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The Richmond School District released a detailed back-to-school plan today.

Photo by Jaana Björk

Richmond releases back-to-school details

By Hannah Scott, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Published 4:34 PDT, Wed August 26, 2020

Last Updated: 2:13 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021

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The Richmond School District released its detailed back-to-school plan today after approval by the provincial Education Ministry.

Individual schools will share more specific plans, including daily schedules, in the coming week. Staff will return to school on Sept. 8, followed by students on Sept. 10.

The district is requesting all parents fill in a mandatory online survey (deadline 4 p.m. on Aug. 30) for their child(ren), indicating which learning option they will be participating in this September. The options include returning to school for in-person instruction (full-time for Kindergarten to Grade 9 students, half-time for Grade 10 to 12 students) and home schooling, which necessitates withdrawing from the Richmond School District.

Distributed learning is another option, but this is offered by the Richmond School District for secondary students only. Secondary students who choose this option can enrol in full-time studies with Richmond Virtual School, but must withdraw from their neighbourhood school. Space in virtual courses may be limited.

Elementary students will also have access to a temporary “transition learning” option. This is described as a short-term possibility for students whose families are not yet ready for them to return to in-person instruction, but who do not want to lose their child’s space in their school or program of choice.

The transition learning option will provide district-supported home learning, while allowing students to maintain their classroom placement. At-home learning will be supported by Richmond teachers, but will not necessarily align with classroom studies, specific schools or grade levels. The district will designate several points during the year for children who choose this option to return to in-class instruction.

Elementary students will be in learning groups of 60 people maximum, with two classes forming each group. People in a learning group do not need to physically distance from each other, but must limit physical contact. All recess and lunch breaks will be outdoors, with adult supervision and staggering of breaks to allow for distancing.

Secondary students will take classes in a quarter system, with Grade 8 and 9 students attending full-time and Grade 10 to 12 students attending for half days. In the quarter system, the year will be divided into four 10-week terms and students will take two courses every 10 weeks.

Students of all ages who are immunocompromised or have complex medical needs will have the option of full at-home support. Students with disabilities or who require additional support can receive full-time in-person instruction.

The district also provided more information on health and safety protocol. In total, 47,000 masks were ordered and two will be provided to every student and staff member in the district. Staff and secondary students will be required to wear masks while in high-traffic areas, or when outside their learning group. Any student or staff member may choose to wear a mask at other times if they prefer.

Portable hand washing stations have been installed throughout the district, and all schools will be cleaned and disinfected twice a day. The district also added 25 full-time custodians to provide daytime custodial services. Students may socialize with those in other learning groups if outside, but should minimize physical contact.

For more information, including links to surveys, click here.