Hello, everyone – below you will find a number of important items for this week, including updated resources for the Administration of Seizure Rescue Medications, a reminder to register for the Nominal Roll Learning Series-Joint Verification Process Webinar, and a link to updated guidance for HVAC systems.
With the death of Queen Elizabeth II yesterday, for your information routine ministry business will continue as usual. However, in the short term (during the official period of mourning), there will be a pause on all government media announcements, with the exception of those related to statutory or health and safety matters. In addition, there will be some changes that need to take place for government – there are clearly defined procedures to facilitate the transition to a new monarch. None of this should have any impact for K-12, but please reach out should you have any questions. And by way of an update to yesterday’s Special DM Bulletin, it has been decided that flags on all B.C. provincial buildings will fly at half-mast until sunset on September 19, the day of the Queen’s memorial service. Flags will be hoisted completely from sunrise until sunset on September 10, 2022, the day on which the accession of the new monarch is proclaimed. Districts are invited to follow suit.
Enjoy your weekend.
Due September 29
Districts are required to report their 2021/22 spending of any carry-forward of Operating Grant Holdback paid to school districts in 2020/21 or Safe Return to School/Restart: Health & Safety Grant from 2020/21 by September 29. If all funds were reported and spent prior to 2021/22, please send an email stating so to SDFR@gov.bc.ca. No further reporting will be required.
The First Nations Education Steering Committee, the Ministry of Education and Child Care, and Indigenous Services Canada remind you to register for this year’s Nominal Roll Learning Series – Joint Verification Process webinar. Details and registration links are available in this event backgrounder.
ICY teams are part of B.C.’s strategy for mental health and substance use care. ICY Clinical Counsellors are being hired in five school district communities: Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows – SD 42 (3 teams); Comox Valley – SD 71 (2 teams); Richmond – SD 38 (4 teams); Coast Mountains – SD 82 (2 teams); Okanagan-Similkameen – SD 53 (1 team). For sharing learn more about the ICY Clinical Counsellor provincial posting on Make a Future.
The Framework for Enhancing Student Learning website has been updated to include the new Guide to Strategic Planning for Continuous Improvement (which replaces the previous Implementation Guide) and an updated questions and answers document. Please email educ.framework@gov.bc.ca with any questions.
The unmasked 2021/2022 SLS results are now available in a dashboard on the Power BI Portal. Provincial-level data is currently embargoed until the Minister approves it. Please note that for the annual Enhancing Student Learning Report due to the Ministry on September 30, 2022, districts should include SLS data up to and including 2020/2021, as previously shared. If you have problems accessing the dashboard or have any questions or feedback, please contact educ.reportingunit@gov.bc.ca.
The Ministry of Health, with support from the Ministry of Education and Child Care, has developed new Seizure Rescue Intervention Resources for student seizure care at school. These resources include a new Seizure Action Plan to replace previously-delegated Nursing Support Services (NSS) care plans. Training will be provided by NSS for the 2022/23 school year. See this Ministry of Health letter to families for more information. Please contact the Ministry of Health at 1 (833) 552-1891 or hlth.health@gov.bc.ca with any questions.
Naloxone kits for schools can be ordered online via the Product Distribution Centre. As per the direction of the Provincial Health Officer, schools/school districts are encouraged to assess their risk using the Naloxone Risk Assessment Tool and, if determined a high-risk school, obtain a naloxone kit and ensure an on-site adult is trained to use it. For assistance in ordering naloxone kits, please contact PDC Customer Service.
The Ministry has released Guidance for HVAC Systems in BC Schools, to support school districts with ongoing to improvements to Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) system performance. Please contact Geoff.Croshaw@gov.bc.ca if you have any questions.
