Students across Greater Victoria headed back to class this week as surging numbers of COVID-19 cases threaten to send them back to the security of at-home learning.
The Sooke, Saanich and Greater Victoria school districts welcomed back all students on Jan. 10 following a delayed full return after the Christmas break due to the Omicron variantB次元官网网址檚 spread. The return to class came alongside news of 1,249 new cases in Island Health over the three-day period ending Jan. 10.
Last week, district staff were planning for the B次元官网网址渃ontinuity of learning and reinforcing health and safety measures to provide a safe return for all K-12 students on Monday,B次元官网网址� Deb Whitten, SD61 interim superintendent said in a statement. B次元官网网址淭ogether we are implementing new protocols and preparing for challenges that the Omicron variant may present, including the possibility of school closure.B次元官网网址�
Two B.C. schools stopped in-person classes just two days after most students returned to classrooms following an extended holiday break. The surging COVID-19 Omicron variant prompted the schools, in Hazelton and Surrey, to decide to enter B次元官网网址渇unctional closure.B次元官网网址�
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Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said this weekB次元官网网址檚 full return to in-person classes was positive for students, who benefit emotionally, socially and intellectually in school environments.
B次元官网网址淭hese are the best places for children to be,B次元官网网址� she said Tuesday, acknowledging many people were feeling B次元官网网址渁 lot of anxietyB次元官网网址� about the return to classrooms. B次元官网网址淚t will be bumpy over the next few weeks as we get through this wave.B次元官网网址�
Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside said the ministry will monitor student attendance levels over the coming days, as well as keep watch on numbers for teachers and staff while schools face the challenges of the Omicron variant.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have firm (attendance) numbers yet,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e have some anecdotal reporting in from different parts of the province that indicates there is indeed a somewhat lower attendance than what would be normal for the week, but nothing dramatic and nothing firm yet.B次元官网网址�
Stephanie Higginson, the B.C. School Trustees Association president, said Monday there were higher-than-normal rates of student absences at some Interior schools following the holiday break.
Whiteside said the safe-return plans also include provisions for B次元官网网址渢he potential need for short-term transitions to home-based learning.B次元官网网址�
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B次元官网网址� With files from Canadian Press
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