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By Dylana Kneeshaw

BACK TO SCHOOL

With updated COVID safety plans, School District 73 gears up for potential enrolment increase

Sep 3, 2021 | 4:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Leading up to the first day of school next Tuesday (Sept. 7), the Kamloops-Thompson School District says it’s bracing for an enrolment increase. Along with new students, the district will be implementing some new updates to COVID-19 safety plans.

With a year of pandemic operations under the district’s belt, School District 73 Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon feels confident about the return to classes next week.

“I think it’ll be a really good start-up, and more near-normal than we might have thought.”

Most of the existing safety plans will stay in effect — frequent hand washing, daily health checks and visitor sign-ins for contact tracing. But unlike last year, Nixon says this school year will see many immunized students coming back.

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“We know that of course the percentages change daily but what we do know is the majority of our students are coming in — from 12 years plus — vaccinated.”

Cohorts will not longer be in place, however students in Grades 4 and up will have to wear masks indoors while younger children are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings.

“We also want to emphasize that we recognize that positive health also relates to mental health and so we are embracing extracurricular activities and field trips and of course we do this within the guidelines,” said Nixon.

The district has been averaging well over 14,000 students for several years, and is gearing up for another enrolment increase.

“Our district is a growing district as you well know. Pushing up towards 15,000 (students) and over is what we expect, we have ten additional portables waiting in case we do have additional students in our schools, and that’s from K to 12.”

It’ll be another year before school expansions are open, or catchment areas are adjusted to ease the student population, but the district says its ready for whatever comes its way on September 7.

“As you well know, we’ve been in the news for being a growing district and this isn’t going to change this year, and we’re excited about that. It’s better to be growing than not,” Nixon said. “So yeah, we’re ready.”

All elementary and secondary school will open at 10:30 a.m on Tuesday, with some exceptions for kindergarten students and others. For more information on start times, bus schedules, and safety protocols, families are encouraged to check the district website.