Students in Moose Jaw and Caronport in both the Prairie South School Division (PSSD) and Holy Trinity Catholic School Division (HTCSD) will return to the classroom on Monday, April 12.
The exception is Cornerstone Christian School, which will not return to the classroom before April 21 due to a high number of cases connected to the school in recent weeks. Cornerstone said the decision to remain remote has been made with approval from the school’s board and PSSD.
“Teachers, staff, students and their family members have been ill or are ill with symptoms ranging from mild to very serious. A significant number of teachers and students must continue to self isolate until April 20 because of positive cases in their homes,” said Cornerstone's principal Scott Robertson, in a statement letter.
According to letters posted to both school divisions' social media feeds, students and teachers will return to in-person learning as originally planned, despite previous warnings that remote learning could be extended.
The school divisions made this decision in consultation with medical health officers. Despite the rise in variant cases, public health officials advised that "the profile of transmission is different here than in Regina" and the situations should be looked at differently.
Available medical data is showing that transmission in Moose Jaw and area is largely happening in household and public spaces, and public health has determined that the safety precautions in place in schools will be enough to mitigate risk.
Both divisions indicated they will continue to monitor the situation and will re-assess, if necessary.
Public health declared a COVID-19 outbreak connected to Cornerstone on March 21, after several cases were linked to the school, and classrooms moved to remote learning on Mach 24. Prairie South and Holy Trinity moved the remainder of schools in Moose Jaw to remote learning on March 26.
