School divisions see some classes return to remote learning due to COVID

COVID-19 numbers continue to rise in Saskatchewan and the numbers have moved some students back to online learning temporarily.

In-class learning has been largely uninterrupted in the province, but outbreaks and close contacts have resulted in some disruptions to regular school schedules since in-person classes resumed for students on Sept. 1.

In Regina, no such disruptions have occurred within the Regina Catholic School Division (RCSD), according to media spokesperson Twylla West.

“Students who are close contacts and isolating are supported by their regular teacher(s) just as they would if they were away with an illness or another excused reason,” West said in an email. “We have not moved full classrooms onto level 4 or remote learning yet this year.”

No RCSD students have been moved to isolation due to being a close contact, she added.

Regina Public Schools (RPS) has seen three of its 54 schools affected with transitions back to remote learning since the school year resumed.

Three classrooms in three different schools, as well as kindergarten through Grade 4/5 classes at a fourth, have been moved back online temporarily at this time, RPS communications supervisor Terry Lazarou said in an email.

One classroom with Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools (GSCS) has also transitioned to remote learning. Derrick Kunz, GSCS communications consultant, said that decision was “made out of an abundance of caution after more than one case was identified in the class and absence rates were higher than normal.”

Saskatoon Public Schools (SPS) communications and marketing manager Veronica Baker said one classroom in the division has been moved to online learning after an outbreak was declared at Fairhaven School late last week.

When a classroom is moved online because of an exposure, students are able to continue learning together with their classroom teacher — albeit remotely — through an online platform, virtual sessions or work sent home to families, Baker explained.

She said individual students who have to miss in-person classes for a COVID-related reason can work with their teacher to catch up to the rest of the class in the same way they would with a normal absence or illness.

Since the beginning of the school year, SPS has seen 92 positive COVID-19 cases at 37 locations in the division. The largest school division in the province, SPS has more than 60 schools and 26,000 students.

Kunz confirmed there hasn’t been any increase to permanent online learning as a result of growing COVID numbers in the province. Baker said enrolment numbers for SPS schools, both in-person and online, have not been confirmed yet.