2021-22 Return To School Plan
August 23rd, 2021
Dear Parents and Guardians of East Central Alberta Catholic Schools;
At ECCS student and staff safety remains a top priority. On August 13th, the Alberta Government’s 2021-2022 School Plan was released. The plan focuses on a normal return to school with regular classroom instruction. Many mandatory requirements have now become recommendations and it is upon the school division and its local school communities to ensure safety measures meet the needs of all we serve. The autonomy placed upon our schools to facilitate practices to prevent COVID-19 transmission is a big responsibility that we take very seriously. Each school has a unique local context that may require specific measures and procedures which will be communicated by principals with their respective families. 
The school division is providing an overview of continued best practices regarding safety measures for all stakeholders. These practices are representative of the collective voices of Alberta Health Services, Alberta Education, the school board and the school communities of ECCS.
•Continued use of daily self screening practices before leaving home - staying home when sick
•Regular hand hygiene and use of hand sanitizer
•Isolation room for those who are ill at school and organization of child pick up
•Proper respiratory etiquette
•Maintaining adequate ventilation
•Traffic flow in hallway corridors and doorway entries
•Regular cleaning and disinfection of high traffic/touch areas
•Controlled access to schools, parent drop off and pick up routines, booking of appointments
•Masking is recommended and not mandatory, schools will have the autonomy to make decisions regarding masking on a per-basis need
•Minimizing the use of shared resources, spaces, and personal items
Please Note: All bused students are mandated to wear masks while travelling to and from school. Any questions regarding health and safety requirements on buses please follow up with the transporting board or school administration.
Your child’s school principal will send out parent information regarding startup procedures specific to each community.
The above mentioned items are provided only as an overview and much more detailed information is included within the provided document. We encourage all parents to take the time to read and stay informed of all the measures in place. To access this document please click on the link ECCS 2021-2022 Return to School Plan.
The school year ahead of us is filled with much anticipation, cautious optimism, anxiety, and uncertainty. What is certain is the division's commitment to excellence in serving all children in a healthy and safe environment. We look forward to working with your child this academic year and recognize the many complexities that the return to the 2021-2022 school year involves. Together through communication, team-work, and overall sharing of the responsibilities, we can ensure that healthy and productive learning environments are achieved. We will be sure to forward more information as made available to us from Alberta Health Services and Alberta Education. We value your constructive feedback and if you haven't completed our Return To School Survey please do so. For more information on Alberta vaccination programs please click here. Together in faith of God’s love, strength, and mercy we recognize and celebrate the many blessings we have in Catholic Education.
Best regards,
Glenn Nowosad, Superintendent
Debra Klein, Board Chair