Estevan Comprehensive School Grade 12 students might not have a traditional graduation ceremony again this year, but what a group of parents taking the initiative has planned for them sounds great,. . .
The school division has reviewed the current trends and risk levels with the local medical health officer and has determined that a return, following all safety guidelines and processes, is appropriate. Little noted several families have reached out to either the system or the school inquiring about the challenges of returning within the current health practice of identifying full classes as close contacts and then subsequent self isolation. “We understand that concern and will monitor the impact,” Little wrote. “We have received correspondence from several graduating students and their parents/guardians sharing concerns of returning to in-class learning and the possible impact on attending graduation ceremonies on June 19.
Cheers to the Estevan Wildlife Federation for organizing the fishing derby on Boundary Dam this month. Yes, it was a cool and windy day, but it was still nice to spend the day out on the water, enjoying something that can be done safely. Cheers to Troy LeBlanc from the Estevan Comprehensive School’s caretaking staff for taking on the last minute job of waxing the floors at the Hillcrest Early Learning Centre and for doing an amazing job. And cheers to the staff of the centre for their enthusiasm in getting back to work and their time committed to getting the centre organized to welcome families back after a two-week hiatus.
She will compete in the national Skills Canada virtual competition on May 26. ECS has sent more than one competitor in hairstyling in the past, and has swept the podium in previous years. But Mack opted to send just the one competitor this year, because it was difficult to train for provincials. “The student that went in, we did most of her training in the fall of 2019 … getting ready for the 2020 year, which nobody got to compete in because everybody was sent home in March,” said Mack. When Skills Canada Saskatchewan said they would do a virtual competition this year, ECS was approached to see if they would have someone, and Frederick was selected.
ECS has been at Level 4 since May 6. Because of the variants of concern, when an individual is infectious while in school, public health has advised the full class – along with the staff and, if applicable, everyone on the bus – as close contacts. Due to the number of staff and students impacted through both illness and contact tracing, remaining in remote delivery is necessary. The school and the division will continue to study the trends in Estevan and in particular within their student body and staff over the next week. Little said it is their hope that with more time and increased eligibility to vaccines, that the trends will decrease and in-class learning can return May 25.