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Letters: Richmond schools closed, but learning persists

Open letter to parents, guardians, On March 17, the B.C. Ministry of Education directed all school districts to immediately suspend all K-12 in-class instruction.

Open letter to parents, guardians,

On March 17, the B.C. Ministry of Education directed all school districts to immediately suspend all K-12 in-class instruction.

We understand that this will have caused some uncertainty for families and that this is a challenging time for all.

The government restrictions — and medical implications of the virus itself — have caused a great deal of stress for families, businesses, community organizations and our education system.

Please be assured that the Board of Education is committed to supporting our students and their families as we navigate these challenges together.

Our priority is doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our students, their families and our staff members.

As such, the Board of Education is asking all members of our community to follow the directives outlined by the provincial health minister.

These measures are designed to mitigate the impact and growth of COVID-19.

We all must do our share and take responsibility in being part of the solution. Please be safe, kind and helpful to others.

We all want our children and teaching staff to be back in the classroom as soon as possible when it is safe to do so.

The board would like parents to know that the school district is working with the Ministry of Education on developing a plan to provide learning opportunities for our students.

The ministry has stated an expectation that the planning process begin as soon as schools return from spring break.

As these plans are finalized, the district will communicate directly with parents and continue to post updated information on the district website at www.sd38.bc.ca.

The district will also ensure that students in Grade 12, who were on-track to graduate in June, will be able to do so.

Moreover, the Ministry of Education will be working with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training and with post-secondary institutions on admissions for graduating students.

In closing, we would like to take the opportunity to thank those who are following the government’s directive by keeping themselves, their families and our community safe.

We are also very appreciative of the work of our government officials, our superintendent and senior staff, and all our district employees, as we work through these difficult times.

On behalf of the Board of Education, we extend our sincere appreciation for your patience and understanding as we work together moving forward.

Ken Hamaguchi

CHAIR, BOARD OF EDUCATION