School year expected to be ‘almost normal,’ says Strang

Masks will be mandatory in classrooms until the province enters Phase 5

HALIFAXtoday \  Meghan Groff

After two difficult years in the classroom for students, teachers and school staff dealing with COVID-19, the province’s chief medical officer of health says a less stressful school year is on the horizon.

“This year should be easier,” stated Dr. Robert Strang at a Monday briefing. “The school routine will look almost normal.”

“The back-to-school plan sees a return to all school activities, like sports, band, music, food programs and clubs,” he added. “Visitors will be allowed into schools following core public health measures, and school gyms will be open to community use after-hours.”

He said when there is a case connected to a school, contact tracing will take place, but it’s expected the school will remain open.

“If there are rising case numbers in a school or community, then we’ll act quickly to put measures in place in that school or in that community to control things, but our goal will continue to be to keep schools operating and open as normally as possible,” Strang explained.

Masks will continue to be mandatory at the start of the school year, but will become voluntary once the province moves into Phase 5, when most COVID-19 restrictions are expected to be lifted.

“They can be removed when the person is eating and drinking, participating in physical activity, and for breaks where people are physically distanced,” said the province in a news release.

Phase 5 requires 75 per cent of the overall population to be fully vaccinated, along with low COVID activity.

It had been hoped we could reach that target before the start of the school year, but now the province is aiming to achieve that goal by September 15.

“If we hit the target sooner, we’ll work with public health to change the date accordingly,” said Premier-designate Tim Houston.

The province says students, families and staff can expect the following when school resumes:

• full in-class learning with the associated academic, social and emotional supports
• continued use of outdoor learning, small-group instruction, and enhanced use of technology
• full resumption of music classes, band, sports, use of cafeterias, lockers and cubbies, extra-curricular activities and community use of gyms, following core public health measures
• ongoing inspections and maintenance of school ventilation systems
• school counsellors, SchoolsPlus staff, and others will continue to provide timely and appropriate mental health supports to students
• schools will create supportive environments for those who choose to wear a mask once the province enters Phase 5
• non-essential visitors will be permitted (following all safety protocols), although virtual meetings and visits are still encouraged
• parents and guardians of pre-primary and Primary students will be able to visit schools on their child’s first day

On Monday, Houston and Strang also announced any travellers coming from New Brunswick that are not fully vaccinated will once again have to self-isolate.