LCSD schools trying to run as normally as possible with new COVID-19 restrictions

Schools across the province are having to adapt to the new COVID-19 regulations, and despite the changes, Lakeland Catholic School District’s (LCSD) Deputy Superintendent, Pamela Guilbault, says that school staff and administration across the division are working hard so students’ lives won’t look that much different.

The recent, more stringent changes have not impacted the overall school curriculum, and students from Kindergarten to Grade 7 are still attending school in-person. And while that does allows for some stability, district officials realize that any changes to routine can generate stresses. Guilbault says officials are putting added focus on the mental health of the children as they are trying to learn through the added stress of a pandemic.

“In order for students to learn they need to be well, ...  it’s number one. So whether students are learning online or are at school, we have to tend to that first,” said Guilbault. “We want our students to be achieving to the best of their ability through the goals of literacy, numeracy, and health and wellness, and making sure that they are socially and emotionally well.”

Changes

While the mental aspect of wellness is at the forefront, physical factors of the pandemic are being addressed as well. Along with the regular cleaning measures that have been put in place, schools have thought of other ways to ensure there is less of a chance for the virus to spread. LCSD has implemented policies where schools are not allowing for microwave use so that multiple people are not touching the same surface, this means that students are required to bring lunches that don’t need to be heated up. Library books now are put away for 72 hours between each use so that there is less of a chance for contamination, and the use any wind instruments during music class is now restricted.

Clean record

So far this school year, there has been COVID-19 cases in LCSD schools, but Joe Arruda, the district’s superintendent, says none of the cases have originated from within the school because of the extensive safety protocols and cleaning measures in place.

“Every single case happened through community transmission, so we’ve been proactive and when we find out that someone has a case we don’t wait for Alberta Health to call us we immediately isolate students, we clean up the classroom, and send letters home to parents,” said Arruda.

Like other Alberta Schools in the public and Catholic divisions, students currently in Lakeland Catholic schools will stay in classes until the start of the Christmas break on December 18. Classes for all Alberta-funded schools will begin again on January 4 with a week of virtual online learning for all students. Plans currently see all students returning to in-class instruction on January 11.

In the latest round of provincial measures — which included an Alberta-wide protective mask mandate as well as further restrictions on gathering sizes, church events and business occupancy — Alberta schools were not given further restrictions.