DRAFT
Based on the Updated Health & Safety Guidelines–Jan. 4, 2022
There are revised Health and Safety Guidelines for the school. This means that many of the things we’ve been doing before are still in place, but other things may feel new.
Daily Health Check
Remember that before leaving home, all students need to do their daily health check to assess if they are OK to come to school. Students can access digital Daily Health Checks through the following apps:
Staff members (BTA, BASA, CUPE) must complete the Staff Health Check each morning.
Hand Washing/Sanitizing
At every school entrance there is a handwashing station, a sanitizing station, or both. You are welcome to use your own (unscented) hand sanitizer but all people entering a building must thoroughly wash or sanitize their hands upon entry. Yes, even when you travel just between buildings–hand railings and door handles are not germ-free.
Everyone should also wash/sanitize their hands before and after
- eating/drinking,
- adjusting their mask,
- touching their face,
- using the toilet
Masks
to wear a mask indoors at school. Everyone who is able to (i.e., does not
have a mask exemption) must wear a mask; those not able to wear a mask all day continue to be encouraged to wear one as much as they’re able to. (EDUC Addendum)
Click for a larger view of how to adjust your mask for a better fit.
When indoors at school, all building occupants must wear a mask that “covers the nose and mouth” except in the following general situations:
- They are eating or drinking
- They have a documented exemption from masking rules.
Also, some specific school activities have exemptions. Your teacher will let your know when an activity permits you to remove your mask. (PHO-Mask Order)
A mask’s “Proper fit is a key factor in mask effectiveness. Masks worn at school should fit well.” (EDUC Addendum)
The better your mask’s standard and fit, the safer you are for yourself and to others. To learn how to fit your mask properly, the Addendum – Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 Settings refers users to Public Health Agency of Canada’s “How to make your mask fit properly“
Physical Distancing
The current guidelines note that schools should “Maximize space between people. [and] Limit and, whenever possible, avoid face-to-face
seating arrangements.”
Remember to respect the personal space of those around you. Many prefer to practice physical distancing. Please do not crowd others–ask before eating/drinking closer than 2m to others.
What this means is that students in public areas should not assume it’s okay to stand or sit next to each other or to face each other while eating/drinking. People are encouraged to physically distance for their own comfort. Be a good neighbour and ask about distancing before you sit down and remove your mask.
If you and/or your neighbours wish to maintain 2m of distance, it’s useful to know what two meters looks like.
You could carry a tape measure with you at all times, but here are some easier visual cues to help you figure out. Two metres is about…
- the width of 6 metal lockers
- the width of a school hallway
- the length of an average sofa
- the height of a standard door
- the height of a standard refrigerator
For more examples, check The Measure of Things