Return to School 2021-22

This update was sent via email to all families of Oakenwald School on August 31.

August 31, 2021

Dear Oakenwald School Families,

We are looking forward to welcoming students back to school on Wednesday September 8. We continue to follow the direction of Pembina Trails School Division, Manitoba’s Department of Education, and Manitoba Public Health to ensure a safe and healthy start to the 2021-22 school year.

The Pembina Trails School Division Return to School plan is posted on the divisional website at this link:

Our response to the province's latest COVID-19 guidelines 

The Manitoba “Restoring Safe Schools – Guide for Parents, Caregivers and Students” is posted on the Manitoba Education website at this link:

Restoring Safe Schools - Guide for Parents 

As always, the safety of our students and staff is at the forefront of the decisions we are making for the return of students and staff in September. Please read the information from Pembina Trails School Division and Manitoba Education carefully to understand why the following are necessary at Oakenwald School.

1. SCREEN YOUR CHILD for symptoms: If your child is experiencing flu-like/COVID-19 symptoms, please keep your child at home and follow Public Health guidelines.

2. MASKS: In following Manitoba Education’s updated guidance, the use of masks will be mandatory indoors for all schools for students in all grades (Kindergarten through Grade 12 and staff), when physical distancing is not possible. Masks are a prevention practice and can play a role in reducing the spread of COVID-19.

• Students in K-12, teachers and staff must wear masks in areas where physical distancing of 2 metres is not possible.

• We will provide masks to staff and will also have a limited number available for students who arrive without.

• Families are asked to purchase masks, as part of this year’s school supply list.

• Masks should not be worn by anyone who is unable to remove the mask without assistance, due to age, ability or developmental status.

• All school bus passengers are required to wear a mask. These should be put on before loading and taken off after off-loading.

• Grades 1-6: ALL Grades 1-6 students will attend beginning Wednesday September 8th and following school days.

3. COHORTS: Oakenwald School students will be divided into cohorts of approximately 75 students. This follows Manitoba Education and Public Health guidelines for K-6 schools

and supports contact tracing efforts should a case of COVID-19 occur at Oakenwald School. Cohorts will be utilized for staggered recess and lunch hours.

• Cohort 1 – Kindergarten, 1/2 Green, 1/2 Gumprich

• Cohort 2 – 3/4 Dzik, 3/4 Kurbis, 3/4 Qiu/Jones

• Cohort 3 – 5/6 Boyd, 5/6 Mitchler

4. BUILDING ACCESS (Visitors and Volunteers): All our doors will continue to be locked during the day. Should you need to drop off or pick up your child outside of start and end times, or drop off an item for your child, we ask that you use the main entrance buzzer to let us know you have arrived and we will let you inside the building.

• Parents/guardians must wait outside the school building when dropping off or picking up their child (at 8:40, 11:45, 12:40, and 3:35). This ensures that we continue to control traffic flow as required by Manitoba Education and Public Health.

5. VEHICLE TRAFFIC – DROP OFF ZONES: We encourage as many students as possible to walk or bike to school. This will greatly reduce frustration with traffic. Dropping off and picking up students must ONLY occur at:

• Oakenwald Avenue (traveling eastbound) – please “stop, drop off, and go”

• Manchester Boulevard North – students can access the schoolyard through the entrance at the fenceline.

• NO DROPOFFS/PICKUPS along the back lane or parking area – this is an incredibly dangerous area and is NOT a walking/biking/dropoff zone.

• NO DROPOFFS/PICKUPS along the east side of the school. There is a strip of parking stalls that are NOT OUR PROPERTY and belong to apartment tenants. You may be ticketed or towed if you use this area.

6. MORNING SUPERVISION: Supervision outside begins at 8:40am. Students should not arrive before this time. Grade K-6 students will remain in their cohorts for arrival, recess, and lunch. Recess and lunch play times will be staggered to help with physical distancing. Students who go home for lunch should return no earlier than 12:40pm.

