Almost 200,000 students returned to classrooms this June in B.C., giving the Province and a newly appointed education steering committee important information to prepare for the 2020-21 school year. 

“Students, educators and families throughout the province have shared heart-warming stories of how meaningful those in-person connections in the classroom were,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Education. “What we’ve learned from this successful June school restart will be invaluable in planning to have even more students in class in September, if it is safe to do so.” 

On June 1, all kindergarten-to-Grade 5 students could attend school half-time at 50% capacity. Grades 6 to 12 could attend school for the equivalent of one day a week at 20% capacity. Children of essential service workers and students who require additional support could attend schools full time. 

To prepare for September, Fleming appointed a steering committee with representatives from teachers, parents, First Nations, support staff, principals and vice-principals, school boards and trustees, and the public health sector to learn from best practices and find solutions to issues. 

The committee will review lessons learned from March to June, identify existing and potential issues and propose solutions, and develop and support parent and teacher resources.  

Throughout the pandemic, educators and support workers have ensured that health and safety standards are strictly followed. These include greater space between desks, minimal physical contact, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, cleaning of high-contact surfaces twice daily, and clear protocols for drop-offs and lunch and recess breaks, to name a few. 

Plus, teachers have supported students in new and innovative ways, like organizing virtual music performances, keeping students active and engaged through phys-ed video challenges, teaching Indigenous cooking classes and arranging video scavenger hunts to keep students engaged. 

Enabling the use of Zoom for B.C. schools has allowed 35,000 educators using that secure video-conferencing platform to bring students together online. 

The goal is to have even more students in class in September, if it is safe to do so based on the advice of Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer. Several return to school scenarios are being developed based on a five-stage approach, allowing schools to respond quickly in the event of a second wave.