Friday
27 March 2020
Dear Parents,
The past two weeks have seen a lot of new information and new directives from our Federal and Provincial Governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this information, we have sent out school updates through ManageBac.
In this update we are reissuing the key pieces of the information to ensure everyone is fully apprised of the situation.
In order to ensure you are up to date on the situation here in Canada, and at Brookes Westshore, please read the following carefully:
On Tuesday March 17, the Premier of British Columbia ordered the suspension of all in-class instruction in schools in British Columbia. All indications are that this will be a prolonged suspension – likely until the end of the school year (i.e. through to the end of June 2020).
In accordance with this governmental directive, Brookes Westshore School will be closed for in-class instruction until further notice.
To mitigate the impact of this closure on our students and to ensure our students’ education continues at the highest standard, we will be taking the following steps:
- Beginning on March 30, all students will continue their education with online classes delivered by our existing teachers using a variety of tools including ManageBac and MS Teams.
- We will ensure that every student will graduate from their grade level.
- All grade 12 students will receive their BC Dogwood Diploma, and the Ministry has assured us that students’ applications and access to Canadian universities will not be negatively affected.
For IB grade 12 Diploma students, we received the following message from Sally Holloway, Deputy Director General of the IB on Monday 23 March:
The International Baccalaureate Organization has announced that the May examinations for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme will not be held this year due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
As an organization, it is critical for the IB to ensure that the options it provides its global community of IB World Schools are based on compassion and fairness for the difficult circumstances that its students and educators are experiencing. As a result, based on considerable advice from stakeholders across the globe, including schools, students, universities and official bodies, the IB has determined what it believes to be the most responsible and ethical way forward.
The May 2020 examinations as scheduled between 30 April and 22 May for Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme candidates will no longer be held.
Depending on what they registered for, the student will be awarded a Diploma or a Course Certificate which reflects their standard of work. This is based on student’s coursework and the established assessment expertise, rigor and quality control already built into the programmes.
Please note that it is vital that Grade 12 IB Diploma students continue with their online classes and complete all assignments, especially IAs.
For our international boarding students
Our dormitories are closed. All boarding students have gone home or have found places to stay safely, either with family, friends or in homestay accommodation.
Students’ belongings will be boxed up and will be mailed home to all non-returning students. The school will need a complete mailing address and phone number in order to send out boxes. For all returning students the dorm staff will box up everything in each student’s dorm room and store the boxes on site.
Thank you all again for your patience and understanding at this difficult time. Our priority, as always, is the health and safety of our students and staff and we deeply appreciate your support. Please keep safe and well wherever you are.
Sincerely,
Jerry Salvador
Head of School
Latest Links
The protocols and procedures developed in this document have been created using the BC Ministry of Education’s guidelines for restarting school, BC Ministry of Health and Workplace BC.
BC Ministry Guidelines – Link to the BC Ministry of Health website – Orders, notices and guidelines.
BC Ministry of Health – Public Health Guidance for K-12 School Settings
BC Cleaning Guidelines for COVID-19