It’s the first official day of March Break for students across Chatham-Kent.
With the province’s mask mandates lifting on the 21st, many parents are still wondering what, exactly, their kids will be going back to.
John Howitt, Director of Education at the Lambton Kent District School Board says following the direction of the province as well as officials with Public Health in both Chatham-Kent Lambton County, co-horting of students will be gone after March Break, and things like physical distancing and masks will be a personal choice.
“The culture that has consistently been in place in our kindergarten classrooms where masking has been optional throughout the pandemic should be now seen in all of our classrooms and work spaces across the board where it’s just the norm that some will choose to be masked and some will choose not to be masked,” Howitt says “That will be absolutely accepted and that choice will be available to kindergarten through grade 12 students as well as all of our staff.”
Howitt says masking will still be required when someone has been exposed to the virus or after international travel.
Scott Johnson, Director of Education with the St Clair Catholic District School Board, says they understand not everyone is has the same level of comfort.
“The one thing we’re going to have to remember coming back, some people will still be uncomfortable not being masked,” Johnson says. “In any environment whether during the school day or these larger celebrations, staff who are uncomfortable or students or families should be welcome to wear masks if they prefer, and to not be judged if they choose to do so.”
Officials at both the St Clair Catholic and Lambton Kent District School Board say that while masks and co-horting of students will be gone next week, improvements continue to be made to ventilation in classrooms to ensure everyone’s safety.
Howitt and Johnston say they are looking forward to getting back to having normal activities at school, including assemblies and in-person graduation ceremonies.
