By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—Students from kindergarten to Grade 12 returned to school this week, following an extra snow-related day off on Monday. Along with that return came stricter measures to keep transmission of COVID low, while in-school vaccine clinics are planned for the 5-11 age range.
“We are looking forward to welcoming students back to in-person learning,” said JoAnna Roberto, Director of Education at Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB). “Our principals, vice-principals, educators, and staff will be working together with families to support building a culture of learning, wellbeing, and belonging in as safe an environment as possible.”
“I fully understand that the past couple of weeks, and throughout the pandemic, things have been difficult for our children,” said Rick Petrella, Chair of the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB). “Having said that, I know our children are resilient and they are all excited to return to the daily in-person interactions with their classmates and teachers who are vital for their educational and mental wellbeing.”
Below is a look at the enhanced measures now in place.
RAPID TESTS
“We have received our shipments and are currently preparing them for distribution to staff,” explained Mike McDonald, Director of Education and Secretary at BHNCDSB, ahead of the return. “All in-person school staff and elementary students will receive two tests and secondary students will be receiving two in the near future as shipments arrive.”
Based on the new provincial guidance, a classroom cohort is not considered a high-risk contact any longer due to the preventive and protective measures in place.
“If a student in your child’s cohort tests positive or has symptoms, you should continue to monitor your child for symptoms every day. The new provincial guidance indicates that your child can continue to attend school if they do not have any symptoms,” said guidelines posted to the GEDSB website.
The site also mentions that the Province has directed all boards to report when an absence threshold of 30% is reached: “We will be posting statistics on absences based on illness daily on our COVID page to help keep parents informed.”
ENHANCED VENTILATION
Both GEDSB and BHNCDSB were sent additional HEPA filters prior to the re-opening. Petrella said that all BHNCDSB JK and SK classrooms in the region are fitted with a HEPA filter, in some cases more than one.
“We regularly maintain and make improvements to our existing system in order to ensure our schools and sites operate safe and efficiently,” said McDonald. “Our integrated building automation systems allows the Board to quickly implement adjustments and improvements to systems district wide. This summer we had major projects taking place at a number of schools.”
GEDSB is in possession of an extra 45 HEPA filters: “Our schools were already in compliance with ventilation requirements following the first round of installations over the summer and fall, and these additional units are being deployed to self-contained classes and areas of higher occupancy.”
MASKING
The Provincial government is supplying all school staff members in the province with one N95 surgical mask per day, while students continue to have access to a steady supply of three-ply cloth face masks. Masking is required for all students.
STRICTER SCREENING PROCESS
GEDSB plans on sending daily reminders to families each morning with a link to the screening tool to “reinforce the importance of this step to protect everyone’s health and safety. We will include a confirmation process with these reminders.”
Additionally, GEDSB staff must provide online confirmation of passing the screening and secondary students will receive a link through their school email accounts to complete the screening.
“Currently, all secondary students confirm that they have passed the self-screening to their teacher at the beginning of their first class,” said McDonald, noting that Grade 7 and 8 students are also required to relay this information, while parents of kindergarten to Grade 6 students will provide the confirmation to their child’s teacher.
ENHANCED COHORTING PROTOCOLS
In addition to in-school cohorting, elementary students will now be required to cohort during recess and outdoor breaks as well in order to further limit contacts.
“Schools will continue organizing students in the best manner possible to promote physical distancing and all staff and students will continue to wear PPE,” said McDonald.
Essential visitors to schools, such as food programs and parents picking up children, will continue to be allowed, but the doors are closed to all non-essential visitors.
SCHOOL-BASED CLINICS
“We are currently working with both of our public health units to facilitate these clinics…. At this point we have not determined the locations or times of any of the clinics,” McDonald explained.
The school-based clinics will be smaller, slower-paced clinics focused on reaching the 5-11 population. The Ontario Ministries of Education and Health have requested that health units organize the clinics.
Joanna Cornish, Communications Officer for the Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit (HNHU) explained that HNHU covers “a large and rural district, making a clinic at every school virtually impossible. Instead, HNHU is working with the school boards to share a survey with parents to collect information about the schools with the most interested families to offer vaccinations in those areas first.”
She noted that where two schools exist in small communities, one would likely be chosen to host students from both schools: “HNHU aims to work collaboratively with both boards, using a single school as an option to service both the public and Catholic boards simultaneously.”
She noted that HNHU will never vaccinate a child aged 5-11 without the signed consent of their parent or guardian.
