A letter from Prairie South School Division (PSSD) officials is warning parents that an extension on the current remote learning model may occur following Easter Break, as public health remains concerned about COVID-19 variants.
Prairie South schools in Moose Jaw and Caronport moved to remote learning on March 26, with the goal of returning to in-person learning on April 12.
Director of education Tony Baldwin and board chair Robert Bachmann are now warning parents that the return to classrooms will be contingent on active case concerns in Moose Jaw.
“While we hope to be back to in-person learning as described, we believe it may be wise for parents to consider that an extension of remote learning may be required,” said the letter, shared to PSSD’s social media.
The warning follows announcements from several Regina school districts, who will be extending remote learning in their schools for two weeks after Easter Break due to variant case concerns in their areas.
The letter from PSSD cites a desire to keep parents informed and to provide advanced notice to parents so they can make arrangements for their children, but does not offer an official announcement of an extension as public health has not yet made the recommendation.
Holy Trinity Catholic School Division also released a letter of announcement on social media, addressing their plans for remote learning following the Easter break. Holy Trinity schools in Moose Jaw also moved to a remote learning model on March 26.
Director of education Sean Chase said that Holy Trinity has not yet received advice from medical health officers to extend remote learning, and the “intent remains to return to school on April 12 for face-to-face instruction.”
Both Holy Trinity and PSSD are in continuous conversation with local public health officers, and officials will be having meetings with public health over the Easter break to continue discussing the situation.
In the meantime, parents are urged to follow all safety measures outline by public health to reduce COVID-19 transmission over the break.
