THE BATTLEFORDS - Both the Living Sky School Division and the Light of Christ Catholic Schools Division have released their back to school plan for the coming school year.
Full details of their plans were released Friday and are available on their websites. The plan, which is stated to be in line with recommendations from public health official, includes a number of restrictions and protocols that will be in place for the school year including mask requirements for students and staff.
According to a joint news release issued by the school divisions, the highlights are as follows:
Both school divisions will require students and staff in elementary schools to wear masks while indoors to begin the school year.
Mask breaks can be taken at each teacher’s discretion when it is safe to do so (e.g. when in their classrooms, during strenuous activities, etc.).
As well, everyone in kindergarten-to-grade 12 schools will be required to wear masks in common areas. Masks are required for all of those riding on school buses and for all visitors to schools.
Extracurricular clubs, sports, and activities will resume, within the parameters of each school division’s Safe Schools Plan. For outdoor activities such as recess or outdoor gym classes, there is no requirement for students to wear a mask.
Students and staff who are ill are to stay home until they are symptom free for 48 hours. According to the plan, guests and parents/guardians should refrain from entering schools if they are ill, and schools will have a sign-in procedure to ensure visitors are documented, along with staff entering the building on weekends.
Students and families are being asked to perform daily health screenings, to stay home if ill, to call HealthLine at 811 if showing symptoms, and to follow the usual practices of hand hygiene, physical distancing and wearing masks when appropriate.
The plan also includes protocols for vaccinations, for the ongoing response to COVID-19 as well as for contingency plans.
All schools will be resuming in-person learning. However, schools are prepared for learning contingencies in case a hybrid or remote learning approach is required.
Details of each division’s plan will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, with revisions based on advice from local health officials as well as data related to transmission risk.
The media release announcing the return to school plan was signed by Chair Ronna Pethick and Director of Education Brenda Vickers of Living Sky division, and Chair Glen Gantefoer and Director of Education Cory Rideout of Light of Christ division.
Light of Christ division sent a letter to parents dated Aug. 27. In that letter Rideout provided further details about the plans for the return to the classroom in the fall.
“Due to the recent increase in COVID cases, and more specifically, cases involving the delta variant of concern, we designed our Safe Schools Plan to include increased mitigation measures for those students who are not eligible for vaccination. Although there is a mask use requirement by all staff and students in elementary schools, unlike last school year, we did include ample opportunities for mask breaks during the school day, and there is no requirement for any sort of mask use outdoors.
“Any changes to our plan will be driven by the advice and recommendations we receive from public health experts and the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Please be advised that, if necessary, these changes may occur at any time with very short notice.”
In a statement to Living Sky division parents that accompanied their return to school plan, Vickers stated that COVID-19 continued to spread.
“I acknowledge that we may have to agree to disagree on some of the recommendations in our plan throughout the year. Please know that every health-related decision we make is done in consultation with local health officials and out of genuine concern for the health and safety of Living Sky School Division’s students and staff.
“Our schools will continue to have the support and engagement of local Medical Health Officers (MHOs) in responding to any public health risks in school settings, including COVID-19. Our MHOs can provide locally tailored approaches to respond to the presence of COVID-19 in school settings, should this occur, and put in place mitigation and response protocols that align with provincial standards.
“We will continue to meet regularly with our local health team and adjust our plan as necessary.”
