Regina schools poised to return to in-person learning

Schools in Regina’s two largest school divisions will welcome students back inside classrooms shortly.

Regina Public Schools and the Regina Catholic School Division announced Monday in-class learning will resume next Monday.

In a release, the public division said the decision comes after recommendations from Regina medical health officers that indicated data shows a large reduction in new COVID-19 infections in elementary and high school-aged students.

High school students have been learning remotely since March 24. Elementary students started doing the same March 29.

“The recommendations of local and provincial medical experts guided our decisions and the number of cases of COVID-19 related to schools was significantly reduced. Regina medical health officers now support a return to in-class learning. We will continue to follow their guidance,” Greg Enion, the division’s director of education, said in a news release.

“But we will stay vigilant when it comes to in-school safety protocols, including mask use, physical distancing and ongoing sanitization. Additionally, with the warmer weather, school staff and students will take the opportunity to spend more time outdoors in the sun and fresh air. These outdoor learning and recreation activities will complement the enhanced ventilation we installed at all of our schools and buildings.”

Regina Public Schools will also take advantage of rapid testing kits supplied by the province.

As well, teachers are soon to be eligible to make appointments for vaccinations as a prioritized group. That too was a factor in the division’s decision.

“Teamed with more employees and school families having already received their first vaccination, based on age-based distribution, our hope is that this prioritization will result in fewer adults at risk for severe COVID-19 symptoms and hospitalization,” Enion said in the release.

The division says more information will be shared with parents and students.

The Regina Catholic School Division said “with the knowledge that cases in Regina are on the downward trend,” it will move to Level 2 (face-to-face instruction with masks) in elementary schools and Level 3 (hybrid learning) in its large high schools on Monday.

“In anticipation of additional protection for our schools, we are expecting to receive information from the Ministry of Education on both administration of rapid testing and vaccinations for educational staff,” the division said in a release. “Additionally, medical grade children’s masks were delivered to our schools this week.

“We remind families that a successful return to the physical classroom is dependent on the co-operation of students and families to closely follow all COVID safety measures in the community and at home.”