Getting Involved

BGSD 2021-2022 Public Health Emergency – Interim Plan UPDATED: October 22, 2021

Mandatory Vaccines for Staff, On-Site Partners, Contractors, and Volunteers
Beginning January 3, 2022, all employees, contractors, on-site partners, and volunteers who enter
Black Gold buildings and have direct contact with employees and/or Division students are required to
be fully immunized, unless there is an exemption on the basis of a protected legal ground or the
individual participates in regular rapid testing to verify that they are COVID-19 negative.
This vaccination requirement DOES NOT APPLY TO STUDENTS. Currently, children under 12 years are
still not eligible for vaccination and there is no provincial legislation that requires K–12 students to
have specific vaccinations. Every child in Alberta is entitled to have access to an education program as
per the Education Act. We cannot inquire as to a student’s vaccination status, nor will we discriminate
against any who willingly declare whether or not they are fully vaccinated or those who choose not to
declare.
This vaccine mandate DOES NOT APPLY to parents and guardians who are picking up or dropping
their children off in a Black Gold building. Parents and guardians play an important role in their
childrens’ education and the partnership that staff have with parents are vital to the overall success of
our students.
Beginning November 15, 2021, all employees who are not fully vaccinated, or will not disclose their
vaccination status will be required to take a rapid test within 72 hours of every scheduled workday or
shift, outside of work hours, to confirm they are COVID-19 negative. COVID-19 rapid tests must be
administered by an approved AHS provider no more than 72 hours before attending work and there
must be a minimum of 48 hours between tests. The Division will reimburse employees for rapid testing
until December 23, 2021.
After December 23, employees who are not fully vaccinated or will not declare their vaccination status
must continue to provide a negative rapid test every 72 hours at their own expense.
As of November 15, 2021, on-site partners, contractors and volunteers in any Division building who
have direct contact with employees and/or Division students (within two metres) for 15 minutes or
more are required to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated or proof of a negative rapid test. The
costs of all testing for non-employees shall be paid by the individual required to produce the test
results.
If any individual receives a positive rapid test result, it is considered a preliminary or presumptive
positive and the employee must comply with AHS requirements:
● Seek confirmation through an AHS approved lab-based PCR test within 48 hours; and
● Immediately isolate until the AHS approved lab-based test results are confirmed negative.
● Follow AHS guidelines if COVID-19 PCR is positive or provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR
test, as soon as it is received, prior to attending at any Division property.

We welcome and solicit parent and community volunteer assistance in our school in a variety of ways throughout the school  year. Please contact the school or your child’s teacher if you can volunteer. As a volunteer you will be required to fill out a Volunteer Form. Please remember that CONFIDENTIALITY is of utmost importance.  All volunteers are also asked to report to the office and sign in to indicate their presence in the school.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Room Rep
• School Council:  serves as the parent advisory group for the principal concerning school events, programs etc.
• Partners Involved In Education: volunteer, not for profit, parent run group, responsible for raising funds to support extra activities or events that supplement or enhance the curriculum at our school. This includes our school’s Hot Lunch Program.
• Classroom Volunteers: watch the classroom newsletters for specific details as they arise and then contact the teacher directly.
• Special Events/ Days:  Terry Fox Run, Oratory, Fun Meet, Track and Field, Miquelon Day, Science Olympics, Winter Carnival