As we prepare to return to school this week, I wanted to forward the most up-to-date information on new measures. Please be assured that throughout the first week, staff will review health measures with the students to ensure we get into the routines that will keep everyone as safe as possible. As in past returns to school, your collaboration in reviewing these measures is greatly appreciated for their successful implementation.
New Conditions for Isolation / Quarantine (awaiting updates from Public Health)
If your child or someone in your home experiences COVID-19 symptoms, your child and siblings must isolate for at least 5 days and contact the school. Access https://www.quebec.ca/ to find out more about what to do for other members of the household. Within 48 hours of an absence, your child’s teacher will provide learning activities to work on during the isolation period.
More extensive step-by-step instructions will be available for parents very soon regarding conditions for, and duration of isolation period. When the updated directives are received from Public Health, we will forward them to parents via REMIND and they will also be posted on the school website. In the meantime, additional information can be found at https://www.quebec.ca/ .
Symptoms
Please note that the presence of ONE symptom from the list below will require isolation for your child and siblings. Students with one of the symptoms (as well as their siblings) are not to come to school for at least 5 days. Extended isolation may be required depending on test result and symptoms (more to come from Public Health).
- fever:
- in children 0-5 years old: 38.5°C (101.3°F) and above (rectal temperature),
- in children 6 years and older: 38.1°C (100.6°F) and above (oral temperature),
- in adults: 38°C (100.4°F) and above (oral temperature),
- in older adults: 37.8°C (100°F) and above (oral temperature),
- or 1.1°C above the person’s usual value;
- general symptoms:
- sudden loss of sense of smell without nasal congestion, with or without loss of taste,
- major fatigue,
- significant loss of appetite,
- general muscle pain (not related to physical exertion),
- headache;
- respiratory symptoms:
- cough (new or worse),
- shortness of breath, difficulty breathing,
- sore throat,
- runny nose or nasal congestion (stuffy nose) of unknown cause;
- gastrointestinal symptoms:
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- diarrhea,
- stomach aches.
What will happen if my child develops symptoms at school?
If symptoms develop at school, you will be called to come pick up your child. Please ensure you or a designated person can arrive within 30 minutes. We will also continue to provide rapid testing with consent. Whether the result is positive or negative, your child will have to isolate for at least 5 days if there is one or more symptoms.
Rapid Test Kits
Over the next two weeks, we will be sending rapid test kits home with your child. You will get a box of 5 tests per child per month. We will receive another batch of kits to distribute in February.
Procedural Masks
More procedural masks are being delivered to the schools so that staff and students will be able to change them more frequently during the day.
The members of the Lord Aylmer staff are looking forward to seeing the students again in person and are working hard to prepare for a successful return. Our school community has been here before and for the past two years, our parents, staff and students have collaborated and effectively adapted to the new realities of schooling during this pandemic. There may be some challenges in the next few weeks but we’ll face them together and make it though.
Please note that some of the above information may change in coming days and that we will update you as this new information is available. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Respectfully,
Eldon Keon, Principal