FMCSD Updated COVID-19 Protocols

Good afternoon Fort McMurray Catholic School Families,

We reach out to you today to inform you of an update to our Back to School Guide. As we shared with you last week, and when the guide was initially released- all plans are subject to change. 

Since the initial release of our Back to School Plan there has been a significant upward trend of COVID-19 cases in our province and region. Therefore, we are updating our plans and increasing our masking requirements. 

Early Entry Program to Grade 3 

• Masks are mandatory in common areas
• Masks remain strongly recommended in class
• Masks are mandatory on the school bus 

Grades 4-12 

• Masks are mandatory in schools
• Masks are mandatory on the yellow school bus and city transit
• Masks may be removed in class while at a desk
• Students are not required to wear masks outdoors, but physical distancing will be encouraged

Staff and Visitors 

• Masks are mandatory in schools
• Masks may be removed in class when physical distancing is maintained
• All visitors are required to make appointments, use the daily screening checklist, and remain masked for the duration of their visit.

***Please note those with legitimate mask exemptions will continue to be respected and exempt. 

Fort McMurray Catholic Schools remains committed to revisiting our masking requirements as trends change in COVID-19 cases in our region.

We also wish to remind families who have travelled internationally recently to make sure they are up to date with current travel restrictions and isolation requirements. Of special note for some families would be this requirement- a child under 12 years old of two vaccinated adults, is not required to isolate, but also cannot attend school for 14 days after arrival in Canada. 

The COVID-19 situation in our region and province continues to evolve and we are in regular communication with Alberta Education, Alberta Health Services, and school divisions across the province.

Thank you,

Fort McMurray Catholic Schools