Lethbridge School Division outlines Re-Entry Plan

Scenario 1: In-school classes (near normal with enhanced health measures)

School authorities must implement routine measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
Additional public health recommendations for student learning and extracurricular activities for those unable to receive immunizations.
Outbreak management and interventions similar to influenza outbreak response.

Scenario 2: At-home learning (in-school classes are suspended/cancelled)

School authorities will offer at-home learning opportunities to students.
Schools will work with families to ensure student learning continues.
Teachers will continue to assess student progress.
Continue to follow the public health measures in place.

When it comes to immunization clinics, the province has announced that clinics are being planned for grades seven through 12 schools across Alberta. Alberta Health Services has indicated that students under 18 will not be vaccinated without the consent of a parent or guardian. When available, consent forms will be accessible online or from the school.

For in-school learning, the Lethbridge School Division will implement environmental safety measures like encouraging more outdoor activities, enhance cleaning and HVAC systems, with filters changed on a regular basis to ensure fresh air is brought into school buildings at prescribed rates.

Students are encouraged to stay home if they’re feeling sick. Hand sanitizers will be available in common areas and instructional spaces and students are encouraged to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Schools will have a plan in place if a student or staff member develops any symptoms of COVID-19. At this time, schools will not be reporting in-school COVID-19 cases to the school community or to the public, according to the division’s plan. If there is a school-wide absence rate of 10 per cent of greater due to illness or there are an unusual number of individuals with similar symptoms, this will be reported to the AHS Coordinated Early Identification Response team. AHS may also declare an outbreak and recommend additional voluntary measures to reduce ongoing transmission.

FACE MASKS & DISTANCING

Students will have to wear face masks when riding on a school bus. Bus drivers will take attendance and assign seating by household. Southland Transportation will continue to implement the same cleaning protocols that were in place for the 2020-2021 school year.

The Lethbridge School Division’s plan reads that at the elementary and middle school level, “students will be required to wear masks entering the school, leaving the school, and in common gathering spaces inside the school (e.g. hallways, washrooms).”

“Once students are in their cohort in the classroom, wearing masks will be encouraged and supported, but not required. Students will wear masks in mixed cohort groups with students combined form multiple groups (e.g. middle school option classes).”

Students will not have to wear masks in outdoor spaces if they choose not to.

All staff at the elementary and middle school level will wear masks while entering and exiting the building and in common gathering spaces in schools and other Lethbridge School Division buildings.

At the high school level, students will be encouraged to wear masks in all school space, but it will not be required. All staff at high schools will wear masks when entering and exiting the buildings and in common gathering spaces in schools and other division buildings.

Any visitors to schools will have to wear masks in all school spaces. This applies for all school levels and visitors include staff who normally work out of other facilities.

Schools will continue to physically distance students wherever possible.

COHORTS

For elementary schools, classes are in natural cohort groups by class. The division said that students will have physical education, music and other activities in their cohort. Schools may choose to have two cohort groups to a maximum of 50 students combined for some activities. Schools will schedule recesses, lunch, entry and exit from the building in a manner that avoids large numbers of students or adults mingling. Individual schools will provide more details about this to affected members.

Middle schools will operate on a regular class schedule. The division noted there are some natural cohort limits by grade and core subject configuration (the same group of students take core classes together). “Grade six will be monitored closely with respect to absenteeism with potential shirts regarding access to option courses.”

High schools will operate a regular class schedule.

EXTRA-CURRICULARS

The division said that for elementary schools, the year will start with restrictions on after-school programs like clubs and spirts. “This decision will be reviewed on an ongoing basis recognizing that opportunity for these activities are important for students.”

In middle and high schools, their post-school activities will follow the Extra-curricular and Co-curricular Phase-in Plan that was developed in the spring by secondary administrators and approved by the school board in June.

The full Lethbridge School Division Re-Entry Plan can be viewed here.

by Justin Goulet

Lethbridge School Division outlines Re-Entry Plan

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