Dear Alouette families,
Please see below an important update from Superintendent Harry Dhillon regarding air quality test results and next steps.
Sincerely,
Donna Servant
Principal
January 25, 2023: An update from Superintendent Harry Dhillon
Dear Alouette families,
I am writing to let you know we have received the results of the air quality tests we conducted at Alouette Elementary, and shared them with WorkSafeBC, BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and Fraser Health. WorkSafeBC has confirmed that the results meet regulation requirements and the BCCDC also advised that, upon reviewing the air quality results, they have no concerns.
Our medical health officer, Dr. Young, advises that Fraser Health does not have reason to believe there is an environmental threat to the health and safety of staff and students at the school related to the cancer diagnoses or otherwise, and notes students and staff at Alouette Elementary should continue to attend school.
BC Cancer is now assessing if the number of cases that have been reported is consistent with normal amounts of cancer diagnosed over time. They have shared that they have been involved in approximately eight cancer cluster inquiries related to B.C. schools since 1990, so certainly have experience in this area. They also advised that none of the previous eight inquiries found evidence of a cancer cluster. We will share BC Cancer findings with you as soon as their assessment is complete.
In the meantime, we do want to give you an opportunity to have any health questions related to this matter answered by health experts. You can submit your question(s) anonymously at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/alouette. We will share these questions with BCCDC and Fraser Health and will provide the school community with the answers as soon as we receive them.
Sincerely,
Harry Dhillon
Superintendent of Schools