Dear PCS Community,
We live in unprecedented times. Collectively we have shut our doors in an attempt to slow the spread of the COVID-19 and give our health system the time and resources it needs to effectively respond. The human costs have been enormous. The alternatives seem like they would be worse.
And yet, as people of faith, we believe that there is always hope. Our God is Sovereign. Jesus is Lord of all. We
hold fast to the familiar words, “Fear not, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 41)
Planning for a potential school closure began at PCS even prior to the break. Leadership has been meeting for the past several days to ensure we continue to “nurture students in Christ-like living, critical thinking and
joyful service.”
No doubt this will look different for the next weeks or months. We’ve been told we can’t hold in-person classes until further notice. However, our purpose, and the essential character of the education we provide, remain unchanged.
Our educators have been tasked by the Ministry of Education to support learning in this new reality so that students advance or graduate if they are on track to do so. We know there remains a substantial amount of learning to prepare students for the next step in their education, and we are committed to ensuring that our students continue to receive an excellent education.
As a school, we will develop several channels of communication to ensure that people remain connected and informed. The first will be weekly updates for the foreseeable future. These will come out each Friday via email as well as posting to our various social media channels. We are investing significant energy into making www.MyPCS.ca a first stop for questions related to education at PCS. Additionally, we are working to ensure that all of our students and families receive personal and ongoing contact to ensure that the community that is at the heart of our school continues and is even strengthened.
We know that for some, the economic impacts of this situation are already being felt. Our hope and desire is to ensure that we respond compassionately and effectively to those whose financial situations have significantly changed. We will be releasing information on how to access a new tuition assistance program in the next week.
We will also be providing updates next week on the details of a technology loan program to ensure that
students have the tools they need.
The core of what defines PCS is that it is a community with a shared commitment to the Gospel. The good news. Even in these times, that truth is unchanging, Christ is with us.
Darren Lewis
Superintendent