After classes were cancelled in March to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, followed by the summer break, students will be going back to classes in school on Sept. 1 – and they will be wearing masks.
On Aug. 4, Adriana LaGrange, education minister, announced mask use for Grade 4 to 12 students, and all school staff, will be mandatory when school returns for the 2020-2021 year.
Consequently, all students and staff will receive two reusable masks from the provincial government. Additional single-use masks will be available at schools if required.
Mask use will be mandatory for staff and teachers in all settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained. Students will be required to wear them in all shared and common areas such as hallways and on buses. Exemptions will be made for students and staff who are unable to wear a mask due to medical or other needs.
Mask use for Kindergarten to Grade 3 students will continue to be optional. Mask use for younger children is a challenge due to difficulties with proper fit and compliance. In addition, evidence shows children under 10 may be less likely than older children or adults to transmit COVID-19.
Other measures were also announced.
School staff will receive one reusable face shield for their use in the schools. Shield use is at the discretion of the individual staff member. Plastic face shields can help reduce exposure but are not equivalent to masks. A mask must still be worn while wearing a face shield.
About 466,000 litres of hand sanitizer will be distributed between all school authorities. The specific volume provided to an individual school authority will be based on student population.
Each school will receive two contactless thermometers to assist with managing student and staff health. Thermometer use will be at the discretion of the school authority.
Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services are working to expand testing capacity and reduce turnaround times for testing, including in-school staff, teachers and students, so that anyone with symptoms or close contacts of cases can be rapidly tested and receive test results promptly.
Provincial health guidance for a safe return to school will continue to evolve as necessary to reflect the latest evidence on the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.
LaGrange had announced on July 21 schools in Alberta will operate this fall.
“We are determined to do everything that we can to safely return our students, teachers and staff to school. I appreciate the input and support of school authorities across the province, as well as our education partners, in developing and refining our school re-entry plan. We are providing clear and detailed guidelines and a re-entry tool kit so everyone can do their part and prepare for a safe return to school,” she said.
The next day the Livingstone Range School sent a letter to parents/guardians outlining what will happen in schools including Claresholm, Stavely, and Granum.
“Livingstone Range School Division families and staff can expect near-normal operations with health measures such as physical distancing to the greatest extent possible, frequent hand washing and sanitizing, as well as expected daily health screening of students by parents/guardians prior to their child coming to the school and prompt pick up of students who demonstrate symptoms while at school. In addition, enhanced cleaning protocols will be implemented and general public access to the building will be limited,” said Superintendent Darryl Seguin.
A full re-entry plan was shared with parents/guardians on July 27 along with a survey asking them to indicate whether they will be having their child or children attend in-person classes on Sept. 1, or they wish to continue with at-home learning.
“Our school-based administrators will return to their schools during the first week of August (days and times will vary from school to school) to review survey results for their school and then reconfigure classes and teaching assignments as necessary,” Seguin said.