Last updated: January 14, 2020
Updates to COVID-19 reporting in schools
To Westmount Staff and Families,
We are pleased to share the information below from the Acting Deputy Minister of Education regarding changes to official communications about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Joe Frank
Superintendent
Westmount Charter School
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As students and staff returned to in-person learning this week, I recognize you have undertaken extensive preparations to make sure schools follow COVID-19 precautions and welcome students and staff safely.
As we support students learning during a pandemic, clear communication with staff and families is essential. Department staff, along with the Minister of Education, have spoken with many of our education partners about the need to make the COVID-19 status map easier to understand. Many parents and staff find the terms confusing, and emphasize the need for clarity when communicating about outbreaks to the school community.
That’s why I’m pleased to let you know that language describing case numbers of COVID-19 in schools is being updated based on feedback from our education partners and public health officials. Effective January 18, the following terminology will be used:
─ Alert: 1 case
─ Alert: 2-4 cases
─ Outbreak: 5-9 cases
─ Outbreak: 10+ cases
The term ‘watch’, which many of you told us was confusing, will no longer be used.
To be clear, public health support provided to students, staff and families remains unchanged. Parents will continue to be notified when there is a single case in their child’s school, and an investigation will be initiated when there are two or more cases in school. Two or more cases will continue to be reported and reflected on the COVID-19 school map.
Additional guidance materials for learning during COVID-19 will be updated to reflect this change and are available at alberta.ca/returntoschool. I hope these changes are useful to you and help to make communication with families, staff and students easier.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to department staff should you have any needs or questions. Thank you, once again, for all of your efforts and collaboration during this time.
Sincerely,
Jeff Willan
Acting Deputy Minister of Education
COVID-19 News Updates
*Please note that all updates have been sent by email to Westmount families and not all will appear on the website. Check your email for messages from communications@westmountcharter.com.
- Updates to COVID-19 Reporting in Schools
- Provincial Government Update on Jan. 11 Return to In-Person Learning
- Alberta Government Announcements November 24, 2020
- What to Do if Your Child Has Been Identified as a Close Contact of a Confirmed Case of COVID-19
- School Guidance During Identified COVID-19 Cases – Q & A
- New COVID-19 Daily Checklist for Children under 18
- Updated Daily Health Checklist from Alberta Health Services
- Federal Funding Announcement
- Updated September Re-Entry V16 Parents and Students Document
- *UPDATED AUG 28 – Staggered Entry Plans for EC & MH
- School Re-Entry Q&A Meeting August 19
- MH Music Program Update
- Update To September Re-Entry Plan Announced
- Parent Return to School Survey #1 Emailed to Families
- Frequently Asked Questions Page Now on Westmount Website
- Alberta Government Announces In-Person Classes to Resume September 1
- Preparing for a Safe Return to School Informational Video
- Message from the Superintendent – Re-Entry Planning
- Message from the Superintendent – AB Education Update
- Message from the Superintendent – School Re-Entry Planning
- New Help Line & Email from Alberta Education
- Update from the Minister of Education
- #8 Educational Continuity Plan: COVID-19 FAQ’s
- #7 Elementary Campus Update – March 20, 2020
- #6 MH Campus Update – March 20, 2020
Videos
Supporting Documents
Additional Information
- Alberta Health Services Dedicated COVID-19 Web Page
- COVID-19 Information for Albertans
- COVID-19 Mental Health Toolkit
- COVID-19 Community Resources for Home Care
- Travel Advisories
- Public Health Agency of Canada
- Twitter Updates from WHO
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Travel restrictions, exemptions and advice
- Talking to Children About Coronavirus
- Government of Canada Public Health Information about Coronavirus
- Community-based measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Canada