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The school year starts up next week after the Labour Day long weekend.
This won’t be a normal year, from mask mandates to extra cleaning protocols, and social distancing when possible, COVID has made things tough.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what you need to know heading into the school year in regards to wearing masks.
Where are masks required?
Masks are mandatory in schools for students in Grades 4 to 12, as well as for staff and visitors when physical distancing of two metres isn’t possible.
The province has also made masks mandatory for everyone on school buses.
In the situation of a grade 3/4 split class, all students in the class should wear masks.
Masks are optional for students in grades 3 and under and will be left up to the parents/guardians/caregivers to decide whether their child will wear a mask.
How many masks should my kid have?
School divisions have been provided with masks from the provincial government to supply staff and students that need masks. Despite school divisions having masks, it’s recommended that students have their own masks. It’s advised that a student has multiple masks so they can change masks in the middle of the day. Masks should also be changed when they become damp or soiled.
If the student doesn’t have a mask, it’ll be provided to them upon arrival at school or when entering a school bus.
What are the best mask hygiene practices?
Wearing a mask properly is critical to having the benefits. When masks are not worn properly, they will not prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others and may also put the person wearing them at greater risk of infection.
Before putting on or taking off a mask wash your hands.
When taking off a mask, it’s advised that you place the used mask in a clearly labelled container or bag for cleaning at a later time. If it is a disposable mask, it should go directly into the garbage.
Don’t touch your mask or face while wearing masks
Don’t share masks with others.
Don’t dangle the mask from one ear, or pull it below your nose or mouth so it’s only covering your chin.
Change masks as soon as they become damp or soiled.
Reusable masks must be washed after each use in the laundry machine’s hot water cycle and then thoroughly dried.
Why should masks be worn?
Wearing a non-medical mask is a tool that, in addition to practising public health fundamentals, may help prevent spreading COVID-19 to others, especially in indoor public spaces such as schools, if physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Wearing a nonmedical mask does not protect the person wearing the mask, but it may help to protect the people around them.
People release respiratory droplets by sneezing, coughing, spitting, heavy breathing, singing, or talking. COVID-19 spreads mainly through close contact (within two metres or six feet) with an infected person’s respiratory droplets.
When worn properly, a person wearing a mask at school or on school buses may reduce the chance of their own respiratory droplets spreading to others or landing on surfaces.
People may also get COVID-19 by touching a surface that has been contaminated by the virus and then touching their mouth, eyes, or nose.
For more information on mask-wearing in schools in Manitoba, click here.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Public Health officials have announced 2 more deaths in the province, along with 20 new cases of COVID-19 today.
Both of today’s deaths are linked to an outbreak at the Bethesda Place care home in Steinbach. The number of deaths in the province is now at 16. Manitoba now has 1,264 cases; 457 are active and 791 are recovered.
Six of today’s cases are in the Prairie Mountain Health region; none are in the Dauphin health district.
Chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin says a fine was issued this week to someone in the Prairie Mountain Health region for not following a self-isolation requirement.
“This is a reminder that if public health informs you of the requirement to self-isolate, you are required to do so.”
The Winnipeg and Brandon health districts are tied for the highest active case count — each with 164 cases considered active.
Officials are advising of a possible exposure to COVID-19 in Brandon on August 19th to 21st at the ABC Taxi Cabs and Limousine Service.
Travel restrictions to Manitoba’s northern communities will go into effect Friday, September 4th. There are exceptions for travelling directly to a campground or lodge. If you are travelling to the north, you are required to limit any stops to just the necessities outside of your camping or lodge destination.
While there are no restrictions in place at this time, Saskatchewan residents are being strongly recommended by their Premier to avoid travelling to Alberta and Manitoba.
For more information about COVID-19 in the province, click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Some Canadians are saying their Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) payment has been delayed this week.
The CERB is typically received via direct deposit within 48 hours of reapplying for the benefit.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) says the actual timeframe for payment is within three to five business days — and a spokesperson says that the vast majority of payments will be issued in that timeframe.
It’s also being reported the CRA has added some new due diligence measures to make sure the payments are reaching the correct bank accounts.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Last night the Mountain View School Division held a town hall so parents, students, and the public could ask any questions they might have about the school year, which starts next week on Tuesday.
The Zoom meeting started with Superintendent Dan Ward giving a short presentation on the school reopening plans before questions were asked live and by submission.
Ward answered questions about masks, protocol if a student gets COVID-19, when a child should stay home, the start-up of school, and much more.
The town hall will be available on the MVSD website later on for those who missed out on it last night.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
An online survey polled 1049 adults between August 19th and 29th and found most Manitobans would support government rules requiring masks in all indoor public spaces.
According to the survey, conducted by Probe Research, 61 per cent strongly support mandatory masks at 23 per cent somewhat support masks, while 6 per cent somewhat oppose masks and 9 per cent strongly oppose it.
