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(Saskatoon Public Schools/Twitter)

School districts navigate back-to-school guidelines

Aug 13, 2020 | 11:11 AM

The provincial government is leaving the bulk of back-to-school planning to the 27 individual school divisions.

As of Tuesday, there are two levels of guidelines for divisions to work within.

The Chinook School Division released its reopen plan on Aug. 4, following the provincial governments first level of regulations.

It includes increased cleaning, a strict stay at home policy for staff and students feeling ill, voluntary mask use and avoiding shared equipment.

Approximately 6,000 students attend the division’s 62 schools in the southwest.

Christ the Teacher Catholic Schools in Melville, Theodore and Yorkton have released a 27-page document details its plans for back-to-school procedures.

It outlines developing strategies for hygiene, physical contact, managing guests, and extra-curricular activities.

The plan also includes what will happen if a student, parent or staff member becomes ill.

The division is not making face masks mandatory, but says they should be used “when all other controls have been fully explored.”

The Creighton School Division begins its reopen plan by highlighting that it will evolve as the COVID-19 pandemic does.

In a document released on Aug. 1, the district is following similar conditions as aforementioned divisions regarding hygiene, what to do when a child or employee is ill and cohorting classes.

It will also observe staggered start times and lunch breaks to avoid crowds.

Masks are only required for staff in close contact with a sick student.

In a tweet, the Good Spirit School Division, which oversees 26 schools in East-Central Saskatchewan, is revising its plan following the provincial government’s level two guidelines announced on Tuesday.

Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division (RCSSD) will follow strict hygiene, cleaning and distancing guidelines in the fall semester.

As is common among the divisions at this point masks are not required in most circumstances.

Holy Trinity Catholic Schools says it will begin the year observing the province’s level two guidelines.

Individual schools in the division will manage start times to minimize physical contact, according to the plan released Tuesday.

As the board operates on level two masks will be mandatory for students in grade four to 12 in common areas.

The Horizon School Division, based in Humboldt with 43 schools in east-central Saskatchewan, will minimize physical contact when available, encourage frequent hand washing and sanitizing.

Masks for students are recommended but not required.

In the Ile-a-la-Crosse School Division, field trips are cancelled for now.

Students will eat lunch in their classrooms and will be assigned to a cohort.

Masks and face shields will be available at the schools but not required.

The Light of Christ RCSSD, based in the North Battleford area, will require schools to have more hand sanitizer and cleaning products.

Students will only be allowed to bring backpacks, lunch kits, water bottles and outwear between home and school.

Masks will only be required when staff members interact with a student showing symptoms.

The Living Sky School Division plans to follow heightened cleaning and physical distancing rules when classes start in the fall.

In an update posted on the division’s website on Aug. 7, it said it would review level two of the province’s guidelines and update its plan.

The Lloydminster Catholic School Division has not released a plan for resuming classes in the fall but the public division has an outline.

Public schools will have staggered start, recess and lunchtimes.

Visitors to the school and students on buses will be required to wear masks.

Staff and students will receive two reusable cloth masks when they arrive on Sept. 1.

Classrooms for the around 5,000 students in the Northeast School Division will change from pre-pandemic setups to include more hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies, distance markers on floors and seating plans.

The Northern Lights School Division calls its return to school plan a living document.

At this point, personal protective equipment (PPE) is not required unless caring for an ill student.

Board members plan to collaborate with local health experts to keep the plan as up to date and safe as possible.

The Northwest School Division will follow standard hygiene, cleaning and distancing rules.

The only time masks will be required is when staff are in close contact with a sick student.

The Prairie South School Division plans to stagger recess and snack breaks and reduce physical contact.

Currently, people will only be able to access schools for essential purposes.

Before and after school programs won’t start until Sept. 14 or later.

The Prairie Spirit School Division is conducting a parent survey following the province’s level two guidelines.

It closes at noon on Aug. 17.

Before level two was announced the board, which educates more than 11,000 students, released a return to school format.

The Prairie Valley School Division plans to begin the year at level two.

Staff and students from grades four to 12 will be required to wear masks in high traffic areas and anywhere two-metre physical distancing can not be maintained.

The division will provide one reusable mask to students when they return to class.

Class resumes on Sept. 1 for students in Prince Albert Catholic Schools.

Increased cleaning and handwashing measures will be in place along with changes to ensure safe distancing.

The Regina Catholic School Division will require students from grades four to 12 and all staff to wear masks.

In a statement, the division says it’s board of trustees made the decision last week and are pleased the province included the provision in Tuesday’s update.

Regina Public Schools will be doing the same and requiring mask use.

Children in kindergarten to grade three don’t need to wear masks but are encouraged to have non-medical masks at school.

The board is currently finalizing its full formal return to school guidelines.

Parents in the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division will have to wait for a revised plan as well.

The original plan included physical distancing guidelines, cleaning plans and other safety strategies.

Students on buses to Saskatoon School Division schools will have to wear a face mask.

Student between grades four and 12 must wear it for the remainder of the school day when they can’t keep their distance.

Staff and visitors to public schools, including parents and caregivers, will be required to wear a mask.

Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools will resume in-class lessons on Sept. 1 for more than 19,000 students in the Bridge City and surrounding area.

Assigned seating, signage and plexiglass barriers will be implemented in shared spaces.

Children returning to class in the South East Cornerstone School Division will notice increased hygiene and physical distancing measures.

Staff and students are welcome to wear masks but it is not mandatory at this time.

Finally, the Sun West School Division’s re-entry plan was published on Aug. 1.

It focuses on similar safety and hygiene requirements as students go back to class.

Masks are only required when around a sick student or when distancing can’t be maintained.

Masks and hand sanitizer will be delivered to schools prior for the first day of class.

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