With the impending doom of school looming upon us, many students and parents and teachers and - okay, literally everyone is wondering what the heck is happening. But fear not! We will be updating you on what every province and territory is planning on doing to combat COVID-19 while still somehow educating us is a way that will actually work.
British Columbia: As of August 10th, there are 445 confirmed active cases in the province, so the BC schools are set to open in stage two of the 5 Stage Framework. So what does this mean? The Framework states the steps to be taken in the case of an increase in COVID cases. Stage 1 is full-time in-class learning with no learning group requirements - quite like what was happening before the pandemic - with Stage 5 being full at-home online learning. Stage two learning means that all students will be having full-time classroom learning within learning group sizes, which will be; maximum of 60 kids in Elementary and Middle School, while Secondary School learning groups will have a maximum of 120 kids. There will also be self-directed learning support available if that is required.
Yukon Territory: As of August 10th, Yukon has two active cases of COVID-19 and is ready to start at-school learning. For K-12 students in rural areas, everyone will be returning to school full time. In urban areas such as Whitehorse, K-9 students will be returning to school full time, while high school students will only be returning for half-days five times per week. Resources for students with disabilities, learning delays or who need extra support will be continuing at schools full time. Wearing masks will be optional, and there will be support in place for those who choose to learn from home.
Alberta: As of August 9th, Alberta has 1,090 active cases, most of which are concentrated in the Calgary Area. Regardless, the provincial government has chosen to take the school year in full swing with students returning to full-time at-school learning. However, there have been some precautions taken; students in grades 4-12 are mandated to wear masks at school and on the bus and physical distance whenever possible. Parents, students, and staff must complete daily screenings before they enter the school building, and anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 must stay at home.
Saskatchewan: As of August 11th, Saskatchewan had 165 active cases. The plan for the return to school on September 1st is to follow the Level 1 out of 4 possible scenarios, which goes from full in-class learning with some small precautions, to Level four, where in-class learning is paused, and remote learning commences. Students and staff will be expected to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 and to self-isolate if they show any. There will also be adjustments to encourage physical distance and promote good hygiene. There will be resources in place for immunocompromised students.
Northwest Territories: As of August 11th, there were no active cases of COVID-19 in Northwest Territories. Schools will be set to open in September and will be providing full-time education for as long as it is safe to do so. Parents will be required to screen students for illness and keep them at home if they are sick. Students will also be required to wash their hands frequently, and physical distance. Drop-offs and pick-ups may be staggered, and emergency drills and recesses will be modified to promote physical distancing. Masks will be provided for students to wear whenever physical distancing is not possible. There will be a focus on extra mental health support for students, as well as resources for those who choose to learn from home.
Manitoba: As of August 11th, there are 194 active COVID-19 cases in Manitoba. However, unlike the previous provinces and territories, Manitobans have been in school since June 1st. K-8 students will be returning to school full time, while students in Grades 9-12 will only return full time if schools can properly enforce physical distancing and if there is sufficient hygiene and documentation of cases to prevent the spread of COVID. Students with special needs will also return to school full time. To prevent the spread parents must screen their children for symptoms every day, lunches and recesses will be staggered, and when physical distancing is not possible students must remain in groups that must distance from each other. Anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 must stay at home.
Nunavut: As of August 12, Nunavut still has zero cases of COVID-19. Unless otherwise stated by the Chief Public Health Officer of Nunavut, schools should be opening as scheduled. They will be reopening with few physical distancing requirements as they are still in stage one with no cases. Physical contact will be as limited as possible, masks will not be required unless specified, and school assemblies will not be taking place to limit contact between classes. If COVID-19 does reach Nunavut, there is a four-stage plan that will be put into effect depending on the risk of spread.
