Updated July 31, 2020
On this page, you will find all information and announcements for the Fraser Health region and the Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows school district community. For general COVID-19 updates, visit https://www.sd42.ca/information-community-coronavirus/
Read the July 31, 2020 Letter from superintendent Sylvia Russell
For further information visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
July 31, 2020: Letter from superintendent Sylvia Russell
June 25, 2020: Letter from superintendent Sylvia Russell
May 27, 2020: Letter from superintendent Russell to 2020 graduating class families
May 26, 2020: Letter to families from superintendent Sylvia Russell (secondary)
May 26, 2020: Letter to families from superintendent Sylvia Russell (elementary)
May 15, 2020: Letter from superintendent Sylvia Russell
May 7, 2020: Superintendent’s letter to 2020 graduating students and their families
Apr 3, 2020: Letter from superintendent Sylvia Russell
Mar 26, 2020: Letter from superintendent Sylvia Russell
Mar 17, 2020: Letter from superintendent Sylvia Russell
Mar 13, 2020: Letter from superintendent Sylvia Russell
Mar 10, 2020: Letter from the superintendent on spring break travel
Mar 4, 2020: Letter from superintendent regarding spring break international field trips
May 27, 2020: A Safe Return to School in the Fraser Health Region
Feb 28, 2020: Novel coronavirus update from Fraser Health
Feb 21, 2020: Update from Fraser Health on novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
Jan 25, 2020: Fraser Health update on novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
The safety of students and staff is always our top priority. During Stage 3, all district schools and facilities will operate under the strict guidelines developed by the Ministry of Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control. Click here for a copy of these guidelines (updated July 31, 2020).
Click below for a copy of our approved return-to-class and safety plans.
The BC Centre for Disease Control recommends the following to help prevent infection and the spread of COVID-19.
For more information and additional resources, visit http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/about-covid-19/prevention
Below is a clickable list of resources available to help parents/guardians and educators talk with children about COVID-19:
The BC government has created free virtual educational programs for students, parents and educators to support social and emotional well-being as part of navigating the new world of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The free, virtual WE Well-being program was recently launched as part of the new WE Schools @home program. Accessible for grades K-12 in both English and French, the program is aimed at youth who are experiencing anxiety and social isolation. It places a special emphasis on WE Well-being online learning, including social-emotional learning and resiliency.
Learn more about the WE Well-being program: https://www.we.org/en-CA/get-doing/activities-and-resources/wellbeing/
Fore more:
Learn more about the WE Schools @home program: https://www.we.org/en-CA/our-work/we-schools/at-home/
EASE at Home offers helpful tips for parents, like how to teach children calming breathing techniques or use structured games like scavenger hunts to build routine in a way that’s fun: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/child-teen-mental-health/ease
The Ministry of Education’s Erase strategy was expanded to include mental health: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/erase
For more information about available child and mental-health supports and contact information, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/child-teen-mental-health/mental-health-intake-clinics
The Ministry of Education has launched Here2Talk, a free 24/7 mental health support for post-secondary students Download the app: https://here2talk.ca #COVIDBC
The Ministry of Education has also created virtual opportunities for LGBTQ2S+ students to connect. Read the press release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020EDUC0020-000755
Other resources:
Food Security
Low-Cost Free Food Ridge Meadows April 2020
Financial Support
Federal: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html#individuals
Provincial: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/covid-19-financial-supports
Parent Peer Support
Family Smart Parent In Residence, Jeannie Harnett (jeannie.harnett@familysmart.ca)
Kerry Lawson (klawson@fsibc.com ); 778-868-2404 – Family Support Institute of BC (specific to families whose children have extra support needs)
Family Navigation (i.e. help to access various agencies/resources)
Natalie Binns (familynav@parented.ca ); 778.726.1826 – Family Education and Support Centre
Child Care Resource and Referral (MRPM Community Services)
Online Parent Education
The Family Education and Support Centre is offering online support groups and programs for families. Visit
https://www.familyed.bc.ca/ for more information.
Online groups for children under 6
FraserValleyLibrary – YouTube (virtual storytimes)
Facebook Page for Family Place Community Parenting Centre (Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Community Services)
Supportive Parenting – Westcoast Family Centres
Healthy Parenting Group – Westcoast Family Centres
Counselling Support
Indigenous CYMH supports and resources
SOGI supports and resources
Cythera
Kids Help Phone
Ridge Meadows Foundry (Offers young people 12-24 access to health and social services.)
Child and Youth Mental Health (MCFD) intake clinic – Thursday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; phone first at 604.466.7300
Pathways
Wellness Together Canada
Links to other COVID support
City of Maple Ridge: http://www.mapleridge.ca/2408/COVID-19-Information
City of Pitt Meadows: https://www.pittmeadows.ca/node/6459
Fraser Health COVID-19 page: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/COVID19#.Xp9LwNo1s2w
Access to Virtual Doctor and COVID Screening: https://www.divisionsbc.ca/ridge-meadows
United Way: Hi Neighbour Program for those who are self-isolating or essential service workers
Community Network Dropbox Links:
Resources for Service Providers
Resources for Parents
The BC Ministry of Education has created a new website that offers a collection of resources for parents and caregivers to help support their children learning at home.
This is a central place where families can find ideas for everyday educational activities, annotated links to free learning resources, as well as how to help children learn and how to ensure their well-being while they are at home.
Visit the Open School BC website.
Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District teacher librarians have curated a wide range of free online Remote Learning Resources for parents and students. Access these Remote Learning Resources through the Library tab on your school’s website. Or, click here to directly access the Remote Learning Resources.
The Fraser Valley Regional Library’s digital resources can be found under the Digital Content tab on its website. Here is a link to the consolidated list: https://www.fvrl.bc.ca/databases.php.
Those who don’t already have an FVRL card can now sign up online for an eCard and get instant access to all FVRL digital content: https://onlineregistration.fvrl.bc.ca/. Daily virtual programming can be found on our Facebook page at facebook.com/ReadLearnPlay.
Looking for fun, educational and interactive online activities kids can do from home or in the classroom? Here’s a list to get you started – from virtual museum tours and yoga to coding classes, and more.
Cosmic Kids Yoga: https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
GoNoodle (movement and mindfulness videos): https://www.gonoodle.com/
Just Dance: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Vlhde7N5uGDIFXXWWEbFQ
Zumba with Dovydas: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOjZigyo_fg2V7JdGwePSwg
Kidz Bop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHd2s_saYsQ&t=126s
Storytime from Space: https://storytimefromspace.com/
NASA image and video library: https://images.nasa.gov/
Smithsonian Fun Stuff for Kids and Teens: https://www.si.edu/kids
Coding with LEFT: https://www.left.io/kids-coding
Vancouver Art Gallery: https://bit.ly/2MkwyDs
National Museums of Canada: https://www.historymuseum.ca/exhibitions/#online-exhibitions
Art Gallery of Ontario: http://boxwood.ago.ca/
