Covid-19 Updates

Vancouver College safety guidelines and protocols for the 2020-2021 academic year can be found below, created using the following three guiding principles:

Safeguarding the health of our students, staff, and entire community as much as is reasonably possible.
Optimizing the learning experience of every boy on a daily basis.
Ensuring our culture is nourished by supporting what makes VC special: our relationships, our co-curricular athletics & arts programs, and, especially, our faith community.

As our world continues to grapple with many challenges, know that together, we are stronger, mutually supportive, and thoughtfully prepared to face any difficulty.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Keeping The Faith Alive

During challenging times, focusing on our faith is more important than ever. In his March 27, 2020 Urbi et Orbi Homily, Pope Francis advised Catholics to "Embrace the Lord in order to embrace hope: that is the strength of faith, which frees us from fear and gives us hope."

Our Campus Ministry team is offering the following resources to help students, families, and staff with their faith formation during these challenging times.

Daily Mass

Daily Gospel Readings

Prayer Resources

For Elementary School Students, Marian Minute encourages users to not touch their computer for one minute to complete a prayer.
Loyola Press invites users to take a short three-minute prayer retreat throughout your day.
Father Mark-Mary from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal walks users through a simple daily Ignatian Examen in this easy to follow video.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page last updated - October 28, 2020

COVID-19 Guidelines & Resources

Vancouver College COVID-19 Safety Plan

A Day in the Life of a Vancouver College Student

K - Grade 8 Students will attend school each day for regularly scheduled classes.
Grade 9 - 12 Students will be divided into two Learning Groups. One group will attend classes in school while the other group remains at home working on asynchronous tasks as prescribed by subject-specific teachers. Groups will alternate days of in school and at home learning.
- Students will be in regular contact with teachers and their learning group of classmates.
- School-based technology will include communication via email and Google Classroom (Learning Management System).
- Individual courses may utilize other software on occasion.
Students must complete a medical pre-screening check DAILY with their parent/guardian before arriving to school.
Students will arrive to school during staggered times through controlled entrances to buildings.
There will be no locker access to begin the year. Students are asked to carry their lunch, necessary supplies, clothing, and books in backpacks.
It is the expectation that Grade 4-12 students, as well as all staff members and visitors, wear a mask at all times on campus. This includes when outside and in classrooms, with the exception of Physical Education classes for students.
All on campus must follow physical distancing signage and markings.
Physical distancing will be enforced throughout our campus, including in lines, the cafeteria, classrooms, gymnasiums, and hallways.
We ask that all practice good hygiene by washing their hands and sanitizing regularly, especially when moving between different learning environments.
Student engagement along with social and emotional well-being will be prioritized in orientations, classes, and co-curricular experiences.
Students will be dismissed from school during staggered times with controlled exits from buildings.
Students must comply with expectations for distancing and hygiene when participating in school-sanctioned activities.

Updated October 28, 2020

Daily Health Check for Students

While your son’s teacher will verbally check with him at the beginning of each day, it is the responsibility of the parent to go over this health checklist (updated on September 24, 2020) with your child each morning. Please take the time to do so carefully, and err on the side of caution by keeping him at home if any symptoms manifest.

Please note your son does not need to bring this form with him to school.

Visitor Guidelines

At this time, parents and other guests are discouraged from visiting Vancouver College in order to limit the number of people on campus.

While we encourage remote or virtual meetings, in the event that you do have to come to campus, we ask that you follow the Visitor Guide found below, and report to the Main Office, located through the historic brick facade in Lannon Hall, to sign in upon arrival.

First page of the PDF file: VisitorGuidelines

Arrival & Dismissal Schedule and Guidelines

To ensure we can socially distance and maintain proper flow of our students we will institute a staggered arrival and dismissal time for all students based on their grade level.

With the completion of construction, all Elementary and Middle School students should arrive/be picked up on Cartier Street northbound, while Senior students are required to enter/be picked up on the Hudson Street side while heading southbound.

Kindergarten - Grade 3 parents are invited to park along 37th Ave, and walk with their sons to their campus entrance as described in the Elementary School Welcome Package. While on the Vancouver College campus, these parents are asked to follow social distancing guidelines, and leave immediately after dropping off their sons . Parents are invited to pick up their sons at their scheduled time by waiting in a socially distanced manner in the courtyard.

Grade 4 - Grade 12 parents who are dropping and picking up their sons from the Vancouver College Campus must remain in their vehicles, and are asked to follow Vancouver College Traffic Guidelines.

Biking, walking, and private transportation to and from school are encouraged. Students taking public transit are required to wear a mask.

Staggered Arrival Times for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday

Time	Grade
8:00 am	Grade 2 & 3
8:05 am	Kindergarten & Grade 1
8:10 am	Grade 4, 5, & 6
8:15 am	Grade 7 & 10
8:20 am	Grade 8 & 11
8:25 am	Grade 9 & 12

Staggered Arrival Times for Wednesday

Time	Grade
9:00 am	Grade 2 & 3
9:05 am	Kindergarten & Grade 1
9:10 am	Grade 4, 5, & 6
9:15 am	Grade 7 & 10
9:20 am	Grade 8 & 11
9:25 am	Grade 9 & 12

Staggered Dismissal Times for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday

Time	Grade
2:15 pm	Grade 7 & 10
2:20 pm	Grade 8 & 11
2:25 pm	Grade 9 & 12
2:30 pm	Grade 2 & 3
2:35 pm	Kindergarten & Grade 1
2:40 pm	Grade 4, 5, & 6

Staggered Dismissal Wednesday

Time	Grade
2:30 pm	Grade 2 & 3
2:35 pm	Kindergarten & Grade 1
2:40 pm	Grade 4, 5, & 6
2:45 pm	Grade 7 & 10
2:50 pm	Grade 8 & 11
2:55 pm	Grade 9 & 12

2020-2021 School Timetable & Schedule

2020-2021 Elementary School Timetable - Changes made on September 8, 2020
2020-2021 Middle & Senior School Timetable

Middle School - September 2020 Block Rotation
Middle School - October 2020 Block Rotation - Changes made on August 27, 2020

Senior School - September 2020 Block Rotation
Senior School - October 2020 Block Rotation - Changes made on August 27, 2020

Please refer to our Online School Calendar for the most updated Middle & Senior School Block Rotation Schedule.

