Posted: March 31, 2021
Important Message from Langley Superintendent Mr. Gord Stewart
March 31, 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Staff:
Re: Mask Guidelines Update
In follow up to yesterday’s Information Bulletin, the District is sharing an update on guidelines
regarding mask wearing in schools. The Ministry of Education, Provincial Health Office, and BC
Centre for Disease Control have provided school districts with amendments to the K-12 health and safety guidelines which are found in these two documents:
BCCDC Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools
Provincial COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines for K-12 Settings
Here’s What You Need To Know
Effective immediately all K-12 staff, students in Grades 4 to 12, and visitors to schools will be
required to wear non-medical masks in all indoor areas, including when they are at their
workstations (desks), and on school buses – both within and outside of their learning group.
Exceptions include:
• A person who is unable to wear a mask because they do not tolerate it (for health or
behavioural reasons)
• A person unable to put on or remove a mask without the assistance of another person
• If the mask is removed temporarily for the purposes of identifying the person wearing it
• If the mask is removed temporarily to engage in an educational activity that cannot be
performed while wearing a mask (e.g. actively playing a wind instrument, high-intensity
physical activity, etc.)
• If a person is eating or drinking
• If a person is behind a barrier
• While providing a service to a person with a disability or diverse ability (including but not
limited to a hearing impairment), where visual cues, facial expressions and/or lip
reading/movements are important
Students in Kindergarten to Grade 3 are strongly encouraged to wear a mask indoors in schools and on school buses – both within and outside of their learning group – though mask wearing ultimately remains a personal or family/caregiver choice for these students, and their choices must be respected.Students will be able to remove their masks while outside, including at recess, lunchtime and while learning outside. As weather improves, teachers will continue to look for opportunities to move their classes outside.
Here Is What You Need To Know To Help Your Child
• Please send your child with a clean mask and a spare mask to school daily
• Schools are able to provide students a cloth mask or disposable mask if they forget
but it is not intended to be daily in frequency
• Watch this Health Canada video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvLA–hGU70 with your child
or view this poster http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Professionals-Site/Documents/COVID19_SurgicalMaskPoster.pdf for guidance on mask wearing
Moving Forward
Our administrators, teachers and school-based staff will spend this week helping students get
comfortable and adapt to these new guidelines. The District will continue to work with the
Ministry of Education and public health and will provide the community with updates to health
and safety changes as they become available.
As we continue to adapt to these challenging circumstances, we appreciate everyone’s efforts
to work together and follow health and safety guidelines. These measures are intended to
keep all of us as safe as possible during these difficult times. Thank you for your ongoing
patience and support in this evolving situation.
Sincerely,
Gord Stewart
Superintendent of Schools
This information has also been sent home via email to all parents today
by Mrs. Linda Klassen, Principal