'Happy dance' combined with hesitation as kids return to school
A snowstorm delayed the return to schools for thousands of students in the region, but in London most made it to class Monday.
It was the first day back after a post-Christmas break delay caused by the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Outside Sir Issac Brock Public School in London’s west end, Grade 3 student Emmaleigh Fair was literally doing a happy dance on some ice.
Her father Matthew Fair felt confident sending her back after two weeks of online learning.
“We’re pretty happy it’s going in the right direction here. She needs a social setting. I find most kids do,” he told CTV News London.
Parent Erica Swanton was a bit more hesitant after she and some others in her family battled Omicron over the holidays.
“The first couple of days were tough,” she said.
Still, she opted to return her son Aidan to class.
“He’s excited to be back. He’s missed all his friends, so I think it will be OK.”
Parent Erica Swanton is seen shortly after dropping of her son, a Grade 2 student at Sir Issac Brock Public School in London, Ont., Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
The return to class comes with some added precautions. At Riverside Public School, in the city’s west end, Grade 2 teacher Marcy Dilamarter reminded students about protocols.
“We haven’t been together for a month, and it’s like we were together last week. They came in, knew what they were doing, they remember the different protocols we have when we are dealing with what we are dealing with right now.”
But there are new tools available to educators to protect themselves and their students from the virus.
They include available N95 masks for teachers and available three-ply masks for kids.
In addition, more HEPA air filters are in place within the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB).
But its director, Mark Fisher, concedes there are still not enough of them to accommodate every classroom.
“We have 1,500 HEPA units currently. They are distributed to every single kindergarten class in the district, every self-contained special education class, and every school that has passive ventilation. And our next layer will be those classes where there are medically-approved mask exemptions.”
For now, class spacing remains the same.
Enough comfort for most, but not all parents.
Riverside Principal Kristin Lynds has been taking calls from parents opting to keep their kids at home.
“We’re happy there is an option for them to do a short-term virtual learning program and so those parents are able to reach out and speak to me as the principal.”
But as most opt to send their kids back, Lynds says there is one thing every educator is noticing.
“Oh, we can see them smiling, even with the mask on. We can see it in their eyes and feel their energy.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.