Parents, students and schools preparing for return to class under ‘near normal’ circumstances

Bruce Buruma, Director of Community Relations for Red Deer Public Schools, says 85 per cent of families have indicated their intentions for the new school year, with 92 per cent planning to send their kids back to class.

“Those who have not responded, our schools are reaching out to families and asking them to let us know,” says Buruma. “This is essential information for us to be able to plan appropriately, for those that are choosing to go back to school as normal and for those families looking at at-home learning options.”

For parents still uncomfortable or unable to send their child to school under current conditions, local school districts have offered at-home learning or parent-led home schooling opportunities for students.

At Red Deer Public, students will be supported by division teachers assigned to at-home learning. However, at-home learning will not be available for French or Spanish bilingual programs.

Buruma says those are language rich programs which see up to 70 per cent of instruction done in the second language for French Immersion and at least 50 per cent in Spanish Bilingual.

“It’s difficult to have that kind of immersion when students aren’t with other students and with teachers and being able to do that,” he explains. “Having said that, we will be having some supplemental enrichment activities for those students who are in French Immersion and Spanish Bilingual wanting to learn from home.”

At Red Deer Catholic, at-home learning will include a full curriculum of core subjects, while option courses will be limited for middle school. Currently, high school administration teams are looking at possibilities of Career and Technology Studies Programming.

At-home students would remain enrolled at the school where they are registered for 2020-2021 and students who learn at-home will be part of an online learning group with an assigned teacher. However, the teacher may not be a staff member at their designated school. This learning format will include live online teacher instruction, activities and assignments that students will complete independently.

In addition to two masks being provided by the province for all Alberta teachers, staff and students, and mandatory mask use for students in Grades 4-12, further health and safety measures include school staff receiving one reusable face shield for their use in school.

“We evaluated the effectiveness of facials for students and rather than doing those, we are purchasing 600 plexiglass dividers to be used when physical distancing is an issue in teaching situations like guided reading and one-on-one work between teachers and students,” notes Buruma.

He adds, however, those supplies have yet to be received.

“That’s one thing that’s a bit anxious right now, is the delivery of those,” he admits. “But the government did indicate that we would have those for the first day of classes September 1.”

Daily self-screening protocols will also be in place for everyone attending school, meaning anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses will not be permitted inside.

If students experience signs of illness during the school/work day, they will be isolated in a designated area until they can be picked up.

In the event of an active case, RDPSD officials say AHS may request the school close in-person classes to allow a public health investigation to take place. The decision to send a cohort/class home or to close a school will be made by the zone medical officer of health.

The Alberta Government says a COVID-19 case will not automatically lead to school closure.

Physical distancing, student cohorts, hand washing/sanitizing, and several other enhanced cleaning protocols have also been put in place to help ensure the safety of everyone at schools.

Buruma says it’s important to remember that the government and public health officials have approved a return to school plan under ‘near normal’ conditions.

“That means the classrooms and class sizes are going to be ‘near normal’,” he points out. “We do not have any additional funding to reduce class sizes but we’re going to do our very best with the resources that we have. Not only does going back to school have children back to school, but it helps families with their needs as they return to work as well.”

“Over the course of the year, we don’t know what will happen with the pandemic,” adds Buruma. “We’re going to keep our schools clean and healthy and safe as much as we can, but we also have to be nimble and be able to respond as circumstances change.”

To access the Red Deer Public Schools Student Handbook for 2020-2021, click here.

To access Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools Student Handbook for 2020-2021, click here.

by Sheldon Spackman

Parents, students and schools preparing for return to class under ‘near normal’ circumstances

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