Catholic school division shifting four high schools to Level 3; COVID reported at two public schools

Four high schools in the Regina Catholic School Division are to move Thursday to Level 3 of the Saskatchewan government’s Safe Schools Plan.

Students at Michael A. Riffel, Archbishop M.C. O’Neill, Miller Comprehensive and Dr. Martin LeBoldus Catholic high schools are to shift to a hybrid model of learning, which alternates between in-person and remote instruction.

The move comes in the wake of Friday’s announcement by the government of new COVID-19 restrictions. One of the recommendations was for school divisions to move high schools with 600 or more students to Level 3, which would limit the amount of contact between students and staff.

High schools in the Regina public division moved to Level 3 last Thursday.

The four Catholic high schools followed their normal schedules Monday, with all students in attendance. The division said students will be dismissed at noon on Tuesday and again on Wednesday to allow for transition time.

Then, starting Thursday, classes will be delivered via a mix of in-person and remote learning. That will continue until Dec. 18, the last day of classes before the Christmas break.

The plan will be re-evaluated before January, the division said.

Meanwhile, the Prairie Valley School Division announced Balgonie’s Greenall High School will move to Level 3 on Tuesday.

Students will be split into two cohorts and will alternate between attending school and working at home.

Cases identified at Walker, Plainsview schools

Regina Public Schools reported Monday a case of COVID-19 had been identified in an individual at Walker School.

That announcement came two days after the division said there had been a case at Plainsview School.

The division didn’t say if the cases involved students or staff of the schools.

Close contacts of both cases were telephoned and given information on how long they should self-isolate.

The affected classroom at each school is to be closed until Friday, with students in those rooms to return to school on Nov. 23. Both schools remained open.