Moose Jaw’s two school divisions are taking a different approach to mask use in elementary schools this year, with public students encouraged to wear masks and Catholic students forced to wear one.
Prairie South School Division initially said on Aug. 10 that all students and staff would not be required to mask, cohort or maintain physical distance, with this “normal return” applying to all students, including youths under age 12.
“If staff or students choose to wear a mask, we will certainly support that decision,” the division said.
In an update on Aug. 25, the division explained that it had revised its safe schools reopening plan. The organization “now strongly encouraged” all children under age 12, unvaccinated students and staff, and all visitors to wear a mask in all common areas such as school entrances, hallways, lunchrooms, washrooms, libraries and on buses.
Masks can be removed once students settle into their classrooms, while there are no masking recommendations for recess or outdoor classroom activities. All curricular and extracurricular activities, performing arts and clubs may also resume.
Meanwhile, the division “strongly recommended” all eligible staff and students take the vaccine, while in-school vaccine clinics will be supported.
“Prairie South Schools is a mask-friendly environment and therefore supports mask use by all students, staff and visitors,” the division said, adding it would continue to follow the Ministry of Health and community public health officials.
Holy Trinity Catholic School Division also said on Aug. 10 that a “normal return” would apply to all students, including youths under age 12. While masking, cohorts and physical distancing were not required, students and staff could wear a mask if they wanted and the division would support that.
In an update on Aug. 26, the Catholic division released a letter containing its 2021-22 return-to-school plan and new guidelines for masking.
The letter explained that the plan followed the guidance from local medical health officers, who used their in-depth knowledge of Swift Current, Moose Jaw and Shaunavon to help create the local return-to-school plans. The spread of the Delta variant also influenced the doctors’ evaluation of the current health risk assessment and their planning guide for this school year.
“Largely due to ineligibility, approximately 80 per cent of our elementary school students are not vaccinated. At the recommendation of our local medical health officers, masks will be required for all students, staff and visitors in elementary schools, unless individuals have a medical restriction,” the Catholic division said.
“We believe this is the most prudent step to maintain the general health of this vulnerable population and to minimize disruption to in-person learning. Students will not be required to wear masks outdoors.”
Public health wants 80 to 85 per cent of students ages 12 to 17 to be vaccinated. As of Aug. 20, that rate was 51.6 per cent in Swift Current, 53.4 per cent in Moose Jaw and 30.1 per cent in Shaunavon.
Masking will be required for indoor extracurricular activities for participants and non-participants at the elementary level, while spectators attending indoor high school extracurricular events will also be required to wear one.
All Holy Trinity staff will be required to wear a mask, while the division “strongly encourage(s)” all high school students to wear masks while indoors. All visitors to any Catholic high school will also be required to wear a mask.
Holy Trinity’s letter added that its high schools would return to the traditional two-semester schedule.