No margin of error can be assigned to the survey because it was conducted online.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
A high wind warning has been issued for the south shoreline of Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg.
The advisory was issued Wednesday and lasts until midnight on Thursday.
Winds reaching 80km/h are expected for the south basin of Lake Manitoba, shorelines near Gimli on the west side, and Victoria Beach on the east side of Lake Winnipeg.
This could raise wave levels by 5 feet or more. Property owners are advised to take precautions.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Today the province posted some new information materials online for parents, students, and teachers.
Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen says the province wanted to address some frequently asked questions, to help make the return to schools next week as COVID-19 safe as possible.
“We certainly see that there is that anxiousness. To the best of our ability, in terms of providing in advance, we hope that will alleviate some of that anxiousness.”
The materials are posted online, and printed versions will be available for distribution. Information will be updated as required throughout the school year.
When asked about remote-learning options, Goertzen said it’s only available to immunocompromised students, or students who have other health issues.
“First of all, the best place to learn for a child is in the classroom. That is repeated by all of the different experts — we saw the impact of not having children in classroom in March … and when you’re guided by public health, and the best medical advice and experts in Manitoba say that this is a safe way to return students to school, then you want to return them to school.”
The province has also changed its mask policy on school buses, now requiring students of all ages to wear a mask on the school bus this year.
For a link to the new online resources posted by education officials today, click here.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Thirteen new cases of COVID-19 have been announced today, taking the provincial total up to 1,244.
Of today’s cases, 8 are in the Prairie Mountain Health region, with no new cases in the Dauphin health district.
Officials are advising of two potential exposures to the virus - one at the Canoe Taphouse in Wasagaming on August 21st to 23rd, and the other at the Buffalo Bar and Ten restaurant at the Elkhorn Resort Spa and Conference Centre in Onanole on August 21st to 22nd.
Manitoba has 454 active cases, and 776 people have recovered.
The number of deaths in the province remains at 14.
Manitobans are encouraged to stick to the fundamentals to stop the spread of COVID-19 which include physical distancing, wearing a mask, covering your cough, washing your hands, and staying home if you’re sick.
For more information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The Mountain View School Division is addressing your concerns about the new school year this evening, through their virtual town hall meeting.
MVSD Superintendent Dan Ward will be hosting the zoom meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Ward will cover what the school year will look like, the use of cohorts, and how the pandemic response system applies to schools.
To access the meeting, click here.
You don’t need to pre-register, but the meeting does require this password: 008939.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The province has updated its mask-wearing mandate for children on school buses.
Masks will be required on school buses for all students, regardless of age.
This is a change to the previous ruling from the province, which made masks a requirement for only students Grade 4 and above.
The new rule includes drivers, students and any other passengers on the bus.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
School is back after the long weekend for the DRCSS on September 8th. Thanks to COVID, this school year will look a lot different.
DRCSS principal Norm Casavant says they’ve gone with the blended learning approach because of the 702 students they have scheduled at the high school.
“There simply wasn’t a way to keep students socially distanced appropriately so that health recommendations could be met. So, we’ve moved to a blended learning model where half of the students will attend Monday/Wednesday and the other half will attend Tuesday/Thursday and Friday will be a day where teachers continue to work one on one with students who need additional supports through appointments.”
Schools were given the option between having cohorts up to 75 students or ensuring two metres of distance between students while in class. Principal Casavant says they decided against cohorts because it would be virtually impossible to find 75 students that need the same courses and to keep them together.
“So we have chosen to do the two-metre distancing and all schools had that option if they could make it work, so we’ve chose to do that. Our classes are already set up in that two-metre distancing setup.”
That new setup for classrooms is one of the biggest changes Casavant thinks students will have to get used to.
“The most you would see in a class now is 15 desks, lots of classes if their numbers are only at 10, they’ll only have 10 desks, so that would be one thing they’ll notice right away. All the hallways are marked for which way the students need to be walking, all the locker bays are closed off, we won’t be using lockers because of the congestion that would occur in those areas.”
While the cafeteria space can still be used, lunch won’t be served and students will have to bring a lunch. Lunch hours have also been staggered so there are fewer students having lunch at the same time. In the DRCSS’ return to school plan, they say only students eligible for bussing will be permitted to use the cafeteria at lunch, other students will be asked to leave the building during their lunch hour.
When arriving at the school, students and staff will enter through the main doors and are expected to use the provided hand sanitizer. When leaving, students and staff are to exit through the gym doors and are also expected to use the provided hand sanitizer.
A thorough cleaning process will occur at the DRCSS. A minimum of twice per day, high touch surfaces (doors, handles, desks, chairs, etc.) will be thoroughly cleaned.
For more information on the DRCSS’ return to school plan, click here.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
