Two Weyburn schools, Souris School and St. Michael School, are shutting down classes as of Monday, March 29, and are moving to remote learning until after the Easter break week, after positive cases of COVID have appeared in individuals at both schools.
Letters were sent out to the parents or guardians of students at both schools, advising of this situation.
In a letter from education director Lynn Little, she indicated there have been two more cases of COVID-19 in individuals at Souris School, and those in close contact will be contacted by public health officials.
In an email to the Weyburn Review, she said, “We will continue to work with Public Health to monitor the COVID situation and impact in the remainder of the schools.”
“All students in elementary classrooms of positive cases are considered close contacts. Students in all grade levels except the Grade 6 class are considered close contacts at this time and are asked to isolate.Public Health will contact those deemed as close contacts and provide direction,” she said in the letter, noting that “a close contact is anyone that has been within six feet of the positive individual for an accumulated 15 minutes.”
Public health will be contacting parents/guardians of students and any staff/visitors/volunteers who may have been in close contactwith the cases and providing direction. If you do not hear from them, your child has not been identified as a close contact.
“Due to the number of staff and students impacted, it is not possible to continue face to face classes, thus Souris School will transition to remote learning effective Tuesday, March 30through to April 1. School will re-open on Monday, April 12. There will be no classes on Monday, March 29. Staff will prepare for the transition to remote learning and will be in contact with all to establish expectations and schedules,” said Little.
Parents of St. Michael students were told in a letter from principal Dean Loberg the school will also be shut down and classes will also not in session starting on Monday, March 29.
“In collaboration and communication with Public Health, and Holy Family School Division St. Michael School has been placed in Level 4 of the Provincial Safe Schools Plan until Monday, April 12th. Due to potential exposure to a positive COVID-19 case in a single room and the number of students who have been unexpectedly ill this past week (approximately 10 per cent) students will notbe returning to the building on Monday March 29th,” said Loberg.
As with the Souris families, Public Health will be contacting parents/guardians of students and any staff/visitors/volunteers who may have been in close contactwith the single known case of COVID and providing direction.
“We remind everyone to monitor for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and contact Public Health if anyone in your family develops symptoms.
“Under Level 4 of the plan all students are required to continue instruction remotely.During online instruction, if your child is unable to attend class, please contact the teacher or the office as you normally would. Your child’s teacher will be in contact with you and/or your child to provide more direction,” said Loberg.
All families will be contacted by Thursday, April 8th with further information regarding return to school for Monday, April 12.
