keep school days the same

keep school days the same
Why this petition matters
Beginning March 23, 2021, the Swift Current Comprehensive High School and Chinook School Division has made the unfavourable decision to bring back all 1000+ students to school every day, opposed to students attending school every other day. This raises many concerns throughout students, staff, faculty and the family of SCCHS, one of the main concerns being the increased risk for the spread of covid 19. Despite the ministry and SHA continuously cautioning all high schools with over 600 students against moving away from the level 3 education delivery that entails the every other day/ A/B format in order to reduce the risk of covid 19 spread, SCCHS and the Chinook School Division insists on bring back all 1000+ students and staff, which will essentially double the risk of spread of the virus throughout SCCHS and the community. Another growing concern specifically in consideration of students and staff is the inordinate class sizes at SCCHS, as average class sizes range anywhere from over 30 students, in which students will not be able to properly socially distance. Prior to the shut down of SCCHS, there was a growing worry around staff concerning class sizes, even talk of a strike throughout the teachers union due to the lack of limitation regarding SCCHS class sizes. It makes no sense to now, in a global pandemic, have 1000+ students and staff return full time to the school. Another factor worrying the community is that now, when there is one single case of covid 19 in the school, the majority, if not all of the school will be having to quarantine for two weeks, instead of only day A or day B students having to quarantine. This will significantly postpone learning throughout the students. There will also be a difficulty in adjustments for students and staff, staff will be having to re-plan re-evaluate entire class and lesson plans, and students will likely have a hard time making the change of coming to school every day. Through a recent survey done with students of the Swift Current Comprehensive High School, 98% percent of students suggested that returning to school every day would increase stress levels and anxiety throughout the student body, and that the students would have difficulty changing their routines. If the Swift Current Comprehensive High School and the Chinook School Division could reset the learning plan to remain the same (students going every other day), students and their families would feel more safe and have more faith in the Chinook and Comprehensive High School Faculty.
Decision Makers
- Chinook School Division
- Swift Current Comprehensive High School