Ontario: As of August 12, Ontario has 40,289 cases of COVID-19. Ontario’s school reopening plan includes funding $309 million in investments to fund a safe back to school for everyone. These investments will fund up to 500 nurses to help schools and boards maintain health protocols, it will fund masks and protective gear, teaching positions, more school custodians and better cleaning supplies, protection for bus drivers and bus cleaning, extra support for special needs students, more health and safety training for school staff, and funding for tests. Students in grades four to twelve will be required to wear masks whenever indoors and time tables will be arranged so that students have less direct and indirect contact with students outside their classes. Classes will also be capped at 15 students to ensure a 50% capacity. And there will be daily self screenings, and students must stay at home if they have any symptoms.
Quebec: As of August 11, Quebec has 60,813 cases of COVID-19. The province has decided to create stable groups of up to six students who will not have to social distance. For kindergarten and elementary students, there will be a 1-meter physical distancing requirement with students outside of their stable groups, as well as mandatory masks in common areas for Elementary 5 and 6 students when they are near other stable groups or in hallways. For Secondary I, II, and III students, schedules will be made so that stable groups can be maintained. Physical distancing is also only mandatory with students of different stable groups, and students will remain in the same classroom for all classes. For Secondary IV and V students, if schedules cannot be rearranged to create stable groups, alternate learning programs will be implemented, which will be completed online and at home, and requires them to come to school every other day. In Secondary school, masks will be mandatory, outside of classrooms and around people of other stable groups.
New Brunswick: As of August 12, New Brunswick has 8 cases of COVID-19. New Brunswick students from kindergarten to grade 8 will go to school full time in groups of 15. Each group will enter the school together, socialize and take classes together, while social distancing from other groups. For grades 9 to 12, students will receive blended learning which would require them to go to school part-time and do online and guided work. Physical distancing will also be required for students in grades 9 to 12. For students without access to a computer, New Brunswick will be offering financial support.
Nova Scotia: As of August 12, Nova Scotia has zero active cases of COVID-19. Schools will reopen in September, with increased health and safety protocols, and classes will be treated as bubbles with increased spacing and less contact with other students. Food programs at schools will now deliver lunches to students, and large school gatherings will not be allowed. Lunch will also be at your own desk. High school students will be required to wear a mask if social distancing is not possible, but will not be mandatory in classes. Before school students will also be required to self-screen and will be sent home if they feel sick.
Newfoundland & Labrador: As of August, Newfoundland & Labrador have two active cases of COVID-19. Newfoundland & Labrador will likely go back to school full time unless the risk of COVID-19 increases. Each school district will be responsible for making spaces work with social distancing, and isolating students with symptoms. If class sizes are to be reduced, students in kindergarten to grade 6, special needs students, and children of essential workers will have priority.
Prince Edward Island: As of August 11, PEI has zero cases of COVID-19. Schools plan to reopen full time, and faculty will be trained to maintain health and safety protocols. PEI is encouraging parents to drive students to school, to reduce the number of students on buses. Breaks, drop off and pick up will be staggered to avoid overcrowding. Students will also be put into reduced classes and will work in bubbles.
Our Ideas on COVID-19 Prevention in Schools
We have some ideas on how the government should be protecting students and teachers during this global pandemic. There are many things we agree with for safety, but there is also a lot more we could be doing.
For example:
Keeping students in the same groups and classroom
This will not be perfect since high school students do not all take the same courses, but trying to put the same students in the same classes should help prevent the spread of COVID.
This will also mean teachers are switching classrooms rather than students to maintain social distancing.
Installing a plexiglass barrier between the students and the teacher
This to prevent the spreading of the virus between classes, and to keep teachers safe so they can continue working.
Staggered recess, pick-up, and drop-off
This is probably the easiest to do since classes using different exits can leave at the same time, and stable groups won’t have as much contact with each other.
