By Kevin J. Sabo
For the Advance
As far as the students are concerned, it will be back to business as usual at Gus Wetter School to start the school year.
Grades one through 12 returns to class on Sept. 1, and things will be back to just about the way they were pre-pandemic.
While masking will still be required for bus students Grade four and higher, there will be no masking or cohort restrictions in the school itself.
“Students will not have to wear a mask in the building,” said Gus Wetter School Principal Wendy Coppock.
“But, if they chose to wear a mask because of their personal beliefs, then we will honour that, and they are welcome to wear a mask.”
School sports, clubs, and extracurricular activities have also all been approved to start again this fall.
Some pandemic era changes that are remaining in place for the 2021-2022 school year include enhanced cleaning of all high-touch areas as well as hand-sanitizer dispensers located at each school entrance and in the classrooms for students to use.
“We’re facilitating hand-hygiene at each of the entrances and the classrooms,” said Coppock.
“(We are) continuing to have a day-time custodial staff in school to ensure those protocols are continued.”
Coppock did warn that changes could happen as far as in-school restrictions go, depending on what happens as the province continues into the fourth wave of the pandemic.
“Clearview will be following all guidelines by Alberta Education and Alberta Schools Athletics Association,” said Coppock.
“We will make any changes required of us from those government agencies.”
The Gus Wetter staff are looking forward to having the students back in the classroom, and student enrolment numbers are remaining fairly consistent compared to previous years, at least as far as pre-registrations go.
“We are excited to maintain that (enrolment level),” said Coppock.
“Often, we will receive students on the first day (of class).”