Dear Parents / Guardians,

As we conclude the first four months of the school year, it is an important time for me to reflect on what has been, and hope for what the new year may bring.  Here are a few topics I thought would be important to share with you at this time:

Health & Safety

We continue to follow the recommendations from Dr. Bonnie Henry, her team at the Provincial Health Office (PHO), Island Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control.  Our schools are some of the most controlled and safe environments in the province and continue to be wonderful places to work and learn.  You can find more information and guidelines at the following websites:

• BC COVID-19 Dashboard (updated daily)
• Provincial Health Officer Orders (updated Dec 6, 2021)
• Provincial Government COVID-19 Safe Schools (updated Nov 23, 2021)
• Saanich School District Communicable Disease Plan (Aug 2021)

COVID-19 vaccination registration for children (ages 5-11) is now available. If you are looking for information on this topic, I encourage you to visit the provincial COVID-19 Vaccines for Children 5-11 website.

Winter Break (Dec 20th – Jan 3rd)

The last day of classes in 2021 is Fri. Dec 17th.  Classes resume on Tues. Jan 4th. 

If you are planning to travel internationally it is important that you follow the expectations about COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements, as well as the possible need to quarantine upon your return.  You and/or your children may be required to isolate after travelling depending on your travel destination, duration, and any COVID-19 testing results you may receive.  This could require your child to be away from school for a bit when we return to classes in January.  The federal government rules for these considerations are being updated on a regular basis, so I encourage you to check the Government of Canada – COVID-19 Vaccinated Travellers Entering Canada website for the most current requirements and restrictions. 

The Holiday Season

This has been another challenging start to the school year – for everyone – staff, students and parents/guardians.  It is time for a break to connect with family and friends and return to a place where traditions make the holiday time special – things like seasonal music, food and decorations – things that provide many of us with comfort and joy.  My most recent blog post talks about the importance of these things, and the need to honour them.  I hope you can take a few minutes to read it.  You can find it here: SEASONAL TRADITIONS – AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL

All the best for the remainder of 2021 and the promise of a wonderful 2022.

Season’s Greetings,

Dave Eberwein
Superintendent & CEO, Saanich Schools