Senior School Learning & Advisory Groups

Reporting Absences

If a student is absent or late for the start of school for any reason, parents must e-mail the Main Office before 9:00 AM.

If a parent/guardians calls the school to report a late or absence, an emailed note must still be sent as per government requirements.

Please include your son’s full name, grade, and date of absence in the note.

We ask that all parents review our Sick Day Protocol should their son be absent due to illness.

COVID-19 Mental Health Resources

Campus Maps

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if my son is sick?

Students and staff should stay at home when new symptoms of illness develop. The key symptoms to watch for are fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, loss of sense of smell or taste, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, all found on our Daily Health Check (updated September 24, 2020) which we ask parents to review before sending their son’s to school each morning.

If symptoms are consistent with a previously diagnosed health condition and are not unusual for that individual, they may return to school. No assessment or note is required from a health care provider.
For mild symptoms without fever, students and staff can monitor at home for 24 hours. If symptoms improve, they can return to school without further assessment.
If symptoms include fever, or if after 24 hours, symptoms remain unchanged or worsen, seek a health assessment. A health assessment can include calling 8-1-1, a primary care provider like a physician or nurse practitioner, or going to a COVID-19 testing centre.

When a COVID-19 test is recommended by the health assessment:

If the COVID-19 test is positive, the person should stay home until they are told by public health to end their self-isolation. In most cases, this is 10 days after the onset of symptoms. Public health will contact everyone with a positive test, and will also inform Vancouver College if necessary.
If the COVID-19 test is negative, the person can return to school once symptoms have improved and they feel well enough. Symptoms of common respiratory illnesses can persist for a week or more. Re-testing is not needed unless the person develops a new illness.

If a COVID-19 test is not recommended by the health assessment, the person can return to school when symptoms have improved and they feel well enough. Testing may not be recommended if the assessment determines that the symptoms are due to another cause (i.e. not COVID-19).

If you need to keep your son at home: Please inform the school by emailing info@mail.vc.bc.ca or lyu@mail.vc.bc.ca.

What happens if there is a COVID-19 case at VC?

Will students be wearing masks at all times?

It is the expectation that Grade 4-12 students, as well as all staff members and visitors, wear a mask at all times on campus. This includes when outside and in classrooms, with the exception of Physical Education classes for students.

Students with respiratory ailments that preclude mask-wearing are also excused from this practice. Please contact your Assistant Principal or the Principal if your son falls into that last category.

Updated October 28, 2020

Will the Cafeteria open this year?

Updated - September 18, 2020

We are excited to introduce a new, online ordering service for our Cafeteria for Middle & Senior School Students only. Please visit our Dining Hall webpage for further details and ordering instructions.

Please note that as we ease into the first few weeks of school, microwaves will be off-limits for students. After evaluating this practice, we will touch base with further details on how we can provide food warming stations while keeping your children safe.

How will PPP hours work?

In light of established public health orders restricting gatherings/events in order to contain COVID-19 spread, the VC Parents Association, in collaboration with the school’s Administration Team, will be adjusting this year’s community events. In this regard, our Parent Participation Program will be flexible and fluid throughout the 2020-2021 school year.

Opportunities, including some new and reimagined, will be made available as we learn better how best to navigate restrictions imposed by the government. These opportunities will be posted online only once activities and/or events are confirmed to proceed, and measures to protect the safety of all involved have been considered and implemented.

As this means opportunities may be posted with short notice, we encourage parents to check the VC Volunteer Portal on a regular basis for opportunities or read the VCPA newsletter, sent out each Thursday for this information.

Please visit VC's Volunteer Webpage for further details.

How will I receive information from the school?

Important COVID Updates and schedule changes will be sent to all parents via the Vancouver College Weekly Newsletter, emailed out on Mondays. The VCPA Newsletter is sent out weekly on Thursdays, and will include updates to VCPA events, and volunteer opportunities.

If you are not receiving these emails, please contact the school's Communications Officer.

Parents are strongly encouraged to check the online school calendar regularly for updates as well as the COVID-19 webpage.

The Vancouver College App, available on the Apple Store and Google Play, has also been updated with the latest information and will be used throughout the school year to send last minute reminders and notifications to both parents and students. View our App Tutorial for further information on how to best use this tool!

Stay up to date with the latest from Vancouver College by following our Facebook Page, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Where can I find block rotation schedules?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Principal's Year End Message

The Class of 2020

At the beginning of the school year, we planned to hold our annual Grad Dinner Dance on Friday, May 15, 2020 to celebrate our Grade 12 students and their accomplishments. With COVID-19 delaying those plans for now, we dedicated Friday, May 15, 2020 to our graduates, and have a few special surprises for them throughout the day!

Our celebrations from the day have been collected on our Grad Dinner Dance webpage to share with our community!

From June 16-18, 2020 we held a modified in-person graduation ceremony on O'Hagan Plaza, allowing each of our graduating student to receive his High School Diploma on stage with the school’s Administrators, family members, and friends. Each session was filmed and complied into our official Commencement Video, released on June 24, 2020 after our community gathered virtually for our traditional Graduation Liturgy.