Thursday was the first day back to school for many Vancouver Island students and this year, the return looked different with parents forced to wait off school grounds and many kids wearing masks.
“The kids are excited to be going back, me personally I have some mixed emotions about it but I know it’s probably best for them,” said parent Kirsten Saynor at Royal Oak Middle School in Saanich.
With some pumping music through loudspeakers and others waving homemade signs, teachers and staff appeared to be doing their best to welcome kids back and put them at ease.
“Today and tomorrow it’s just the slow integration of our students back into the building to acclimatize them to routines and make them feel welcome and comfortable,” said School District 63 (Saanich School District) Assistant Superintendent Paul McKenzie.
Most students only attended part of the day to go through an orientation on exactly what school will look like this year.
“[They] walked the halls, they’ve seen the directional arrows, they’ve seen the signage, they’ve practiced washing their hands. It does take time but they are going to get it,” said McKenzie Elementary Principal Joanna Snow.
It’s been six months since many students were in the classroom and during that time, many parents were forced to become educators at home.
“I know for me I’m looking forward to the break but I feel great about them going back,” said parent Megan Lansdowne.
But there’s no question there is plenty of anxiety and a lot of uncertainty for many parents sending their children back to school.
Ali Berman is immunocompromised and struggled with the decision to send her son to middle school.
“It’s truly a huge fear for me right now,” she said.
She decided, in the end, to send him because she felt it was best for his mental health but she still wants to see adjustments made, like smaller class sizes.
“How are you going to protect the teachers and how are you going to protect the children and how are the children going to protect their parents and their grandparents?” she questioned.
B.C.’s Education Minister, a parent himself, says he gets why people might be nervous.
“I think my message is really it’s okay to have apprehension and ask questions,” Rob Fleming said.
“It’s clear that the education sector has done an incredible job of keeping each other safe and look out for one another,” he added.
Many students won’t return to the classroom full time until next week.
April Lawrence
