RETSD back-to-school plan released

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/08/2020 (2012 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On Aug. 17, the River East Transcona School Division released its plan for the 2020-21 school year. But questions remain.

“Our schools are eagerly preparing for the return of students and preparing the spaces to support physical distancing and the cohorting of students,” RETSD superintendent Kelly Barkman said in a statement. “We know the best learning happens in the classroom, and we’ve been working diligently this summer on the division plan released today with the health and safety of all as our priority.”

Following provincial health guidelines, students from kindergarten to Grade 8 will return to class five days a week.

“We’ll be spending time trying to explain to students about etiquette, how movement in hallways go, and there will be a lot of working together,” Barkman told The Herald. “The classroom will be seen as a cohort, with more movement as a staff if possible.”

For students in the division’s seven high schools, things become more complicated. Students will be organized into cohorts of up to 75 pupils who may attend school “up to five” days a week, or may alternate days of in class learning with days of remote learning, depending on the size and layout of the school.

“We’re looking at time-tabling and scheduling and staggered entrances,” Barkman said. “We’re also looking for which electives can actually go ahead. We’ll probably have more staff going from room to room, rather than students. It’s all on the table.”

On Aug. 18, the province announced that it would be mandating mask use for students in Grade 4 and up where social distancing of two metres is not possible. Younger students are encouraged do so as well, “if desired.” All RETSD schools will have a supply of non-medical disposable masks available.

Considering that the return to school coincides with the return of cold and flu season, Barkman cautioned parents and caregivers to prepare for sick days. He noted that teachers will be preparing work for students who must stay home with cold and flu symptoms.

“The teachers will do some recovery learning, assessments to see where they’re at,” Barkman said, adding that specifics are still under development. He noted that use of apps such as Microsoft Teams could be relied upon to connect kids who are stuck at home.

Barkman also stressed that students with special needs will be supported throughout the school year.

“We’re an inclusive school division. Each child needs to have their needs looked at and then we can plan accordingly. This will be on a case by case basis, as always, and will be altered or changed as the situation demands.”

Additionally, Barkman noted that students who rely on breakfast, snack and lunch programs offered by approximately half of the 42 schools throughout the division will not be left behind.

“Those programs are part of us meeting the physical needs and well being of a child,” he said. “We need that to continue. We will support the schools in continuing those programs.”

Barkman noted that specific back-to-class plans would vary from school to school. Those plans will be communicated with parents and caregivers in the days to come. 

“There are lots of concerns out there, we know that,” he said. “There’s a lot of anxiety. We want, at our school and divisional level, to have everything in place to get the students back and do some learning. That’s our number one goal. We’re going to be ready. With parents and staff help, we want Sept. 8 to be a good start.