Palliser School Division sets school re-entry plan

The Palliser School Division has submitted their re-entry plan for the upcoming school year.

The local division has provided information to all parents and students who will be attending this coming school year.

“The safety of our students and staff remains our foremost concern. We recognize our plan must be flexible, and we remain responsive to the direction and guidance of Alberta Education and Alberta Health,” said Dave Driscoll, superintendent of the Palliser School Division.

Schools will continue protocols to reduce crowding and support physical distancing between all students and staff in areas where masks are not used. Immunizations will be available through temporary clinics in schools for students in Grades 7 to 12 — as well as teachers and staff, starting Sept. 7 until Oct. 15.

Alberta Health Services no longer identifies or follows-up with individual close contacts, and quarantine for close contacts is no longer mandatory for Alberta schools.

As part of the re-entry plan, Palliser says it is committed to providing mental health supports to students and families, recognizing mental health and well-being are tied to academic and personal success.

“We see some challenges ahead, but we also see some great opportunities. Many of our schools learned some great lessons on how we can do stuff differently from being in the COVID state and carrying those things into this (school) year and looking forward to a great year,” said Driscoll.