COVID-19 Information

General

For up-to-date non-clinical information on COVID-19 and a link to the symptom checker, click here.

Or call the provincial phone service at 1-888-COVID19, available 7 days a week from 7:30am to 8:00pm.

Specific public health questions re: COVID-19 should be directed to your local health authority for response.

Students & In-Person Meeting Requirements

Throughout the school year, our students may receive support or services from third-party providers.  With the rise of COVID-19, most face-to-face meetings have moved to online spaces where students receive support virtually.  In situations where virtual meetings are not possible, students and service providers adhere to the most current COVID-19 safety measures, as recommended by BC Public Health.

Pathways Academy’s third-party service providers are responsible for their personal health and safety when choosing to meet in person. Third-party service providers must obtain permission from families to meet with students in person.

Assessing the Risk:

There are two types of risks that must be assessed when determining protocols for how to address the spread of COVID-19.

• Person-to-person transmission – increases the closer you come to other people, the more time you spend near them, and the more people you contact in-person.
• Surface transmission – increases when many people contact the same surface and when those contacts happen over short periods of time.

Monitor Public Health Guidelines:

The public health guidelines are subject to change.  The following links provide detailed information to direct safe, in-person contacts:

• BC Back to School Plan Health and Safety Measures – link  
• BC Public Health Guidelines - link

Best Practices When Meeting Face-to-Face:

• Permission from the family is required before meeting with students in person.
• When meeting in person follow public health guidelines.
• Prior to meeting, all participants will self-assess for COVID-19 symptoms: BC Self-Assessment Tool
• Limit the number of people meeting together.
• Meet remotely when possible.
• Meet outside when possible.
• Maintain physical distancing.
• Wear a mask when required.
• Wash or sanitize hands frequently.
• If you or anyone within the family unit is feeling unwell, cancel the in-person meeting.
• If you or anyone within the family unit has traveled outside of Canada within the two weeks prior to the meeting, cancel the in-person meeting.

If you need help navigating these best practices or are concerned about a student’s mental health, please contact the school principal, Tara Ferguson: t.ferguson@pathwaysacademy.ca.

When implementing Indigenous Education in the curriculum, it is important to identify and address two needs:

1. How do we approach the education of Indigenous students using a culturally appropriate method?
2. How do we educate the general student population about Indigenous peoples in BC and Canada?

While we do have a few families who identify as having Indigenous ancestry, the majority of Pathways Academy students do not have Indigenous backgrounds. For this reason, we address two themes of education that are applicable for all learners in the system. These themes have been identified in the MOE document Aboriginal Worldviews and perspectives in the Classroom: Moving Forward.

• Strengths-Based, Learner-Centered Practice.  Traditional Indigenous Education was an informal system that focused on the learner. The educators began by getting to know their students and designing instruction to connect to each student's interests and strengths. We see the value in moving away from a one-size-fits-all education, and Pathways Academy has always strived to customize learning to the student's interests and abilities.  Individualized programming will continue and be encouraged as we promote strengths-based, learner-centered practices found in Indigenous ways of knowing (education methods).
• Overcoming Racism. While Canadians are generally viewed as welcoming of people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, that does not always apply to those of Indigenous ancestry.  Racism needs to be acknowledged and addressed proactively.  At Pathways Academy we work to overcome racism through our educational program and interaction with students.  In our educational content, we strive to correct factually faulty generalizations and stereotypes regarding Canadian history and the Indigenous peoples.

To aid in the implementation of Indigenous Education our teacher in-service training focuses on the points of action and themes raised in the MOE document Aboriginal Worldviews and perspectives in the Classroom: Moving Forward.  Teachers implement Indigenous ways of knowing as outlined in the First Peoples Principles of Learning as a central part of each student's course plan.  In addition, teachers embed Indigenous content in all courses as outlined in the Ministry of Education's current BC curriculum.  We also encourage teachers to share best practices and examples of implementation in our school.

The Pathways Academy administration team is committed to becoming more informed and aware of how we can provide culturally appropriate education for those families and students who identify as having Indigenous ancestry.  If you identify as an Indigenous family and would like support in this area, please reach out to us or feel free to discuss this with your teacher.