Calgary family demands answers after 6-year-old with cough walks home from school alone
Adanech Sahilie was shocked when her six-year-old son knocked on the Calgary family's front door Wednesday morning.
That's because she'd just dropped him at school an hour earlier.
"He said he walked home from school, that was a shocking experience," said Sahilie," I asked him why, he said he was coughing in class and his teacher asked him to grab his stuff and go home. My heart dropped."
Her son said his teacher told him he had to go home since he had COVID-19 symptoms, so that's what he did.
He left his classroom at Holy Child School in the southwest Calgary community of Silverado and walked more than a kilometre home, crossing several busy roads in the process.
He's never walked alone before.
"When he told me what happened, it was a very shocking experience," said Sahilie."I don't know how he made it, it's a miracle. If it was last week, freezing cold and I was working from the office instead of home, the situation could've been way worse. I'm not happy."
Adanech Sahilie was shocked when her six-year-old son knocked on the family's front door Wednesday morning.
The Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) policy dictates if a student exhibits COVID-19 symptoms they should go to the main office, where staff will notify their parents to come pick them up.
They can wait in a private room until their parents arrive.
In this case, Sahalie says she was never contacted. She also says her son said he was told to go home, not to the school office.
LOST TRACK
CCSD says the teacher says they did tell him to go to the office, though it appears no one in the office was notified and staff lost track of the boy, likely not even realizing he was gone.
"It's a very unfortunate situation and we are sorry for any stress this caused the family," said CCSD spokesperson Felicia Zuniga.
An investigation has been started by CCSD to find out what happened.
"The school wants to look at where the breakdown in communications happened," said Zuniga. "What happened between the teacher asking him to leave the class because of the COVID-19 symptoms and calling the office, to him leaving. We need to talk to all the staff who were involved and find out where the miscommunication was."
"It's a very unfortunate situation and we are sorry for any stress this caused the family," says Felicia Zuniga, a spokesperson for the CCSD.
CCSD says staff have apologized to the family and are reviewing protocols when it comes to younger students.
Sahalie said her son says two different strangers stopped him on his way home, asking if he was lost or needed help.
One woman made sure he crossed a busy street safely.
"I don't know if this happens repeatedly, I have no clue," said Sahalie, "but there should be a safety protocol followed, especially in an elementary school."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.