Most B.C. students return to the classroom, but some parents keep kids home
After an extended three week winter break, in-person learning has resumed for B.C.’s 550,000 kindergarten to Grade 12 students – and the vast majority returned to the classroom on Monday.
That includes Taylor Morse's son, who is in kindergarten at Lynn Valley Elementary in North Vancouver.
“I’m a little nervous, but it’s really good for him mentally and socially. He’s excited to go back,” said Morse. “They’re taking all the right precautions, and we generally feel pretty safe."
Principal Lisa Upton is excited to have kids back. “There is no lonelier place on the planet than a school without children in it. We spent last week getting ready for the children’s safe return,” said Upton.
Schools were asked to come up with improved COVID-19 safety measures. Three-layer masks are now available in the office and in classrooms at Lynn Valley Elementary, and class start and end times have been staggered to allow for more distancing.
“Being a mom myself, I want to know that someone cares about my kids, that the layers of protection that have been recommended have been put into place, that attendance levels are being monitored carefully on a daily basis, and that’s absolutely true at Lynn Valley,” said Upton.
The principal hasn’t heard from any parents who don’t feel comfortable sending their kids back to class. “We are fully expecting our students to be at the school today. We missed them, and I know they’ve missed us too,” said Upton.
But some students are being kept at home. Vancouver parent Shaun Kalley’s 15-year-old daughter is one of them.
“We decided as a family that our daughter would stay home, primarily because there is an expanded risk within our family because of people in the hospital, to keep them safe and minimize our exposure and risk to COVID,” said Kalley.
He would consider sending his daughter back to school if there was better ventilation and N95 masks. But he expects the Omicron wave will quickly put an end to in-person learning in B.C.
“I think we are going to see a shut down, probably by the end of this week,” he predicted.
A sudden shift to online learning due to staffing shortages is a concern for the B.C. Teachers' Federation. “That shift could happen quickly. Teachers are being told to bring their equipment, computers home every single day. It's very disconcerting,” said union president Teri Mooring.
B.C is one of a handful of provinces attempting a full return to the classroom this week. Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes are all starting 2022 online.
“Its hard to tell who’s and right and who’s wrong. As far as we are concerned, maybe we are better off in B.C.,” said Wing Wong, who dropped his grandson off for his Grade 1 class at Lynn Valley Elementary. “He’s happy to be back in school for sure, even though it has been delayed for a week.”
Upton is hopeful the layers of protection in place will keep both teachers and students safe, and allow classroom learning to continue.
“One of the things that’s different from September is most of our kids have had their first vaccine. So we are really grateful for that,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.