Delta parents are finding out more details about the school district’s voluntary plan to have students back in the classroom on a limited basis.
The provincial government had announced the resumption of in-class schooling by June 1 but details on how that would look until still had to be finalized.
Parents last week began receiving emails from their school principals on how the plan will roll out on a part-time basis in what’s a five-stage approach.
Currently, schools are in Stage 4, which means the majority of students are learning through online instruction.
On June 1, as part of B.C.’s Restart Plan, school districts will move to Stage 3.
According to a letter from Pinewood Elementary, each stage has school density targets to ensure the number of students in schools is manageable and maintains a healthy and safe environment.
For K-5, schools cannot exceed more than 50 per cent of their capacity.
Remote/online learning will continue however, it will be at a reduced level.
For Grades 6 to 12, schools cannot exceed more than 20 per cent of their capacity.
As a result, remote learning will remain the predominant model for the majority of those students.
At Pinewood, for example, the maximum number of students in attendance on any given day would be 149 compared with the 339 currently enrolled.
The number of students in any particular classroom or learning space may also vary.
Children of essential service workers, students with disabilities, diverse abilities and those who require additional support may receive in-class learning opportunities up to five days a week.
As far as the measures in schools, they include students having designated desks and needing to use their own supplies, while desks will be separated to maintain two metres physical distance.
Other measures include the flow of people in hallways and bathrooms being managed to minimize contact and maintain physical distance, staggered start and end times possibly being introduced, recess and lunch times may be changed to allow for physical distancing, while students will be prevented from gathering in hallways or other common areas.
Children will not be permitted to share food or personal items like phones, pens or pencils, while water fountains will be shut off.
Access to schools will be restricted to staff and students only and parents will be required to remain outside
Parents were also asked to complete a survey which includes whether they want their kids to take part in the in-class instruction.
Parents will know the schedule for their children by Friday, May 29.
