What's Happening @ DACS?

As you may have picked up in the News lately, the Ministry of Education has announced changes to the plans for the March Break.

They have contacted all private schools with an urgent request to follow their lead in an effort to stop the recurring outbreaks of Covid 19.

To stay in line with ECHS and other feeder schools, we had a conversation between the high school and all its feeder schools. The decision was made to follow the Ministry lead and to keep all our local schools on the same schedule. This means the following changes will be made:

• The March Break will be moved to the week of April 12- 16
• There will be a long weekend on March 12 and 15 (no school) (PA days)

Please make a note of this on your calendars.

As you may be aware, the province made an announcement today indicating that schools in the WDGPH region have been approved to reopen for in-person learning on Monday February 8, 2021.

Read the full News Release here.

Communication was received from the Private Schools and International Education Unit (EDU) branch of the Ministry of Education confirming that private schools can physically return to school.  Further, WDG Public Health indicated that they strongly support the safe return to in-person learning for local students, and as such DACS will be returning to in-person learning on February 8^th. 

In the few days you will see a communication from the School regarding some amendments to the current DACS Pandemic Plan while we are in Stage 1 – Grey Zone.  Keep an eye out for this.   

We thank the Lord for this great news today. 

Yet again, we must pass along the disheartening news that we must carry on with Distance Education for at least one additional week. 

At this point, the Lord willing, we will be able to resume in-class instruction on February 1st.  This is pursuant to a letter received today from Dr. Mercer of the WDGPH unit. 

Staff had prepared for 3 weeks, so we are in reasonably good shape to carry on.  In the event that Distance Learning must carry forward further we will have to reassess late next week and make preparations.  We apologize for the short notice. 

This is all so very disappointing for students, staff and parents and we are tempted to grumble and complain and to get discouraged.  However these emotions, concerns and frustrations are a sign of a good thing – we care!  We care deeply about the education of our children, God’s children!  And so we turn to Him in humble prayer, seeking the strength to carry on with that which He has placed before us.  We are His redeemed people and so we can turn to our Father for strength and comfort; what a blessing!  Isaiah 49:13 “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.”  Let us praise His name for His goodness.  Let us work to God’s glory whether in homework, in lending a helping hand or in our daily job. 

Should you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to reach out to the Board. Stay tuned for another update later next week.

Just a little clarification about the website that will be used for school assignments during distance learning.

For simplicity of setup, the teachers will be using the website that was set up last year for loading daily assignments.  It is located at a separate URL, which can be found in the “Letters to Parents Shutdown 2021” memo that was emailed by the school on Friday.  If you cannot find the memo a copy of it has been loaded in the MyDACS section of this site in the “Distance Education Staff Communication” folder.

Praying that these next few weeks will be both manageable and beneficial for parents, students and staff!  May the Lord bless your efforts!