Sunday, March 7, 2021

Dear ASD-W Families,

As of midnight tonight, Sunday, March 7, 2021, the province will move to an updated version of the Yellow Alert level.

This is a welcomed change and is due in large part to the diligence of our communities working together to follow the provincial Covid-19 guidelines. Your continued commitment to staying safe and following specific safety measures in this level is important if we wish to get ahead of the virus.

The updated Yellow Alert level involves specific changes for the public. Please see here for more details:

NB’s Recovery plan (gnb.ca)

For our schools, the Yellow Alert level has the biggest impact on mask use. Masks are no longer required for K-8 students when they are in their class grouping, and masks are not required in the classroom for grades 9-12 students if they are able to physically distance by 1 metre. Please see Appendix A attached, which outlines full details of mask use for both teachers and students during the Yellow phase

Appendix A - Use of Community Masks (final).pdf

As a reminder, the requirements for mask use in the Yellow level are as follows:

Students should bring a clean mask to school every day.

• Students in grades K-5 are encouraged to wear their masks in common areas when they are outside of their class grouping and when a 2 metre distance between each other cannot be maintained.
•  Students in grades 6-12 are required to wear their masks in common areas when they are outside of their class grouping, such as in the hallways, lobbies, and stairwells, and at their lockers.
•  Students in grades K-5 are encouraged to wear their masks when getting on and off the bus and when a 2 metre distance cannot be maintained. They are not required to wear a mask if they are sitting with a member of the same household or sitting alone.
• Students in grades 6-12 are required to wear their masks when getting on and off the bus and if they are sitting with another student who is not from the same household.
• When in common areas, (and for K-5 students when class groupings are not protected), students are expected to practice physical distancing, keeping 2 metres apart.

We wish to remind families that the provincial COVID-19 response continues to change and evolve. We are committed to the health and safety of our staff and students and will keep our ASD-W families up-to-date with any new information we receive.

Thank you for your continued commitment to reducing the risk of transmitting the virus and for keeping yourself and those around you safe.

Sincerely,

David McTimoney, Superintendent