Saskatchewan school divisions lay out back-to-school plans

Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions were to complete their homework Wednesday.

The provincial government asked each division to come up with a back-to-school plan that would be communicated to parents and students by the end of the day.

The province closed schools in March due to the threat of COVID-19, forcing educators and students to work online to complete the 2019-20 school year.

In June, the government announced that in-person classes would resume in the fall. Since then, it has made changes to its Safe Schools Plan while requiring school divisions to develop their own individual strategies.

From there, each school was given the responsibility of creating its own plan. Those are to be available on the schools’ websites Wednesday.

School now is to begin Sept. 8, following guidelines set out by the ministries of health and education.

Regina Public Schools released its plan on Friday, calling for such measures as mandatory mask use for grades 4 through 12, staggered start dates for the first week, recesses before and after school, and increased use of hand sanitizer.

On Tuesday, the division revealed a new “quint schedule” for high schools, with students taking two classes per day over five terms during the school year.

The back-to-school plans of each of the division’s elementary schools and high schools were to be available on the schools’ websites Wednesday.

The Regina Catholic School Division announced the bulk of its plan on Thursday.

Among its requirements are mandatory mask use in grades 4 to 12 when physical distancing isn’t possible, students returning to school on different dates in the first week, and staggered lunch hours and breaks.

On Tuesday, the Catholic division also revealed its scheduling plans for high school students, adopting a block schedule of three classes per day.

Here is a list of the websites for the division’s elementary and high schools.

Saskatoon Public Schools updated its back-to-school plan on Tuesday.

Among other things, it calls for physical distancing, mask use and enhanced cleaning protocols. High schools will use a block schedule, with the school year broken up into five terms.

A list of Saskatoon’s public schools can be found here.

The Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools division’s plan also was updated Tuesday.

It features such things as daily screening questionnaires, staggered start dates, a block schedule in high school and mask use.

The plans for each of the division’s schools are to be available to parents and students. Here is a list of schools in the division.

Rather than sending their children back to school, some families are embracing remote learning. That’s an option in each of the Regina and Saskatoon divisions.

In addition to its plan, the Chinook School Division in the southwest advised families to monitor its website, email and social media channels to ensure they have the most up-to-date information.

The Creighton School Division in the far northeast corner of the province isn’t making mask use mandatory, but is encouraging families to use them.

Christ the Teacher Catholic Schools‘ plan covers its nine schools in the Yorkton-Melville area. Students will be required to wear masks in schools and on buses.

The Good Spirit School Division is reminding parents that at-home learning is available but has a full plan on its website and reminds families it’s an evolving plan given the ever-changing COVID situation.

The Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division — with schools in Wilcox, Weyburn, Radville and Estevan — produced PDFs with the plans for each of its facilities. The division will start the school year at Level 2.

The Holy Trinity Catholic School Division compiled a comprehensive 112-page back-to-school plan. It also calls for schools to start the year at Level 2.

The Horizon School Division in the centre of the province is recommending mask use for grades 4 to 12 in its lengthy and detailed plan.

The Ile-a-la-Crosse School Division is taking a more evolving position and reviewing its plan in a staggered way with the last update set for Sept. 15.

Light of Christ Catholic Schools, based in the North Battleford area, will aim to limit physical contact between students and teachers during class.

The Living Sky School Division around the Battlefords has a plan that includes block timetables to ensure high school students in the larger facilities remain safe.

The Lloydminster School Division is presenting an evolving plan that will respond to any emerging health risks.

The Lloydminster Catholic School Division has produced a list of frequently asked questions for parents as well as its overall plan.

The North East School Division states in its plan that “we all can play a role learning together, staying safe and keeping apart.”

The Northern Lights School Division describes its plan as a living document that will evolve to the COVID situation.

The Northwest School Division confirms there will be differences in the plans of each of its schools.

The Prairie South School Division has a detailed plan tabling the various components to a safe reopening.

The Prairie Spirit School Division will begin with a staggered start to the school year, like many other school divisions.

The Prairie Valley School Division‘s reopening plan does include mandatory mask use.

The Prince Albert Catholic School Division‘s website features back-to-school plans for each of its seven schools. They call for mask use and specific entry and exit points.

The Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division is offering remote learning to families as part of its plan.

The plan of the South East Cornerstone Public School Division offers three options for parents to consider.

The Sun West School Division offers a similar model so if COVID outbreaks occur, the school division can easily respond.

Conseil des coles fransaskoises said it would be updating its website as more information became available.