Covid-19 Updates

1. All members of our community are encouraged to get vaccinated as this   is the    best way to prevent the onset of spreading COVID-19.

2. Masks must be worn in indoor areas by all students, faculty, staff and    visitors. These will be used in all common areas and in classrooms, unless directed by the teacher to remove them. 

3. Any staff or student who falls ill while at school will be isolated, given a mask and sent home as soon as possible. 

4. All students and staff need to complete a daily health check. 

5. Staff and students are required to wash hands as frequently as possible, and at a minimum: before eating, after using the toilet, after sneezing or   coughing, and whenever hands are physically dirty. 

6. Parents and other guests visiting the    campus must register in the Main Office, and are not permitted on campus if symptomatic/sick, required to self-isolate, or recently exposed to COVID-19.

While your son’s teacher will verbally check with him at the beginning of each day, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to go over this health checklist   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. 

• 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. 

Parents are allowed to visit the campus this school year. But we ask that you do a daily health check before visiting our campus and follow our Visitor Guidelines.  

Visitor Safety Protocols: 

• Upon arrival, sign in with the Main Office located through the historic brick facade in Lannon Hall.
• Wear a mask on campus at all times.
• Maintain two meters of physical distancing while interacting with others.
• Wash hands as frequently as possible and use hand sanitizer when needed.

Thank you for helping us keep our staff and students safe and healthy while on campus. 

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      which we ask parents to review before sending their sons 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. 

As this  school year   settles in, parents are invited to read the attached letter from Principal Mr. Daryl Weaver, updating our community as to how Vancouver College will respond and communicate with you in the case of a Covid-19 exposure at our school.

It is the expectation that all  students, as well as all staff members and visitors,    wear  a mask at all times on campus.    This    includes       when outside and in classrooms, and during Physical Education classes. 

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.

The cafeteria will be open to Senior School Students only. Middle School students can use our online ordering service for our Cafeteria.   Please visit our Dining Hall webpage for further details and ordering instructions. 

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 and Marketing Specialist. 

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.

Masks are mandatory even for those who are fully vaccinated when they come on our campus. The vaccines are very effective, but they do not prevent everyone from getting the virus. Not all our students can get vaccinated at this time, and it is our priority to keep them protected. 

The COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory at Vancouver College. However, it is strongly recommended that members of our community get vaccinated in order to continue to fight against the virus and return to normalcy.  

Launched a new K-12 Schools and COVID-19 website, featuring resources for families, staff and administrators.

•  This includes a new resource to explain contact tracing in schools.
• There is also a listing of public notifications of school exposures.
• Provided new information on COVID-19 variants. 
• Updated the Public Health Guidance for Child Care Settings on March 16.

An updated the provincial    COVID-19    Response Plan.

1. BC Centre for Disease Control  
2. Government of British Columbia
3. Immunize BC 

With so much happening and so much uncertainty in daily life, it’s normal to feel worried and overwhelmed. It’s important to look after mental health and well-being during COVID-19. Links to mental well-being resources for children, youth, parents and caregivers are available on the BCCDC Mental Well-being Page. 

1.      The Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre offers tips for caring for younger children, parents and caregivers.  

2.      Foundry BC offers support for youth 12-24 years old.