COVID-19 Information

REMINDER: Mask wearing, proper hygiene, physical distancing and staying home when sick are all ways to keep you and your loved ones healthy.

Under direction from the province and the health authority and following guidelines set out by the provincial Response Planning Team, our school division has developed a Back to School Plan for the Fall of 2021. Please read the LSKYSD - Back to School Plan document below.

NOTE: The Back to School Plan will be updated as information from the CMHO becomes available.

SAFE ATTENDANCE

Safe Attendance focuses on the health of students and staff before and while they are at school.

If students or staff are ill, they should remain at home.
If students or staff members become ill while at school they will be moved to a designated isolation area.
Parents will be notified and supervision will be provided until parents arrive, PPE will be provided. Parent will call office upon arrival and student will be escorted to parent’s vehicle.
All necessary areas will be cleaned and disinfected.
Attendance awards will not be recognized this year. If students are ill they should remain at home.
All staff will be asked to self-monitor for symptoms and use the online Saskatchewan COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool.

SAFE TRANSPORTATION

Safe Transportation focuses on the safe movement of students to and from school. Where possible, the ministry is encouraging parents to transport their own children to and from school.

Assigned seats and a record of this seating plan on school buses.

Students who live in the same household should be seated together.

All students will be required to wear a mask on buses.
Cleaning and sanitation of buses or other vehicles used to transport students is required between each run.
At this time, no staff will be able to provide private vehicle transportation.
Parents are encouraged to provide transportation to school for their children. If possible, we ask for drop off as close to the bell as possible (8:50am).

SAFE ACCESS

Safe Access focuses on the daily flow of students and staff within the building. Safe Access includes school-level considerations such as:

Dedicated entrances: No more than three classes will share an exit. Classroom teachers who share an exit will ensure one class has cleared before another class exits. Re-entry after recess will happen one classroom at a time.
Controlled flow of students and staff in common areas: arrows will be marked on the floor of the hallways and students will be taught to walk on the right with adequate spacing between themselves and others.
At this time, no parents/guardians, volunteers, visitors or renters allowed in the building.
First week of school we will have a staggered start, to facilitate learning new procedures for students. Please watch for a communication to determine what two days your child will attend.
New parent information and registration table will be set up outside. Staff will be assigned to aide families with registration without entering building.
Teachers will meet their students outside on the first day.
Front door will be locked at the same time as all other doors in the morning and will be sanitized.
Washrooms: will be limited to 2 students at a time. Students will post a card to indicate it is occupied. Floor spots will indicate where to stand while waiting.
Extra furniture will be removed from classrooms and stored.
Students will remain with their own cohort at recess time. Access to playground equipment will be limited to one class at a time and students will wash their hands upon entry into their classroom after recess. Students will be taught games and activities that require no contact.

SAFE FACILITIES

Safe Facilities focuses on the cleaning and sanitation of school buildings. Schools have been asked to increase sanitation measures and continue to promote proper hygiene practices. This includes

Hand sanitizer and soap will be available. Students are also encouraged to bring their own from home (scent free).
Staff will sanitize surfaces frequently throughout the day.
Students will wash their hands after each break and before eating; as well as any other appropriate times.
Classroom doors will be left open wherever possible with frequent wiping.
Lunch students will learn how to wipe and sanitize their areas and will remain in their classrooms to eat.
Increased cleaning and sanitation of high-touch surfaces.
Our breakfast program will remain in the kitchen. We will sit students with their siblings or maintain safe distancing. Students will be served by a staff member at their seat.
Use of fountains will be restricted. Students are asked to use water bottles instead.
All students will be required to wear a mask on buses.
Grades PreK – 3: Masks are not required. Parents may choose to provide masks for their children and school staff will support their use as practical during school hours.
Grades 4-6: Masks are required where physical distancing is not possible. This means masks must be worn upon entry to or exit from the school, while in classrooms, hallways or common areas when 2 metres of physical distancing is not possible. Masks are not required for outside activities as long as physical distancing is in place.
Staff: All staff are required to wear masks where physical distancing is not possible.

SAFE CLASSROOM

Safe Classrooms focuses on the measures to ensure the safe sharing of space in the classroom between students and staff. These measures include:

Increased personal sanitation measures and proper hygiene practices: students will be taught efficient ways to line up, wash and dry in the classroom. We will teach and reinforce proper handwashing, use of hand sanitizer and other proper hygiene practices.
Students are to bring their own supplies, labelled with their name or initials.
Students will be taught how to clean up after themselves (especially after snacks and lunch), establish cleaning routines in the classroom.
Snacks will be individually packaged and delivered. Emergency lunches will be individually packaged and delivered directly to student.
All efforts will be made to minimize the number of adults working with cohorts.
Students will have an assigned seat in the classroom.
Library classes will not run in September.
Music and Band – will follow guidelines, these classes will likely have a different focus according to guidelines.
Physical Education: Teachers will focus on games with no equipment, or outside play. Teacher will designate equipment for individual cohorts so that equipment is not shared from class to class. Students will not change for physical education and locker room will remain locked.

SAFE SUPPORTS

Safe Supports focuses on the protocols in place to support

Mental health of staff and students is very important to us. As always, our school counsellors and other supports are available should you need it.
Intensive needs: students with intensive needs will continue to receive the attention and support that they need. Our student services teacher will contact you to discuss their learning plan.
Immune-compromised students: all efforts will be made to provide the educational opportunities needed by individual students. Please contact the school so we can discuss individual concerns.

SAFE ACTIVITIES

Safe Activities focuses on the protocols and policies governing group activities including:

All extra-curricular activities are on hold in September.

Swimming lessons will be postponed.

Field trips on bus and school excursions will also be on hold. We will encourage classes to get outside and go for learning walks weather permitting. Please look for a blanket permission form in September.

Assemblies will be virtual and shared in the classroom.
Students will remain with their own cohort at recess time. Students will be encouraged to play with minimal contact and will have designated play areas.

SAFE ALTERNATIVES

Safe Alternatives focuses on the contingency plans to ensure the continuation of education in a safe learning environment. There are four levels of education delivery:

Level 1: Primary and Secondary Educational Guidelines – As close to ‘normal’ as possible, with some additional measures.

Level 2: will involve mask usage as determined by the Chief Medical Health Officer.

Level 3: will involve reducing classroom capacity. This may include establishing cohorts and hybrid learning models as considerations.

Level 4: would take us back to suspending in-class learning, and moving back to a similar model we saw this past spring, with divisions working at the local level to ensure learning continues. In this model school would continue to be mandatory, albeit remotely.

These levels would be put in place by Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Officer and we will continue to work closely with him, and his team, on all Safe Saskatchewan planning.

LIVING SKY’S LEARNING PLAN

Our first priority is to have students and staff at school in-person, knowing that we have done everything we can to create a safe and healthy environment for everyone. We are also working on ways to support students who need to learn from home. Parents who wish to express an interest in virtual learning are asked to reach out to the school at 306-937-7998.