Sources (British Columbia to Manitoba):
The Province, Scott Brown, Harrison Mooney “COVID-19 update for Aug. 11: Here’s the latest on coronavirus in B.C” Internet: https://theprovince.com/news/local-news/covid-19-update-for-aug-11-heres-the-latest-on-coronavirus-in-b-c/wcm/7dcaa525-a73a-408e-aec2-da2181bbf8b2 08/11/2020 [08/11/2020]
Government of British Columbia “Five Stages Framework for K-12 Education” Internet: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/covid-19-return-to-school/five-stages-framework 07/29/2020 [08/11/2020]
Government of Yukon “Case Counts: COVID-19” Internet: https://yukon.ca/en/case-counts-covid-19 08/11/2020 [08/11/2020]
Government of Yukon “Planning For The 2020-21 School Year” Internet: https://yukon.ca/en/health-and-wellness/covid-19-information/education-and-school-supports-covid-19/planning-2020-21#health-and-safety-in-schools 08/11/2020 [08/11/2020]
Government of Alberta “COVID-19 Alberta Statistics” Internet: https://www.alberta.ca/stats/covid-19-alberta-statistics.htm 08/10/2020 [08/11/2020]
Government of Alberta “Get The Facts: Back to School 2020-21 Internet: https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/da414fca-01d3-4578-bb34-51b58b4cf945/resource/35d087fd-071c-4929-ba54-f49f30d29e92/download/edc-covid-get-facts-back-to-class-for-2020-21-faq_v3.pdf 07/2020 [08/11/2020]
Government of Saskatchewan “Total Cases” Internet: https://dashboard.saskatchewan.ca/health-wellness/covid-19/cases 08/11/2020 [08/11/2020]
Government of Saskatchewan “Safe Schools Plan Released” Internet: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2020/august/04/safe-school-plan 08/04/2020 [08/11/2020]
Government of Northwest Territories “GNWT’s Response to COVID-19” Internet: https://www.gov.nt.ca/covid-19/ 08/11/2020 [08/11/2020]
Government of Northwest Territories “Information on JK-12 Schools” Internet: https://www.gov.nt.ca/covid-19/en/services/child-care-school-and-learning/information-jk-12-schools 07/03/2020 [08/11/2020]
Government of Manitoba “COVID-19: Current Situation” Internet: https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/index.html 08/11/2020 [08/11/2020]
Government of Manitoba “Welcoming Our Students Back: Restoring Safe Schools” Internet: https://manitoba.ca/asset_library/en/covid/k-12-reopeningplan-stage-2.pdf 07/30/2020 [08/11/2020]
Sources (Nunavut to PEI):
Hickies, G. (2020, August 12). Nunavut COVID-19 Case Update.
Joanasie, D. (2020, July 27). COVID-19 Department of Education Services update.
CBC News. (2020, July 23). Here's what parents and students need to know about
Nunavut's final school reopening plan.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nunavut-education-plan-covid-19-reopening-1.5660837
Government of Ontario. (2020, July 30). Guide to reopening Ontario’s schools.
Government of Ontario. (2020, January 25). How Ontario is responding to COVID-19.
Gouvernement du Québec. (2020, August 12). Situation of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
Gouvernement du Québec. (2020, August 12). Back-to-school plan for the Fall of 2020
Government of New Brunswick. (2020, August 12). Plan released for return to schools
in September 2020. https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/education/news/news_release.2020.06.0344.html
Government of New Brunswick. (2020, August 12). New Brunswick COVID-19
Government of Nova Scotia. (2020, August 12). COVID-19: case data in Nova Scotia
Lynk, A. (n.d.). Nova Scotia’s Back to School Plan Executive Summary.
Newfoundland and Labrador. (n.d.). Newfoundland and Labrador COVID-19 Pandemic
PEI Government. (2020, August 11). PEI COVID-19 Testing Data.
Bogart, N. (2020, August 12). Who heads back to class in September? A look at school
reopenings by province. https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/who-heads-back-to-class-in-september-a-look-at-school-reopenings-by-province-1.5042739
Written by Danica and Maria