Stay safe, stay home this April Break

Limestone Learning Foundation
Stay safe, stay home this April Break
Posted on 04/08/2021
Image of a home and the words stay home this spring break

Dear Families,

I wanted to provide you with some important updates as we head into the April Break. As you now know, yesterday the province implemented a new state-of-emergency and stay-at-home order to help control the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. At this point, this order does not impact our schools and they will reopen to in-person learning on Monday, April 19, 2021 following the April Break, April 12 to 16, 2021.

Schools in Limestone have fared relatively well thanks in large part to student and staff adherence to public health directives and safety measures to keep schools open and safe. It is our collective efforts, as a community, that ensures students can continue to learn in person. I am asking you, as is KFL&A Public Health Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, to please remain vigilant in following all public health directives proven to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Given increasing case numbers and increasing incidents of Variants of Concern (VOC) in our region, we all must do our part by practising all public health measures outlined by Dr. Moore in a memo to all Limestone families and staff. Ensuring folks stay at home and limit close contact to those with whom we live, will have a direct effect on whether schools can remain open in the short term.

Because levels of COVID-19 in our community can change rapidly, we want families to be prepared for a switch to remote learning if public health or government officials deem it necessary following the April Break. As a precautionary measure, students will be asked to take all personal belongings home with them tomorrow (Friday) and schools will be reaching out to families to start the distribution of devices where needed. Schools may provide devices directly to older students, or contact families regarding device pick up before and/or after the break if it becomes necessary. All device distribution to families will follow current Public Health directives and will be conducted outside of school buildings. All family members who attend schools for pick up must be masked and follow other hand hygiene and safety practices as directed. Again, devices are only being allocated as a precautionary measure to allow for a quicker pivot if that becomes necessary in the next 10 days.

Also, asymptomatic testing remains available for all Limestone students. Although the schedule via the Kingston and Napanee Assessment Centres is earmarked for the Kingston Secondary School and La Salle Intermediate & Secondary School families of schools during the break, all students are invited to attend either assessment centre for asymptomatic testing from April 12 to 18, 2021. For asymptomatic testing you must have no symptoms, not be a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19 or be part of an active Public Health outbreak investigation. Asymptomatic appointments are specifically for those with no symptoms or risk factors. Visit the notice on the board website for more information and the booking link.

As a reminder, before coming back to school on Monday, April 19, 2021 all students must actively screen for COVID-19 symptoms before attending school. If your student or anyone in your household has even one symptom of COVID-19, or is ill, they must stay home and follow the guidance provided in the school screening tool. It is only by following these measures that we can continue to keep schools open and students and staff safe.

Should the need arise, we will communicate with you again before school resumes.

Please enjoy a safe April break. Stay safe. Stay home.

Krishna Burra
Director of Education

KFLAPH Memo to LDSB School Community

 

The Limestone District School Board is situated on traditional territories of the Anishinaabe & Haudenosaunee.