HUMBOLDT — Humboldt’s four schools have each released plans aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 among students and staff.
Kevin Garinger, Horizon School Division’s director of education, said planning for the return to schools has been underway since June. Teachers, who are already back at work, are preparing to follow the new rules – and for any contingencies made necessary by the pandemic.
“I've seen some of the work that staff has done. It's incredible,” he said. “But we need to continue that work.”
The full plans can be visited on each of the schools’ websites.
Schools officially open on Tuesday, Sept. 8. At the two Catholic elementary schools, the Grades 1 to 8 classes will be divided in two for the first week, with those with last names starting from A to K going to school on Tuesday, Sept. 8 and Thursday Sept. 10, while those with last names starting with L to Z will go on Wednesday, Sept. 9 and Friday, Sept. 11.
All four schools will be providing students with a reusable mask. Both Horizon School Division and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools require masks be worn by students in Grades 4 to 12 in common areas and in classrooms where physical distancing of two metres cannot be maintained.
Masks must be worn by all students on school buses. All visitors to schools must wear masks.
Students will be assigned a particular entrance to a school to further manage traffic flow.
Schools will be sanitized more often by caretakers. Teachers will be disinfecting commonly touched surfaces. High school students will be expected to sanitize their learning spaces before and after each use.
Elementary
The three elementary schools are asking parents to drop off their Grade 1 to 8 children without entering the building. Students are to enter the school and go to their classes straight away, as there is no supervision on the school grounds. Doors are unlocked at 8:30 a.m. (with the exception of St. Augustine, which opens at 8:35 a.m.)
There will be multiple recesses to separate students. Students will be further divided and assigned to one position of the playground.
Lunches will be eaten in the classroom, unless they go home to eat. Microwaves will not be used at school. Any leftovers and utensils must be taken home. The snack program at Humboldt Public will continue, with preparation done by staff and adult volunteers with masks and gloves worn at all times. Milk programs at Humboldt Public and St. Dominic have been discontinued for the time being.
High school
At Humboldt Collegiate, classes are being booked so that students are limited to three areas of instruction. Class changes will be staggered to minimize traffic in the hallways. Class dismissal times will be staggered at lunch and after school to allow students to leave in a methodical way.
The common areas will be used for students that have spares. They are closed to student socialization. Students with spares are encouraged to go home and not return until 15 minutes prior to their next class beginning.
Students will still be able to access food at the Uniplex, which will follow social distancing and sanitization guidelines similar to other food services in town.
Displaying symptoms
At all four schools, parents are expected to screen for symptoms of COVID-19 from their child. If a student is displaying symptoms at school, they will go to a supervised isolation room as they wait for their parents to be picked up. Any areas the student was in will be sanitized. Students will have to get tested and be cleared by a medical professional before returning to school. If there is a positive test, the Saskatchewan Health Authority will communicate with the school division about the next steps.
“We're in the process of having a local medical health officer that I will be connected to through the school division,” Garinger said. “We’ll connect with that person wherever the local need is and then we'll make some decisions around how that's going to be addressed within our school and within the community.”
Actions made by the Saskatchewan Health Authority could include contract tracing, environmental cleaning plans and temporarily closing schools. The privacy of those infected with the virus will be ensured.
Distance options
Students in both divisions will also be able to take distance education if they feel that uncomfortable with attending classes in-person.
“Every child, all 6,400, in Horizon will be supported in their learning, regardless of what it is that parents are asking us to do to meet that need,” Garinger said.
