Catholic schools in Saskatoon will require masks in elementary schools, on buses; self-screening

Students will be back in the classroom Sept. 1 and at Catholic schools in Saskatoon, mandates — like masks for all elementary students and on buses — continue to ring true.

Much like the plans released by Saskatoon Public Schools, the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools (GSCS) division shared its intentions for schools reopening next week in a plan released late Monday afternoon.

Schools in the GSCS division will reopen at a level 2 response level — full in-class learning with additional protocols like masks, some cohorts and limited access to buildings. In their plan, the division said the decision to begin the school year at this level was decided in conjunction with local medical health officials.

According to a statement attributed to medical health officers in the plan, the “relatively low level of in-school transmission” last school year in Saskatoon “may indicate that the control measures in schools worked to limit viral transmission.” They said this indicates positive results due to masking, physical distancing and enhanced hygiene.

Masks are mandated in Saskatoon Catholic elementary schools for all students, staff and visitors, though staff will be allowed to remove their masks to enhance learning for students, provided a two-metre distance is maintained.

Self-screening will be required for all students, staff and visitors prior to entering a GSCS facility and students who are sick are encouraged to stay home until they are symptom-free. A health screening questionnaire was included in the plan for students, staff and visitors to conduct health screening before entering a facility.

Families can elect, however, to enroll their children in sole online education before Aug. 30, 2021. A second block from January to June 2021 will be made available for those who register before the Christmas break.

In high schools, masks are strongly recommended for staff, students and visitors, especially in common areas. High school students, who are eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations, are encouraged to do so, as the plan states that vaccinations have “been proven to be the most effective layer of protection.”

The use of masks in schools will be re-evaluated in Oct. 2021.

Rapid tests are not available for students at this time at GSCS facilities but these will be available to staff. Staff are “encouraged to avail themselves of all Ministry of Health recommended vaccinations” as part of doing their job to “assume the shared responsibility of assisting one another in maintaining healthy and safe workplaces and learning environments.”

The division is leaving the decision on cohorts up to the schools. Their plan states that “strict student cohorts are not necessary” but do indicate that large group gatherings will be limited. The intermingling of classes and subsequent student interactions are to be noted by teachers for contact tracing.

Staggered start and end times for classes, as well as breaks, are “no longer necessary” according to the plan.

In terms of extracurriculars, sports and fitness activities will resume normally. Dance, band, choir and drama, too, will resume but with appropriate personal protective equipment, according to the plan. Other extracurricular activities and field trips will resume as normal, as well as presentations from external groups and organizations and other meetings and religious gatherings.

Hand sanitizer will be available in every classroom and materials can be shared as long as good hand hygiene is being practiced. Water fountains will be out of service and only water filling stations will be used.

Plexiglass dividers “are not required.” Ventilation will be managed by HVAC and airflow systems to maximize fresh air in classrooms. Opening windows when possible will also help with fresh air.

Buses can operate at full capacity, but masks and seating plans are required. Regular sanitization will continue and bus windows will be opened for increased ventilation when the weather allows.

The GSCS division said strategies will be in place to provide additional precautions for students with additional needs, like those who are immunocompromised. Mental health is promised to be a focus.

Guidance on the school plan will continue to be monitored by medical health officers.