As students prepare to return to school, many are wondering if they will actually get to take their masks off in class.
On Friday, the province announced students from grades 4-12 will be required to wear masks while riding the bus and moving through school hallways.
According to their back to school plan, students will not be required to wear masks in class if they have two metres of space between them.
However for many schools along the South Shore, it isn’t that cut and dry.
“(The space provided) will vary from learning space to learning space and also subject to subject, especially in the high school level,” said Paul Ash, Regional Executive Director of the South Shore Regional Centre for Education.
“We could have a school where it is possible (to provide two metres space) in one class, but not for the class next door. Its also really dependent on how many students are enrolled in that class.”
When students return to school on Sept. 8, it is unclear how many will be able to remove their masks in class, something the SSRCE is trying to figure out.
“When it comes to the high school level, we will have to look at every single block to see if it is possible for those, which is happening,” said Ash.
“We are going through every single school, looking at every single learning space, trying to determine the maximum number of students that would allow us to provide the two metre distance or if its even possible, and if not, we are then looking at scheduling to see if we can accommodate that.”
For students who end up not being able to remove their masks in class, the SSRCE is also looking at other possible opportunities to take a break from the masks.
“That includes looking at our structured break times like recesses to see if we can move those around a little bit to give them more space outside to play in a socially distanced way,” said Ash.
“Having been an elementary teacher, I can tell you there are times when you can take groups of students outside to conduct your teachings. We are looking for opportunities to be outside as much as possible.”
Class spacing and break planning aside, Ash said all schools under the SSRCE are prepared and ready for students to return on opening day.
More information on the province’s back to school plan can be found here.
Follow Cody McEachern on Twitter at @CodyInHiFi for more.
