Students were welcomed back to class on Tuesday at Richmond Christian School.
Richmondite Stewart Chen said he felt a bit nervous and hesitant about sending children back to school. However, his grandson has been looking forward to seeing friends and kept asking him when he can go back to school.
“For children, the happiness of being with friends outweighs fear and anxiety. As parents, what else we can do,” said Chen, adding he thinks Richmond is relatively safe and strict protocols have been implemented by Richmond Christian School.
Susanna Henschel also said she has faith in the teachers is confident her two daughters will be taken good care of.
“I am impressed with the school, and they have gone above and beyond, such as making sure all high-frequency touchpoints have been wiped down and ensuring good hygiene for students,” said Henschel, adding that “she isn’t too concerned.”
Hailey and Marissa, Henschel’s daughters, said they have been following the teachers’ guidance and are constantly washing their hands to maintain good hygiene.
Public schools open Thursday
Public school teachers spent Tuesday and Wednesday preparing for the return of students, which included COVID-specific health and safety training.
Last-minute changes to learning options came down the pike last week as the Richmond School District was able to offer transitional learning to Grade 8 and 9 students thanks to federal funding and the province allowing them the flexibility to do so.
The school district is expecting 65 per cent of elementary students and 95 per cent of secondary students back in the classroom on Thursday. The rest have chosen transitional learning — at-home remote learning connected to a student’s home school for a limited time.
After the options for learning were laid out in the survey, a group of Richmond parents petitioned the school district to allow secondary students the option of transitional learning, something that 37 per cent of elementary students originally chose.
Last Thursday, the school district opened this up to Grade 8 and 9 students, however, the option of distance learning for these students was then taken off the table.
Scott Robinson, district superintendent, said the school district has tried to build flexibility into its plan and improve teachers’ online teaching capabilities in case schools need to roll back to home learning.
