Transitioning to orange

We would like to thank our community members for their patience, as we move forward with entering into what is now referred to as a restricted orange pandemic response level.

On Thursday, October 22, 2020, Manitoba’s Provincial Public Health Officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, announced that schools in the Winnipeg Metro Region, including Pembina Trails School Division, will transition into orange.

Our plan includes some temporary alternative learning options for our K-6 students and families who are currently attending our schools. Since we need time to ensure a smooth transition, temporary online learning is set to begin on Monday, November 2, 2020.

With 2 metre distancing in place, students in Grades 7 and 8 will attend all day, every day. In the absence of 2 metre distancing, students in Grades 7 and 8 will move into an alternate day model. The data we collected for this group, during remote learning last spring, reflected a strong need for classroom engagement and continuity of instruction and learning.

All Grade 9 students, attending in a middle school, will move to alternate day blended learning. Grade 9 students who attend high school will remain on the alternate day schedule.

High school programming will remain as blended alternate days with 2 metres distancing in schools. Currently, there are no changes to transportation services in the restricted orange pandemic response level.

What a restricted orange level means in our schools 

• Temporary remote learning will be available for K-6 students as of November 2, 2020.
• Grades 7-8 will move into an alternate day model, where 2 metre distancing is not achieved.
• Grade 9 students attending a middle school will move into an alternate day model.
• High school students remain on the blended alternate day schedule.
• 2 metre distancing, where and when possible, will be recommended in schools and on buses at all times.
• Students who currently hold a seat on a Pembina Trails bus will continue to be transported while in restricted orange.
• There is no change for students with additional needs.
• Relocating classes to other schools or spaces is not being contemplated at this time.
• There are no changes to daycare centres operating in schools.
• Indoor choir and the use of wind instruments will be suspended.
• Extracurricular activities and sports will only proceed if space is available and guidelines are followed.

Additional safety steps we are taking, as we move into restricted orange 

• Removing excess furniture to create extra space and more physical distancing.
• Medical grade masks will be available for staff moving between schools and classrooms.
• Other spaces within our schools, such as common areas and multipurpose spaces, may be repurposed to accommodate more distancing.
• Enhanced cleaning protocols will continue at each school.

How temporary remote learning will work

• Remote learning may be connected to classrooms by cameras, at teacher discretion.
• Parents and or guardians will remain fully engaged in a supportive role.
• A survey will be sent out to K-6 parents and guardians to indicate their choice to either continue with daily in-class learning or move to the temporary remote learning option.
• Once the choice is made, the expectation will be that the student remains in the remote learning option for the entire interim period.
• Schools will follow-up with MicrosoftTeams, Edsby and Seesaw.

Please remember that families selecting temporary remote learning must be able to support their child online at home. While we believe the best place for our students to learn is at school, we understand the need for flexible options for families during this time. Once remote learning is selected, the student will remain online for the duration of restricted level orange.

Keep an eye out for communication from your school leaders. They will be following up with additional details.  We continue to feel tremendous gratitude for our community’s ongoing support, understanding and flexibility while we navigate our way through this pandemic.