Windebank Elementary will be closing for the next five school days (Oct. 15 to 21) due to a staff shortage.
The school had near continuous exposures from Sept. 21 to Oct. 8, with only two of those 15 school days not flagged for exposures by Fraser Health.
It wasn’t deemed an outbreak by Fraser Health as evidence of transmission was not traced to the school, Superintendent Angus Wilson said.
“I know this will cause considerable challenges for some families and is not a desirable situation for any of us. I apologize for any difficulties this unexpected event places on families,” Wilson said. “But again, for the safety of staff and students, this is the best course of action for us to take at this time.”
He said a total of six infected students and three staff were the cause for the exposures during those three weeks.
The school has had the most exposures of any school since the start of September. Because of the amount of exposures, many have had to self-isolate for 10 days to avoid spreading the virus.
On Oct. 14, the assistant superintendent was helping fill in and teach at the school due to the shortages, Wilson said.
Classes will move to remote learning on Monday until Thursday, Oct. 21, and the school will re-open the following week on Oct. 25.
Parents should expect to be contacted by their child’s teacher on Monday, Wilson said.
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