7
Zul Hijja 24,1441H August 14, 2020
LO C A L & i N T N E W S
Orientation week ensures a safe, ready and welcome return to school
To ensure schools are ready to welcome students into classrooms for the week of Sept. 8-11, 2020, there will be a gradual restart to allow extra time to orient students and staff on the new health and safety measures in place. “Schools are going to look different in September,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Education. “Staff, students and parents need time to get familiar with all the new health and safety procedures that are designed to keep them safe and confident in their school settings.” Starting Sept. 8, all staff will meet with their school’s joint health and safety committee
to receive instructions about how the updated guidelines, co-developed with the BC Centre for Disease Control and provincial health officer, will work in their school. This will also allow time for educators and staff to adjust to their new routines, finalize plans for learning groups, review health and safety protocols, and confirm lesson plans that align with the new normal in schools. Students will be welcomed back to class for orientation by Sept. 10 and will use their orientation time to get familiar with classrooms that will look different than they did before the pandemic. Students will be assigned to their class, find out who is in their learning group, practise their new routines and familiarize themselves with how to safely move from the class to outdoor and common areas of the school. On Aug. 10, School districts were provided with readiness checklists to ensure they are updating their health and safety plans and considering, communicating and consulting with their unions, Indigenous rightsholders, staff and families in their local communities.
They will also need to ensure their plans address equity and inclusion of children who require additional support in school. Health and safety of teachers, staff and students is leading the work being done by the K-12 education restart steering committee and working groups with membership from all education partners and health experts. These groups are also working to create detailed operational guidelines, which will be available by Aug. 17 to support school districts with their restart plans, including guidance on: implementing the updated health and safety protocols; ensuring kids who require extra support are prioritized and have the services they need; supporting the mental health and wellness of students who may be experiencing additional challenges because of the pandemic;ensuring fewer contacts and a safe workplace for those who interact with more than one learning group – such as specialists, teachers on call, educational assistants, cafeteria staff or bus drivers; supporting hybrid instruction with a blend
Surrey, B.C. – In participation with Culture Days, Surrey Fusion Festival will host a 90-minute livestream followed by a fourweek interactive cultural video series on social media. Presented by Coast Capital Savings, the livestream will take place on September 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. broadcasted on Facebook and YouTube Live. The interactive video series will be hosted on the City of Surrey’s event social media accounts from September 25 to October 25, 2020. “While we all do our part to limit the spread of COVID-19, the City will be celebrating Surrey’s diversity with a one-of-a-kind virtual multicultural event,” said Mayor Doug
McCallum. “Surrey Fusion Fest will go virtual this year, so join us to discover traditional food, art and music from cultures across the globe from the comfort of your home.” This year’s family-friendly livestream will feature a series of segments including cultural performances, musical entertainment, art lessons, Surrey history, Indigenous education, dance lessons, cooking segments and kids’ activities. The interactive video series will feature up to 30 educational videos including “how-to” cooking, dance, arts and crafts activities from participating cultural pavilions from previous years. Additionally, the video series will see participation from the City of Surrey’s Museum, Heritage and
Performing Arts Centres. “We are thrilled to welcome back Coast Capital Savings as the Presenting Sponsor of Surrey Fusion Festival’s virtual celebrations,” said Councillor Laurie Guerra, Chair of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Committee. “We are thankful for their continuous support over the years; without their contributions this event would not be possible.” Culture Days is an annual Canadian national celebration of arts and culture. At the end of each September, millions of people attend thousands of participatory arts and culture events across the country. Culture Days programs invite the public to get hands-on and behind-the-scenes to highlight the impor-
Continued from page 5
for Hazrat Usman. On one occasion, the Holy Prophetsa was lying down in a room when suddenly Hazrat Uthmanra entered. The Holy Prophetsa instantly sat up and began adjusting his clothes. Later when Hazrat Aishara asked the Holy Prophetsa about this, he replied, “Should I not show modesty to one whom even the Angels show modesty.”
of in-person learning and remote learning for dense urban secondary schools with large student populations;minimizing physical contact within learning groups; and ensuring before- and after-school child care on school grounds allows kids to stay within their learning groups as much as possible. “By working collaboratively with leaders in our education system, we are making sure students and staff are safe, ready and welcome when they return to school in September,” Fleming said. To help guide the transition back to school in the safest way possible, Fleming has also been meeting regularly with the presidents of the BC Teachers’ Federation, CUPE, B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, the B.C. School Trustees Association, the First Nations Education Steering Committee, Métis Nation BC, the B.C. Principals and Vice Principals Association, BC Association of School Business Officials, BC School Superintendents Association and the Federation of Independent School Associations in British Columbia.
City of Surrey to host virtual Surrey Fusion Festival livestream and interactive cultural video series
tance of arts and culture in our communities. This year the celebrations run from September 25 to October 25, 2020. information, visit surreyfusionfestival.ca.
Tales Of The Sahaba – Hazrat Usman Ghani
Medina. This was a means of easing the first difficulty that the Muslims faced. On one occasion, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said that Usman had served Islam to such an extent that now he could have whatsoever he wished and that God would not question him. This shows that he possessed so many good qualities that it was impossible for his actions to be against the teachings of Islam.
The status of Hazrat Usman (RA)
The Holy Prophetsa had immense respect
chant and used his wealth in the service of Islam. He was chosen as the third Khalifa of the Prophet (PBUH). During the Khilafat of Hazrat Usman (RA), Islam had expanded a great deal with such efficiency that it spread all over the world into China. One of the major accomplishments was of the Holy Quran we see today which was compiled during his Khilafat and under his direct supervision. To date, the Khilafat Even before accepting Islam, Hazrat Usman entire Muslim Umma benefits from this serwas known among the people as trustwor- vice. thy, kind and generous. He was a rich mer- Shahadat
The sad demise of Hazrat Usman (RA) was a sad day for the Muslim Umma. He was brutally murdered by the munafiqin. Even during that period where members of his household were under threat due to the invasion of his house, immediately prior to his martyrdom, he bore all those afflictions with great patience and loyalty to the cause of Islam. He was, indeed, a true servant of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Source: scaryammi.com
Coronavirus infections around 21million worldwide Coronavirus Cases:
Deaths:
Recovered:
13,722,940
20,826,517
747,568
Coronavirus Cases:
Deaths:
Recovered:
Coronavirus Cases:
Deaths:
Recovered:
120,844 4,196
9,006 196
107,148 3,469
Last updated:
August 13, 2020, 08:32 GMT www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?
CANADA Last updated:
August 13, 2020, 08:32 GMT
BC;CANADA Last updated:
August 13, 2020, 08:32 GMT