Calgary Catholic school board mulls postponing holiday gatherings in schools with significant illness
The Calgary Catholic School District has released its 'Make it to Christmas' plan as student absentee rates — partially attributed to COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza — soar.
In a letter to parents and guardians distributed Monday, the school board unveiled its illness mitigation plan that went into effect immediately and could see holiday gatherings postponed, recorded and shared online, or held virtually in schools with outbreaks or high illness rates.
"We have a social responsibility through our faith to create Catholic Communities of Caring and to protect the most vulnerable - our children," said Dr. Bryan Szumlas, CCSD chief superintendent, in his Dec. 5 letter. "Further, the laws of Alberta, namely the Education Act, call for school districts to keep schools safe. To better accomplish this, we have formulated an Illness Mitigation Plan that will be in place starting today until Christmas break.
"We will re-evaluate the plan in January 2023."
According to the CCSD, principals have been directed to reevaluate plans for large group gathering, including pep rallies, liturgies and assemblies, when student absence rates reach seven per cent.
Individual schools will be added to the CCSD Illness Dashboard when more than 10 per cent of the student body is absent with similar symptoms or when Alberta Health Services declares an outbreak at the school.
Once a school is on the illness dashboard, extra-curricular gatherings, including Christmas concerts, will not be held in-person and may be postponed entirely to a later date.
The school board adds that the use of face masks is being encouraged at all large group gatherings in all schools, no matter the absence rate.
"We are praying for our students, staff, families and health-care workers during these challenging times," said Szumlas. "Working together, we can safely, 'Make it to Christmas' and have the break that so many need."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.