RULES, RULES AND MORE RULES
As educators prepare for the upcoming return to class, one thing is clear — students will have to contend with a slew of new dos and don’ts
Principal Michael Kovacs of St. John XXIII K-9 school speaks with reporters Friday about what life will be like for students when classes resume under COVID-19 protocols. Students will require “retraining” to adjust to the many new routines, Kovacs said.
When Edmonton K-12 students walk into classrooms next week, new rules will guide every step they take as schools try to manage the risk of transmitting COVID -19 without extra space to physically distance.
Students will sit through more hours of safety orientation than ever before. They won’t have the convenience of lockers, because as potentially risky high-touch surfaces, lockers are now zip-tied or clipped shut.
Kids will take their lunch breaks in the classroom or outside. Cafeteria and vending machine options are off the table, and chairs in common areas have been removed or partially taped off-limits.
Everywhere signposts direct students where to walk, where to wait in line, and where they cannot sit.
The responsibility of slowing COVID-19 transmissions ultimately falls on students and staff.
Edmonton Public Schools chairwoman Trisha Estabrooks told reporters Friday staff have worked really hard to put in the best plan possible in a “really difficult and challenging scenario,” but the growing district needs more funding to strengthen the province’s plan.
“We need the additional funding in place so we can hire additional teachers so we can spend the additional money that we know we’re going to need to spend when — it’s not if, it’s when — we have an outbreak in our school,” said Estabrooks.
Bryan Radmanovich, principal at Lillian Osborne Public High School, said he is confident in the division’s strategy.
“We’re trying to impress upon our school community that each and every one of us has a responsibility not only to ourselves but to others in the building,” he said when asked by reporters on a tour of the school if he is confident students will be able to follow the strict guidelines.
St. John XXIII Catholic K-9 School principal Michael Kovacs said the school has always been focused on instilling classroom protocols.
“It’s just heightened now with the pandemic,” Kovacs told reporters. For example, junior high students without the benefit of lockers will need “retraining” to take on the responsibility of bringing everything they need, everywhere they go, in their backpacks.
For kindergarten students joining teacher Carrie Mcpherson at St. John XXIII, visual reminders to distance are on the floors and tabletops, tools and toys will be washed every day, and carpets have been removed.
Mcpherson said a kindergarten classroom is always focused on drilling expectations over and over again, so this year’s COVID -19 protocols will need the same constant review.
“I think they’ll get it after we’ve practised it a bit,” she said.
Education Minister Adriana Lagrange also toured St. John XXIII
Friday, but media were not invited to join her. Lagrange’s press secretary Colin Aitchison said in an emailed statement she appreciated the visit.
“It is clear that the school division has taken steps to create a safe school re-entry environment for their staff and students,” he said.
Friday morning, about 10 demonstrators were outside the school with signs calling for more provincial support for safe classrooms.
Without a cap on class sizes or additional space to physically distance, teachers trying to adhere to public health guidelines have had to get creative.
St. John XXIII band teacher Julie Scott fashioned a foot pedal-triggered hand sanitizer station out of a drum kit hi-hat, and has a plan to clean the room regularly and distribute cleaning cloths to every student to sanitize everything before every class.
“It’s going to be different, but it’s going to be fun,” said Scott. Her classroom, outfitted with 31 drums and potentially 31 students, is going to be very tight, she said.
“I wish we could expand the walls. It is concerning, and everyone has a similar concern,” said Scott.
Kids at St. John XXIII will be co-ordinated in groups that alternate to go to the bathroom for hand-washing, or scheduled separately to go outside for lunch or recess. Some classes will spread out into spaces like the library.
While Edmonton Catholic has not yet calculated its final online and in-person enrolment — the deadline for families to choose was Friday — Kovacs said all of his staff are coming back to work.
Edmonton Public Schools said about 70 per cent of their students will to return to classrooms, with about 30 per cent opting for online learning during the first quarter.
Radmanovich is expecting about 1,500 of the school’s estimated 2,000 students to come to class at Lillian Osborne, which means teachers assigned to online learning will be diverted from the classroom.
Not only will some classes be held in the library, but they’ll also be held in the school’s 310-seat theatre. Students will enter and exit through doors designated according to their first morning class.
Custodial staff have been redeployed from night shift to day shift to clean high-touch surface areas.
I wish we could expand the walls. It is concerning, and everyone has a similar concern.