Students in Nanaimo and Ladysmith, along with primary and secondary students across B.C. have a firm timeline on their return to class. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

BACK TO SCHOOL

Students returning to class Sept. 10, teachers provided additional prep time

Aug 12, 2020 | 11:09 AM

NANAIMO — After months of uncertainty about when and how classes would resume, students, parents and teachers now have a firm timeline.

Education minister Rob Fleming announced Wednesday students would return to class by Thursday, Sept. 10 as opposed to Sept. 8.

The pushed back school re-start date allows for orientation sessions to allow staff time to identify how updated health guidelines will work in individual schools, a statement from the education ministry said.

Students will be assigned to their learning groups upon their return to work through new routines and develop new habits under a COVID-19 learning era.

“Schools are going to look different in September,” Fleming said in a news release. “Staff, students and parents need time to get familiar with all the new health and safety procedures that are designed to keep them safe and confident in their school settings.”

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Earlier this week, Fleming informally announced students would not return to class on Sept. 8 as originally anticipated.

He indicated more time would be needed for staff to ready schools and their procedures to welcome students.

Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public School (NLPS) staff continue developing their return plan, which must be submitted to the ministry by Aug. 26.

During an online media conference in July, superintendent Scott Saywell said secondary schools in particular are proving a series of logistical challenges.

“We have students who because of their timetables are all over the place, so cohorting students is going to be the big issue for us.”

The district is also looking at redistributing some students to balance out the number of children at each school. Both NDSS and Dover Secondary are close to the 1,500 student limit outlined by the province.

In July, school district staff said they anticipated nearly all students would return to in-class learning, with special consideration made for students with health complications.

— with files from Ian Holmes

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