7. COHORT ENTRANCES/EXITS: At the bell, Grade K-6 students will line up, physically distanced and masked, at designated entrances/exits to come into the school. Please note that these doors will be the doors students will use to exit for lunch and at the end of the day. Parents waiting to pick up children must wait OUTSIDE as we are continuing to control traffic following COVID-19 protocols. The following entrances/exits will be used by our cohorts:

• EAST DOORS – Cohort 1 entrance/exit (K, 1/2 Green, 1/2 Gumprich)

• EXTERIOR DOORS BY MUSIC ROOM – Cohort 2 entrance/exit (3/4 Dzik, 3/4 Kurbis, 3/4 Qiu/Jones)

• SOUTH DOORS near gymnasium – Cohort 3 entrance/exit (5/6 Boyd, 5/6 Mitchler)

8. TEACHER CONNECTION TIMES: Teachers will meet students outside their designated entrance at 8:50am, 12:45pm, and at the end of each recess. Teachers will confirm that students are not symptomatic prior to entering the school.

9. BUILDING ENTRY PROTOCOL: Students will wash their hands or use hand sanitizer upon entering the building. Every homeroom has a sink, hand soap, and paper towels. Hallways have hand sanitizer units at entrances and at washroom entrances.

10. LATE ARRIVALS: If a student is more than 10 minutes late for school, the student is to come to the main entrance to access the building. Please buzz the buzzer to let the office know of your presence.

11. ILLNESS AT SCHOOL: If a student exhibits any symptoms of COVID-19 while at school, they will be isolated, and the family will be called for immediate pick-up. If you are unable to pick up your child within 30 minutes, we ask that you have a back-up plan of someone who can pick up your child. Classrooms will be set up to allow for as much distancing as possible. Cohorts are used when 2m physical distancing is not possible.

12. OUTDOOR LEARNING: We will continue to use the outdoors for classroom learning. Please ensure that your child is always dressed for the day’s weather, with proper footwear for the outdoor conditions.

13. LUNCH HOUR: is from 11:45am to 12:45pm (END TIME IS A CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS!). Students NOT enrolled in the lunch supervision program must remain off school property until 12:40pm at the earliest, when they must line up at their designated entrance. For students enrolled in the lunch supervision program, there will be supervised staggered eating and outdoor times to allow for separation of cohorts.

• NO MICROWAVES will be available for student lunches. Please ensure that your child has a bag lunch with containers that they are able to open themselves. Please provide your child with utensils if necessary as we do not provide these. 14. DISMISSAL: At the end of the school day, Grade 1-6 students will be dismissed at 3:35pm (THIS IS A CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR!) to their respective entrance/exit doors. Kindergarten students are to be picked up at the East school doors at 11:45am.

15. SCHOOL SUPPLY FEES/LISTS: Student supply lists and fees have changed to reflect the COVID-19 precautions. Please follow this link to see the updated student supply lists. School Supplies (pembinatrails.ca)

16. WATER BOTTLES: Students are asked to bring a filled water bottle to school each day. The water fountains are not available for use EXCEPT to fill water bottles.

17. FIELD TRIPS: We will be encouraging “community walks” to start the school year instead of field trips that require transportation. As the year progresses, we may add field trip opportunities for students.

18. CLEANING: The classrooms have all been deep cleaned and sanitized by our custodial staff. Regular cleaning of classrooms will continue during the school year. Washrooms and common areas will be regularly and thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.

19. PLAN CHANGES: We will continue to follow the directions of the Minister of Education, Public Health, and Pembina Trails School Division. When there are changes to the

current plan, we will change our procedures to reflect the changes and direction of the provincial government and our school division. We will communicate any changes by email.

20. WE CAN’T WAIT TO WELCOME YOU ALL BACK!

To ensure your child’s safety and well-being, please:

• Be positive about the return to school; reassure your child that the school is clean and safe. All school staff are here to help with a safe, happy return to school.

• Teach your child how to wear, take off, and store their mask.

• Review proper handwashing technique with your child.

• Explain to your child the importance of physical distancing.

• If biking with your child, please ensure social distancing while using the bike racks.

• Provide your child with a water bottle, and thoroughly clean it after use daily.

• Regularly check the Pembina Trails School Division website for updates.

Thank you for your patience as we continue to process registrations while we continue to prepare all the physical spaces in our building for the return of students. The school office opens daily this week at 9:00am. We are looking forward to welcoming students back to school on September 8. We’ve missed you!

Choose Joy,

Tanis Thiessen

Principal