North Okanagan students are getting an extended spring break.
The provincial government announced Tuesday, March 17 that K-12 classes are suspended until further notice.
“We will return to regular school life down the road,” said Minister of Education Rob Fleming.
Every student will receive a final mark, according to Fleming, adding that graduation assessments will be postponed and graduates will be pushed through.
The Vernon School District has set up a pandemic response plan in response to COVID-19.
“The District is planning a range of responses aligned with the possible continuum of outbreak severity,” the plan reads. “Schools may be closed under the authority of the
Ministry of Education and the Provincial Health Officer. The School District is working on the following plan, emphasizing the most important aspect – prevention.”
Online learning is being looked at as the entire B.C. curriculum is online.
Meanwhile childcare is not being shut down.
“Health care providers and other essential personnel need access to childcare,” said Premier John Horgan. “At this time childcare will remain available, parents should take comfort in that.”
While this is an evolving situation, Horgan adds that there may be options.
“Schools are not boarded up, that means those buildings are available,” he said, also urging: “Families should be ready and trying to make plans for changes immediately.”
All sport related activities have also been halted for students with the spring season of play suspended immediately.
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