The School District of Mystery Lake (SDML) released its reopening plan for the 2020-21 school year Aug. 14.
The 11-page document, which includes about five pages of written information as well as three provincial and federal public health infographics and a school-year calendar, isn’t heavy on particular details, some of which will be laid out in individual school plans, which are expected to be made publicly available at least a week before in-class instruction resumes Sept. 8.
Kindergarten to Grade 8 students will receive five full days of in-class instruction per week, while those in Grade 9 to Grade 12 will have up to five days of in-class instruction provided effective physical distancing and the use of cohorts (groups of students who do not mix with other groups of students to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 and ensure documentation for contact tracing) can be implemented. Special needs students in all grades will receive five days of in-class instruction per week, while remote learning will be in place for students who are not advised to return to in-class learning for medical reasons.
Classrooms will be reconfigured to enable physical distancing to the greatest extent possible, while students in Grade 5 and above will be strongly encouraged to wear non-medical masks, as recommended by the provincial government. Students in kindergarten to Grade 4 can also choose to wear masks and extra masks will be available at all schools through the year for students who do not have their own. Lunch and recess breaks will be staggered to avoid large numbers of students in school hallways at the same time.
Parents will be expected to screen their children for COVID-19 symptoms before sending them to school. There will also be screening protocols for all people entering schools and limits on the number of visitors. Any student or staff member who is experiencing possible COVID-19 symptoms such as a fever, a cough or a runny nose will be expected to stay home.
Enhanced cleaning protocols will be instituted in schools and hand sanitizer will be made available at all access points as well as throughout the schools and in classrooms whenever possible. All people using the school will be expected to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water at the start and end of each school day, after going to the bathroom, before preparing food, before and after eating, any time they get their hands dirty, after wiping their noses or handling dirty tissues, after coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose and, for staff, after performing cleaning tasks.
Outdoor activities will be encouraged and conducted as often as possible while contact sports and games and the use of shared sports equipment will be strongly discouraged.
Any student who develops COVID-19 symptoms during the course of a school day will be isolated from other students and staff and required to wear a mask in most instances while waiting for their parents to come pick them up. Young students who require close contact and care while isolated and waiting for their parents to pick them up will be monitored by masked staff members who will be mindful of hand hygiene and avoid contact with respiratory droplets from the students. Staff members who develop symptoms during the school day will immediately isolate themselves from others, notify their administrator and go home to self-monitor.
