all of our students are met. 

Sincerely, 
Ken Sampson, Superintendent of Schools

October 6, 2021 Update

Yesterday our government provided an update regarding COVID-19 measures.  Part of the update included changes to measures in schools, particularly concerning contact notification, sharing information about cases at schools, and at-home rapid testing.  Please click on this link for a summary:

https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=8010338004656-FFAD-9A4C-1513D6E78C7690C9

Once these new measures’ effects are determined at our school, we will share specific information with our community.

September 23, 2021 Update

Yesterday, we shared the new COVID-19 Alberta Health Daily Checklists.  Unfortunately, these new checklists have caused some confusion.  Our division is awaiting clear direction from Alberta Education regarding household close contacts. Therefore, we ask parents to continue to use the following flowchart as our guide:

September 22, 2021 Update

Lately, we have received a lot of questions whether parents should be sending their child to school if they have some symptoms or if they are a close contact due to a positive case in a household. Therefore, we want to share with you the most recent COVID-19 Alberta Health Daily Checklist (both for adults and children):

For Children Under 18 (llink temporarily removed)

For Adults 18 Years and Older (link temporarily removed)

September 20, 2021

Our school division sent out an announcement on September 16 sharing the new restrictions concerning our divisional COVID-19 Protocols.  We want to take this opportunity to share how the new restrictions affect our FLVT students:

• Masking – There is no change in the masking policy.  All staff, visitors, and K to 9 students are required to wear non-medical masks.  The only exceptions are for students who have a medical exemption, for students while doing physical activities or while students are outside.
• Elementary Cohorts – There will not be a significant change for our elementary students.  Previously to the new restrictions, we were only allowing grade-level gatherings. So, for example, our 1P and 1T students could gather together.  Now, all elementary homeroom classes will not be able to interact with other classes. However, cohorts will be able to interact with different cohorts outside.
• Spectators – As per our divisional policy, spectators will not be allowed. However, we are currently hoping to live stream our events soon.

September 16, 2021

As you are aware, our province has announced new restrictions. Our school division will be sending out a notice sharing some specifics soon. One further restriction that we want to share with our community right away is the decision that all indoor sporting events will be closed to all spectators effective immediate. So, for example, today’s after-school volleyball game, and all other games, is closed to the public.

Here is a link to the school division announcement: https://www.holyspirit.ab.ca/resources_publications/news/whats_new/updates_based_on_new_provincial_health_measures?fbclid=IwAR0fr-p6T9zVhgaaLLuWDI_bhgwx6zdH_cIlkieD6KArNmknrXnaRhIL52I

September 7, 2021 Update

Please see the announcement regarding masking from Mr. Sampson:

https://www.holyspirit.ab.ca/resources_publications/news/whats_new/updates_on_masking_and_revised_guidelines

Here is a summary:

• All staff and all students (K-12) to wear a non-medical mask;
• Effective Wednesday, September 8, 2021;
• Masks will not be required during physical activity, eating (while seated), or when outdoors;

Thank you.

August 30, 2021

Please review this very important document outlining Father Leonard Van Tighem School 2021-22 School Year COVID-19 Pandemic Response Protocols:

Please contact the school if you have any questions.