Schools in Moose Jaw, Caronport moving to remote learning

Two Moose Jaw-based school divisions are moving schools to online learning.

In a letter sent to parents Friday, the Prairie South School Division said it met with public health officials to discuss the recent emergence of COVID-19 variants of concern in Moose Jaw.

“Although we continue to have no confirmed school level transmission, we have had more positive cases in schools over the last two days than we had for the 38 days prior to that,” the division said in the letter.

“As a result of this increase in COVID activity, all schools in Moose Jaw and Caronport Elementary School will be moving to a remote learning model beginning Monday, March 29th. School will resume in person on April 12th for all students.”

The Holy Trinity Catholic School Division said there haven’t been any reported cases of transmission in its schools in recent weeks, but noted “the rapid increase in COVID cases in the community is cause for great concern.”

As a result, all of Holy Trinity’s schools in Moose Jaw are to shift to remote learning from Tuesday through Thursday of next week. There are no classes scheduled for Monday or Friday.

The Prairie Valley School Division made a similar decision Wednesday, while Regina Public Schools and the Regina Catholic School Division announced plans March 19 to transition to remote learning.

Regina’s public high schools moved to online instruction Wednesday. Public elementary schools and all of the Catholic division’s schools are to move to remote learning Monday.

Thirteen Regina schools reported COVID cases Thursday and Friday, increasing the number of cases since Sunday to 60 at 39 institutions in the city.

Three of the latest cases were reported at St. Timothy School, but the Catholic school division said they’re separate cases and don’t suggest transmission in the school.

The other cases were reported at St. Catherine Community School, Miller Comprehensive Catholic High School, Arcola Community School, Martin Collegiate, Ruth M. Buck School, The Crescents School, Thomson Community School, Winston Knoll Collegiate,Balfour Collegiate, Michael A. Riffel Catholic High School, Ecole Connaught Community School and Walker School.