Pembina Trails School Division Mask Update

August 20, 2021

Dear Families and Staff: 

We want to assure you that the safety and well-being of all our students, staff and families in Pembina Trails School Division is at the forefront of all the critical decisions being made by our school division. As such, the wearing of masks is required by all Kindergarten to Grade 12 students, staff and visitors in Pembina Trails schools, buildings and buses.   

Throughout the pandemic we have been following the recommendations from Public Health, considering the preference of our staff, and the feedback from community parents. The board of trustees has made the decision to enhance safety protocols in the division. We will continue to practice the public health fundamentals of staying at home when ill, regular hand washing/sanitizing and practicing good cough etiquette at Pembina Trails School Division. In addition, we have added enhancements to our ventilation systems which will ensure our students and staff are in a safe, clean air environment. We will also continue the requirement of wearing masks by all individuals in our facilities, in a continued effort to help with preventing the spread of COVID-19. 

We will also continue with maintaining physical distancing to the greatest extent possible, cohorting of Kindergarten to Grade Six students and providing handwashing/sanitizing stations throughout our schools. For more information on the Pembina Trails School Division COVID-19 safety protocols, including safe school opening plans, please consult your child’s school website or www.pembinatrails.ca in the upcoming days. For information about the provincial mask exemptions, visit https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/covid/docs/mask_exemption.pdf. 

The board of trustees has been working closely with the senior administration team as our safe return to school plans are being developed. The board and senior administration team will continue to monitor the requirements and recommendations of Public Health throughout the school year and when appropriate, we will advise you of any changes to our division-wide safety protocols implemented to help prevent COVID-19 virus transmission. With these safety measures in place, we can look forward to our students and staff having a successful and healthy school year.