Regina school divisions release more details on back-to-school plans

Regina’s two largest school divisions have released more details as students prepare to return to school.

Regina Public Schools initially issued its back-to-school plan Aug. 14, but some of its ideas were outdated as soon as Premier Scott Moe announced changes to the province’s Safe Schools Plan on Saturday.

On Friday, Regina Public Schools put out its most-recent plan.

The division will stagger its start dates in the first week of school, with students with last names in the first half of the alphabet attending on Sept. 8 and Sept. 10 and those with last names beginning with letters in the last half of the alphabet to attend on Sept. 9 and Sept. 11.

Daily classes are to begin Sept. 14.

Elementary schools will have recesses before the school day begins (8:53 to 9:08 a.m.) and after it ends (3:22 to 3:37 p.m.). High schools will have a modified timetable in hopes of limiting student contact to a maximum of two cohorts per day (down from five or more).

All students in grades 4 to 12 will have to wear non-medical masks at school when physical distancing isn’t possible. The division suggests students from pre-kindergarten to Grade 3 do the same.

Staff and school visitors also will have to wear masks, as will everyone who uses Regina Public Schools transportation while they’re in those vehicles.

The division said students can bring their own masks to school as long as they meet federal standards. Scarves, buffs or face shields aren’t considered suitable replacements for masks.

The plan said Regina Public Schools had yet to determine if extra-curricular activities would be permitted; it has further discussions planned on that topic.

The division’s plan can be found below.

The Regina Catholic School Division, meanwhile, also is planning changes to its strategy. Like the public division, the Catholic division will provide information to families by next Wednesday.

The city’s four Catholic high schools will be using what the division called “block scheduling.” It’s designed to limit the number of classes each student has during a day, limit the student’s movement in the school, and minimize their contact with teachers and other students.

There also will be staggered lunch hours and staggered breaks.

Orientation is set for Sept. 8 and Sept. 9, but who will attend when is to be determined alphabetically by last name.

Those two days are to use an alternate day schedule, while Sept. 10 and Sept. 11 will be full-day instruction with half the school population in class. The division said that will allow school officials to “assess and address any potential concerns regarding ingress, egress and bell schedules.”

School is to start full time on Sept. 14.

Elementary schools in the Catholic division are to open Sept. 8 with a staggered start, as students are to be divided alphabetically to reduce the number in the classrooms.

Children with last names starting with the letters A to K are to attend Sept. 8 and Sept. 10, while students with last names starting with the letters L to Z are to go to school Sept. 9 and Sept. 11.

Classes are to begin Sept. 14.

The division said schools will contact families with children in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten with more details.