(paNOW/File photo)

By paNOW Staff

COVID-19

All P.A. high schools to move to remote learning after Christmas break

Dec 8, 2020 | 5:50 PM

Prince Albert high school students will not return to the classroom for two weeks after Christmas break.

In a joint media release, the Prince Albert Catholic School Division and the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division said all high schools in the city would move to level four of the Saskatchewan Safe Schools Plan effective Jan. 4 to Jan. 15. Students should expect to return to the current learning structure on Jan. 18, in the meantime they will learn remotely, the release said.

The decision was made following consultation with public health officials. The school divisions said the move to level four is “preventative,” and being taken in response to increased rates of community transmission of COVID-19.

“Students will participate and engage in remote learning programming as learning expectations will remain a priority,” the school divisions said. “Schools will provide specialized programming or support for intensive learning needs on an individualized basis.”

Information for students and families will be forthcoming from school administration and staff. Procedures for the start of the new block on Jan. 4 will be finalized by Dec. 18.

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Speaking to paNOW, Lorel Trumier with the Catholic Division, said they are following public health advice very carefully.

“Anyone just needs to drive by the testing sites and see the long line ups. The numbers are escalating and I think we need to take this very seriously, ” she said.

No Level 4 moves yet for elementary schools

While elementary schools were not mentioned in today’s statement Trumier said all families need to be prepared “for what could be a move to an alternative safe plan whether that’s in December or January.”

In an email to paNOW Wednesday, Robert Bratvold with the Public Division said, in part, “at this time, Health indicates that the projected COVID case rates in teens within the city of Prince Albert warrants this decision to help prevent an increase in the rate of virus entry into urban high schools after the Christmas Break.”

He said the division would continue to monitor the data and be guided by Health when making decisions about moving schools to a different level of the Saskatchewan Safe Schools Plan.

COVID-19 cases at St. Catherine Catholic School and St. John Community School

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday, the Prince Albert Catholic School Division reported COVID-19 cases at two schools – one each at St. Catherine Catholic School and St. John Community School.

Classes and cohorts affected by the cases have been instructed to self isolate.

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Editor’s note: this article was amended Wednesday, Dec.9, to reflect comment provided by Robert Bratvold with the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division.

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panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow