The B.C. government has approved plans for all 60 school districts including the Kamloops-Thompson School District ahead of September’s return to school.

It says the vast majority of students will be in class every day, with full in-person instruction for elementary and middle schools, and secondary schools. Education Minister Rob Fleming says B.C. is taking the ‘best science based, public health advice’ approach, adding there is nothing better than in-class learning.

He says parents should feel confident about sending their children back to school with strict health and safety protocols in place.

“We know from research that there are consequences when children are not in school for extended periods of time this can impact development and individual success of students and kids progressing through school and their life opportunities after school,” he said.

Fleming added he expects that school districts will be flexible when it comes to students who do not return to classes because of health or other reasons.

“We understand that parents and caregivers are looking for more options. And this is something we’ve been discussing in great detail with our stakeholder lead steering committee and education partners for the past several weeks,” he added.

“They will work with families, to provide options to keep children connected to their school communities. And that’s why I’ve directed school districts to contact all families in their school communities to share their safety plans and to confirm if their child is attending school, or if they require a remote online learning option.”

SD73 Publishes Return to School Plan

Students in SD73 will return to school on September 10 or September 11 for orientation, and parents will be told the date that their children will return to school. Regular classes will begin on September 14.

During orientation week, kids will be assigned to their classes, find out who is in their learning group, practice the new routines, and learn how to safely move from the class to outdoor and common areas of the school.

“The essential elements in the safe re-start of schools are consistent groups of people; robust illness policies for students and staff; and the ability to have most people follow effective personal practices like hand washing,” noted the school district on its website.

Middle and secondary students in SD73 will move to a quarter system, where there will be enrolled in two classes every day for 10 weeks before moving on to the next quarter. There will be some flexibility for the International Baccalaureate program, at Kamloops School of the Arts, as well as for students in the Trades and Transitions programs.

“The quarter system will allow for fewer transitions, staggered breaks and facilitates learning group timetabling to meet the health and safety requirements,” said SD73.

Students will still be a part of a cohort of up to 60 students and teachers in elementary or middle schools and 120 in high schools. It may be limited to a single class or multiple classes together for some shared activities, and they will also remain in their learning group during recess, lunch, and break times.

“Elementary students will be allowed to socialize with a friend in a different learning group if they are outside and minimize physical contact or if they are inside and are able to maintain physical distance,” added SD73. “Middle and secondary students have to physical distance in all environments, and in situations where physical distancing cannot occur outside of cohorts, they will have to wear non-medical masks.”

Assembles and other such gatherings will be done virtually, while inter-school activities have been cancelled until further notice.

To read the SD73 plan, click here with additional information also available here.

BCTF Remains Concerned

The BC Teachers Federation says the province’s school re-opening plan needs a lot more work.

President Teri Mooring says as it stands right now, there are no guarantees that staff and students can safely physically distance in schools.

“As teachers, we all want to welcome our students to class and get back to in-person teaching,” she said. “We all want to get back to a place where every student is in school learning, socializing, and celebrating those ‘a-ha’ moments.”

“We need to do things differently and that starts with making sure staff and students can actually achieve physical distancing in our schools and classrooms. Under the government’s current plan, that physical distancing just isn’t possible.”

She also says an additional $242 million from the federal government will help, but she adds there are concerns that the Ministry of Education went ahead with today’s announcement without working with partners on how that money will be used.

“I know the federal government’s funding announcement was unexpected, but we should see it as a huge opportunity to work together and get things right. The train has not left the station, school has not started,” she added.

“There is more than enough time to use the new $242 million in federal funding to improve the safety of our schools and classrooms.”

Our response to latest #bced restart news is at https://t.co/KD8OHTz1RD. #bcpoli needs to take a step back and work with the partner groups on how to use that new $242 million in federal funding. We need to ensure the K–12 restart is as safe and effective as it can be. Thread: pic.twitter.com/85Jq8V2jW5

— BCTF (@bctf) August 26, 2020