Image Credit: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

BACK TO SCHOOL

SD73 parents, educators feeling mix of excitement and confidence as classes resume

Sep 7, 2021 | 4:40 PM

KAMLOOPS — Students and teachers around the Kamloops-Thompson District headed back to class this week with renewed pandemic safety plans, and renewed certainty about returning.

“Overall, there’s just a general confidence of the return back to school,” notes Kamloops School of the Arts Principal Blair Lloyd, “The staff this morning were trained on the communicable disease prevention plan and they will be again training the students this morning around prevention of COVID-19 in our schools. Overall, it’s been a very quiet return back – a much normal return back compared to last year.”

Familiar measures such as hand washing, contact tracing visitor sign-ins, and indoor masks are still in place. However, this year students will not be divided into cohorts, and secondary students have returned to four classes a day, rather than two.

And at Kamloops School of the Arts, Lloyd says bolts have been removed and lockers have been sanitized for student use.

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“Students are now allowed to use their lockers, Grade 4 to 12 are using masks, K to 3 students aren’t using the masks.” he explains, “We’re really excited about our extracurricular activities returning back to normal.”

The previous school year was a stressful time for plenty of parents. But knowing what to expect this September has allowed many to enjoy the traditionally exciting first day.

CFJC crews spoke with several parents waiting to pick up their children today from outside Lloyd George Elementary School.

“They’re very excited to go back to school and see their friends. Us as parents, we’re also excited as well,” notes one father, “We really like the school here and the teachers are great.”

One mother explained that her children were returning to the public school system to continue their French immersion education after a year at home.

“We actually took them out last year for homeschooling, so it is pretty much like starting over for them. So a little bit of excitement and a little bit of fear.”

While another mom said she was glad to see how teachers handled the first day back.

“There’s good protocols in place and they also made it still fun for the kids. So even though they’re masked and washing their hands all the time it’s still a safe elementary school for them.”

And for educators, Lloyd says the updated mask requirements and increased student immunizations have given them extra re-assurance from day one.

“We encourage all students 12 and up to get vaccinated, and from our understanding a lot of them have been.”