March 20, 2020 -- The Saskatchewan Education Response Planning Team just posted this letter for all parents and families to read. Please review the document here.

MARCH 19, 2020 -- As of Friday, March 20, 2020, all classes in Regina Public Schools will be suspended indefinitely and school buildings will be closed until further notice. Please continue to check our website and twitter feed (@regpublicschool) for news and updates.

Our utmost priority is that all of our staff, students and families remain safe and healthy!

March 18, 2020 -- Message from Director of Education, Greg Enion.

Over the past few days, our everyday routines of school, work and learning have been first disrupted and now cancelled. As many of us are parents, we too have had many of the feelings of uncertainty and concern.

The absence of information often creates anxiety. To keep all our school families informed. I would like to share some information that your school division does have. Please know that we do not yet have any information relating to what's next for students, especially those requiring credits, or who are graduating this year. My promise to you is that we will share this information, the moment we have it.

With respect to our schools:

• As a response to the Government of Saskatchewan's direction for all school staff to take a six-day pause, all our schools will be closed from Friday, March 20, 2020 until further notice.
• During this time, there will be no school staff on premises and all doors, including those for in-school building childcare providers, will be locked.
• Our school division office will be closed to the public from Friday, March 20, 2020 until further notice.
• Select staff, including myself and the management team, will be working at the division office at this time ensuring that critical functions, such as IT, HR, Finance and employee payroll continue to operate on behalf of all Regina Public School employees.
• Please do not visit the school division office, but if you have any questions, we will do our best to answer them. Contact info@rbe.sk.ca or call 306 523-3000. We will have staff answering telephones and email. However, we do ask that your first refer to www.reginapublicschools.ca and to Twitter @regpublicschool for updates and information.
• For your information, our school-based staff have been asked to stay home, as directed by the government for the six-day pause period.
• For your further information, and to ease any concerns that you may have, we have made accommodations for all Regina Public Schools employees who because of personal, health, or family reasons cannot attend to duties as assigned. We would like all school families to understand that the health and mental wellness of all employees is critical to our school division and to our ability continue to provide excellent education services to our students in the future.

What continues to be important to us is the health and wellness of everyone in our school family. This includes students, parents, guardians, and extended family.

Please take the time, when and if you can, to spend time with your families. Engage in activities that provide comfort and peace and balance. Also, please heed the advice of professionals wash your hands often, practice social distancing, contact 811 or otherwise, if directed for health concerns.

Together, I am confident that we will persevere and all of us, especially students will have stories and experiences to tell that will inspire future generations.

Here are some resources that I hope you will find helpful.

First and foremost, the Government of Saskatchewan COVID-19 information link.
The Regina Public Schools website health and wellness page.

Please consider the following ideas to support you and your families in the coming days and weeks.

• Practice Self-Compassion.  Even those who don't typically struggle with anxiety may experience increased anxiety during uncertain times, so don't be hard on yourself if you are feeling more worried or anxious than usual.
• Practice Self-Care.  It remains important to engage in healthy and relaxing activities that you enjoy.  Consider a wide variety of fun, intellectually stimulating, and physically active options such as reading for professional growth or leisure, cooking, practicing yoga, exercise, meditation, and spending time in nature.
• Stay Connected.  Stay connected with family and friends.
• Establish and maintain routines.  Keeping similar routines and developing healthy new routines helps provide predictability and a sense of safety for you and your family.

Supportive Resources

• Canadian Mental Health Association
• Anxiety Canada
• Kidshelpphone
• I am stronger

Regina Public Schools will strive to keep all school families informed. We appreciate your trust, your patience and your support and we look forward to seeing our students smiling faces back in the classrooms and playgrounds as soon as is possible.

Keep healthy!

The following letter will be shared with all parents, guardians and students on March 16, 2020. For a copy of the letter, please follow this link.

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students

The Government of Saskatchewan announced today the indefinite suspension of elementary and high school classes beginning Friday, March 20, 2020, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Details are available at www.Saskatchewan.ca.

Regina Public Schools’ parents and guardians are asked to please start making immediate child care plans and, if possible, try to keep students away from school as soon as possible. Schools will be open for students until the end of day, Thursday, March 19th. Transportation for students will continue until end of day, Thursday, March 19th.

As of Friday, March 20th, classes will be suspended indefinitely. Please check for updates at www.reginapublicschools.ca and on Twitter @regpublicschool. We will also be working with the news media to share information with parents, guardians and students.

Over the next few days, we will be sharing information relating to next steps, especially impacts and options for students who were scheduled to take exams and those who are graduating this year. Please refer to the Government of Saskatchewan news release for current information on this issue. https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2020/march/16/class-suspensions

We recognize that this is an unprecedented occurrence in Saskatchewan Pre-K to Grade 12 education and has a significant impact on families. We also know that health and safety come first. Further information will be shared as it becomes available.

We hope that you and your families stay healthy during this challenging time in our history.

Sincerely,

Katherine Gagne
Chairperson, Board of Education

Greg Enion
Director of Education

For the period of March 16 to March 19, pre K-12 classes will wind down.  This means that parents who are able to keep children home should do so immediately, with no absence or grade impacts.  Parents with limited childcare options have a window to plan for class suspensions.

From the Government of Saskatchewan News Release.

Full details on what this means for Regina Public schools and students, please stay tuned, we will be posting information here and on our Twitter account as soon as it is determined.

MARCH 15, 2020 -- We have added new content to our Health and Wellness page.  Also, please see: Stop Germs Poster courtesy of Saskatoon Public Schools.

NEWER STILL! Posted March 16, 2020.

Province Announces Class Suspensions Effective March 20,  Wind Down Period Until Thursday

New! Posted March 15, 2020. News Release Saskatchewan Keeping Schools Open For Now

Regina Public Schools focuses on the health and safety of our staff, students and families. Everyone is reminded about the importance of good hygiene practices and social distancing to keep our schools and work spaces as clean and safe as possible. For the latest health and wellness information, please visit our Health and Wellness page at https://www.reginapublicschools.ca/health_and_wellness.