Dear Fernwood Families,

I hope this email finds you all enjoying a safe and happy summer. We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place with so many opportunites to enjoy the outdoors. My boys and I have enjoyed time hiking, bike riding and playing outside (basketball!), and now we are looking forward to a return to school. I am feeling grateful that the Vanouver Island Region has maintained low numbers of COVID-19 cases. Well done Islanders - let's keep those numbers low!

You will have heard about several Ministry of Education announcements about September's return to school. On July 29 Minister Fleming announced that there will be a full return to in-class instruction in learning groups: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020EDUC0040-001415 . Last week, the Ministry of Education made another annoucement that the start of school would be pushed back by a few days to allow school staffs to work together to ensure a safe return for students. Students will be brought in for orientation on September 10-11th in order to learn and practice the new routines and health and safety protocols.  https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020EDUC0054-001506

At Fernwood, we are so excited to welcome back our students. We aim to create a safe and welcoming learning environment and will be following (and exceeding) the guidelines set by the BCCDC and Ministry of Education. Over the next week I will be creating the Fernwood September Restart Plan in consultation with District staff, Fernwood staff and PAC. Once the plan is complete, I will share the details with the wider school community. 

One notable change this year is that students will not be returning to their former classes during the first week of school. Students will be placed into their new classes right from the start. Details about this will be communicated early in September.

Here is a link to our supply lists - note that students will not be sharing supplies this year and that you do not need to bring in school supplies in the first week of school.  https://sites.google.com/a/sd64.bc.ca/ferntest/school-news/schoolsupplies-september2020

As we approach the start of the school year, in addition to communications from Fernwood on our website www.fernwood.sd64.bc.ca, updates will be posted to the district website at this link: www.sd64.bc.ca/coronavirus/