Living Sky School Division and Light of Christ Catholic Schools have announced they will reopen at Level 2 of the provincial COVID-19 guidelines, which means masks will be part of plan
In letters to parents, both divisions state the following mask protocol will be implemented:
All students will be required to wear a mask on buses.
For Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 3, masks are not required. Parents may choose to provide masks for their children and school staff will support their use as practical during school hours.
For Grades 4 to 12, masks are required where physical distancing is not possible. This means masks must be worn upon entry to or exit from the school, while in classrooms, hallways or common areas when two metres of physical distancing is not possible. Masks are not required for outside activities as long as physical distancing is in place.”
All staff are required to wear masks where physical distancing is not possible.
In their letter, chair of the board of education for Living Sky School Division, Ronna Pethick, and Director of Education Brenda Vickers, stated, “There will be opportunities in school for students to learn about the proper way to wear, remove and store masks. There will be times during the day, when possible, for outside learning and play so students can have breaks from wearing a mask. Teachers may allow students to take their masks down for a while when students are front facing and working from their desks.”
The school division also states that a supply of disposable face masks will be available for all students and be provided on the first day of school, on buses for those students who ride. Students are also encouraged to bring their own non-medical cloth masks.
Also students who require a medical exemption from wearing a mask “may make an application to the school principal. Please note that students and staff who prefer not to wear a mask will not be exempt. The mask protocol is a safety measure for all students and staff, so only medical exemptions will be available.”
Living Sky School Division states that all protocols, including masks, will be re-evaluated as the medical situation in Saskatchewan evolves.
Light of Christ Director of Education Cory Rideout stated in a letter to parents that LOCCS will provide two reusable masked for each student as supplies arrive and disposable masks will be provided in the meantime.
“We recommend that you purchase three additional masks per child, so they will have one clean mask per day,” stated the letter.
