Lyonel Doherty
Times-Chronicle
Local school board chair Rob Zandee has a lot of hopes as students head back to school amidst COVID-19 once again.
“The big message here is that everyone should practise good hygiene, stay home if not feeling well, and get vaccinated . . . the higher the vaccination rate, the sooner that we can all go back to normal.”
Zandee said students are returning to another mask mandate (for Grades 4 to 12).
Under the province’s new rules for schools, all kindergarten to Grade 12 staff, students in Grades 4 to 12, and visitors are required to wear masks in all indoor areas, including at their desks and on school buses.
Exceptions to the mask policy include:
• A person who cannot tolerate wearing a mask for health reasons
• A person unable to put on or remove a mask without assistance
• If the mask is removed temporarily for the purposes of identifying the person wearing it
• If the mask is removed temporarily to engage in an educational activity that cannot be performed while wearing a mask. For example, playing a wind instrument, engaging in high-intensity physical activity, if a person is eating or drinking, and if a person is behind a barrier
Students in kindergarten to Grade 3 are encouraged to wear a mask indoors and on school buses, but are not required to do so.
Strict physical distancing is no longer required, but schools must continue to safely manage the flow of students and avoid crowding in common areas.
Teachers are encouraged to take their students outside as much as possible.
All students and staffs must complete a daily health check, and parents/caregivers are responsible for assessing their children daily before sending them to school.
Under the new rules, students can still participate in music and sports programs as long as safety measures are in place. For example, members of a choir must wear masks while singing. And students will be asked not to share equipment.
Rapid response teams will be in place to respond to COVID-19 exposures in schools.
However, the BC Teachers’ Federation is pushing for stronger safety measures in schools to protect children and staff. Union President Teri Mooring says there are fewer safety measures this year than there were last year. She notes that physical distancing has taken a back seat, and so has exposure notifications. Mooring told the media that she would like to see the mask protocol expanded and vaccinations mandated in schools.
Zandee said educators recognize that in-person learning is crucial for the social and emotional well-being of students.
“As you can appreciate, this is an ever-changing situation and we must always be ready to pivot. It is my hope that the mask mandate is not forever this year, but sometimes these things are dependent on things that we cannot control.”
Lesley Noftle, president of the Parents Advisory Council for Oliver Elementary, said families’ feelings about sending their kids back to school are varied.
“After riding the waves of COVID last year and seeing that school was by and large a safe place, many parents are looking forward to the return to school.”
Noftle said she feels confident that as COVID information changes or concerns arise, the school system will adapt its procedures to better protect students.
Superintendent of Schools Bev Young said the big difference in this school year is the vaccines, which will result in a “near normal” start-up.
She noted that students will not be grouped into learning groups or cohorts this time, therefore, they can learn, socialize and play with all of their peers.
Young said the focus is on in-person instruction for all students.
“This is good news as we know schools play an important role in social and emotional well-being, support, food security, and mental health.”
Young pointed out that all ventilation systems are checked regularly and include the top recommended filters. They have also increased custodial hours so that all schools will have custodians during part of the school day for cleaning of high-touch surfaces.
“We have replaced most, if not all, water fountains with filtered water stations and hand hygiene will continue.”
Young said the district has received additional recommendations from Interior Health including a limit on indoor school assemblies to 50 people or two classes (whichever is larger).
They will also limit spectators to 50 people at sporting events and extracurricular activities.
Young said these recommendations are due to increased COVID-19 cases and lower vaccination rates in the Interior.
“I encourage all eligible people to get vaccinated as this is the best way we can return to normal school and district activities that benefit all students and staff.”
