If you have COVID related questions specific to your child's education, please contact us at: covid@sd57.bc.ca

SD 57 Updates

June 18, 2020 - Please click on the links below for valuable information from BC Centre for Disease Control.

K-12- BC Centre for Disease Control Safety Tips Playgrounds.pdf

K-12 Resources BCCDC - PowerPoint Presentation.pdf

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May 29, 2020 - As part of British Columbia's Restart Plan, students in School District No. 57 (Prince George) have the option of returning to in-class learning support starting on Monday, June 1. Please click on the links below for information about the Return to School in SD 57 and Stage 3 Safe Work Procedures. Please also see a video message from Superintendent Anita Richardson.

Restart Plan information for Parents.pdf

STAGE 3 SD57 05.27.20.pdf

Anita Richardson video message

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May 22, 2020 - Please click on the links below for information from Superintendent Anita Richardson.

 2020.05.22 Letter to Parents_Guardians.pdf

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May 7, 2020 - Please click on the link below for a video address from Superintendent Anita Richardson.

April 23, 2020 - Please click on the link below to access a video Q & A with Superintendent Anita Richardson regarding the continuity of learning in SD 57.

Anita Richardson Q & A

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April 8, 2020 - Please click on the link below to access a video address from Superintendent Anita Richardson.

Anita Richardson video address

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April 3, 2020 - Please click on the link below to access a video address from Superintendent Anita Richardson.

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March 31, 2020 - On March 28, the Prince George Citizen published the following Question and Answer interview with Superintendent Anita Richardson, who responded to questions from reporter Ted Clarke regarding the continuity of learning in School District No. 57. Please click on the link below.

Anita Richardson Q and A.pdf

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March 27, 2020 - Please click on the link below to access a video address from Superintendent Anita Richardson.

Anita Richardson video address

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Please see below for information from School District No. 57.

Ways to Manage Stress and Anxiety and Support Our Children.pdf

2020.03.18 Letter to Parents and Families.pdf

SD 57 news items

Playgrounds reopening

June 5, 2020 -

The City of Prince George and School District No. 57 are reopening all of the roughly 80 civic and school playgrounds within the Prince George area effective immediately.

Both the City and School District No. 57 are encouraging parents to ensure their children are adhering to provincial orders and recommendations concerning physical distancing, proper hygiene such as hand-washing, and limiting gatherings to fewer than 50 people when visiting playgrounds.

Parents are also asked not to bring children who are feeling sick to playgrounds and to refrain from visiting these sites when they themselves are sick. Signs are being installed today (June 5) to remind visitors to exercise proper distancing and hygiene, and to keep the numbers of visitors down.

"As we reopen our City playgrounds it gives children the opportunity to get outside and have some fun and exercise," says Lyn Hall, Mayor of Prince George. "Council would like to thank residents for being patient as we reopen our many parks and playgrounds throughout the City."

The City closed all City playgrounds on April 3 in order to align with Provincial Public Health guidelines relating to physical distancing and orders limiting public gatherings. On March 23, School District No. 57 announced it was closing all school playgrounds as a health and safety measure and to stop the spread of COVID-19.

"In alignment with school districts across the province, we are reopening our playgrounds," says School District No. 57 Superintendent Anita Richardson. "As Dr. Henry has indicated, it is safe to do with users taking the appropriate measures. There should be small numbers of children on equipment at any one time, preferably small family groupings outside of school hours. All users should avoid physical contact and we will have signs in place as a reminder about physical distancing and the importance of washing or sanitizing hands before and after play.

"We're happy to make playgrounds available to our students and the general public again. Children will be supervised during school hours, but, no matter the time of day, we encourage everyone to keep the health and safety of themselves and others in mind," says Richardson.

School District No. 57 includes Prince George, Mackenzie, McBride and Valemount. Playgrounds in Prince George and Mackenzie are opening immediately, while playgrounds in McBride and Valemount are scheduled to open next week.

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Social distancing should be observed on fields and courts

April 21, 2020 -

School District No. 57 (Prince George) would like to remind community members about the importance of following the Provincial Health Officer's COVID-19 social distancing strategy while using fields and courts on district property.

School district fields and courts remain open to the public, while playgrounds were closed on March 23 as a health and safety measure. Playgrounds will remain closed until further notice.

"The risk is COVID-19 living on the hard surface of the playground equipment and potentially transmitting the virus," said SD 57 Superintendent Anita Richardson. "Our fields and grounds remain open for use and we hope that individuals choosing to spend time on our grounds choose to do so safely abiding by the directives of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO). Our message to parents and community is that we encourage time spent outside that is in compliance with the PHO's guidelines. We hope that school-aged children are reminded of the risks and encouraged to employ safe COVID-19 practices both at home and outdoors."

Dr. Henry stated last month that kids mingling together on playgrounds is "not what we need right now" and encouraged the public to practice social distancing while spending time outdoors. SD 57 fields and courts remain open to support this direction for public enjoyment of the outdoors while observing social distancing.

"We need to go outside with our close family, with our small groups," Dr. Henry said. "We are not to be outside in groups, we are not to be playing basketball, we're not to be out sitting together in large groups… because when we're out in groups like that the chances are somebody will be exposed to this virus and we'll bring it home to our family and our communities, and that is what is going to spread the virus."

In proper social distancing, at least two metres of space should be kept between individuals at all times.

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District closing playgrounds as public health and safety measure

March 23, 2020 -

Please be advised that effective immediately all playgrounds on School District No. 57 (Prince George) property are closed to the public. The district has made this decision in the interest of keeping our communities safe and healthy and stopping the spread of COVID-19.

Superintendent Anita Richardson states that “the School District wants to support the efforts of our Provincial Health Officer and the government to ‘flatten the curve.’” She requests that the public respects the decision to close the playgrounds.

Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, stated late last week that kids mingling together on playgrounds is “not what we need right now” and encouraged the public to practice social distancing while spending time outdoors walking. School District No. 57 fields will remain available to support this direction for public enjoyment of the outdoors while observing social distancing.

School District No. 57 will be posting signage to inform the public of the closure, which is in effect until further notice.

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SD 57 suspending in-class instruction until further notice

March 17, 2020 -

Following a joint announcement made at noon today by Premier Horgan, Finance Minister James and Education Minister Fleming, the Government of British Columbia has directed that all school districts in the province including School District No. 57 (Prince George) suspend in-class instruction immediately until further notice.

School District No. 57 is working together with other school districts and the Ministry of Education to develop a plan for the continuation of learning which will be communicated to students, staff and families as it unfolds.   

School District No. 57 is currently on a planned two-week spring break.  All staff are expected to return to work on March 30th unless they are subject to a 14-day isolation or quarantine period.  Given the rapidly changing developments as they pertain to COVID-19, a specific timeline for students' return to the classroom cannot be provided at this time. Additional information will be provided as it is available.

Students and parents can access information and updates online at sd57.bc.ca. Up-to-date information will also be posted on the district's Facebook and Twitter pages.

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COVID-19 Toolkit

COVID-19 Poster.pdf

COVID-19 Info Patients with Chronic Conditions.pdf

COVID-19 Info for Self Isolating.pdf

COVID-19 Self Isolate and Self Monitor Form.pdf

Please click here to access a COVID-19 assessment tool

Please click here to access information from the BC Centre for Disease Control

Please click here to access information from the Government of Canada