UPDATE Winter Break Extended for K-12 Students

December 31, 2021

Yesterday at 5:30 PM, Alberta Education Minister Adriana LaGrange announced that the Winter Break for all K-12 students would be extended an additional week (including January 3-7) in order to support a successful return to school and provide additional planning time.

The Minister reported that school authorities will use the extended student winter break to prepare for potential in-person and at-home learning scenarios, as they have done previously during the pandemic. The full news release can be viewed here.

This morning, we participated in meetings with the Ministry of Education. Here are some key points:

Monday, January 3 to Friday, January 7, 2022

• Schools will not be open to any students

• All online class instruction is cancelled

• All Outreach and Colony schools are closed

• Extra curricular activities are cancelled

• Division preschool programs are cancelled

• Public Libraries will be closed

Monday, January 10, 2022

• Government expectation is there will be a full return to in person learning for all students

General Information

• All staff will work from home Monday, January 3, and Tuesday, January 4, 2022

• All staff will report to work on site from Wednesday, January 5 to January 7, 2022

• All Schools and all division buildings will remain open during the week of January 3-7. Front doors will be locked, but parents can call in advance in order for students to pick up any needed materials

• No in person meetings will be allowed

Of Note:

• January, 2022 Diploma exams are cancelled.

• The Ministry did inform that there will be no impact to school calendars, meaning that missed instruction time will not need to be recouped.

• Rapid test kits will be distributed to students and staff, along with medical grade masks. Exact distribution details are not yet available.

• Please continue to follow all applicable health measures. See the AHS website for the latest updates.

We would like to thank you for your ongoing cooperation and understanding as we continue to adjust to changing conditions. We will update you as necessary.

Take care everyone.