The month of October begins next week – which prompts us to look back and reflect on the first few weeks of the new school year. 

Turtle Mountain School Division Superintendent, Tim DeRuyck, says their schools have settled into routine quite nicely. 

“We’re falling into some routine now with the new things that are in place, the new parameters, and so far, so good.  We have all of our K to 8 students back, and in most cases, we have our high school students back at least 50% of the time and then working remotely from home half the time.”  

DeRuyck adds their goal is to have Grade 12 students back in class full time, with Boissevain School already achieving that and Killarney School soon to reach that goal as well. 

“Whenever we can meet the parameters for spacing and do it safely, we’re going to look to continuously evaluate and bring our high school students back more as we’re able to.” 

“We’ve seen cases occurring in the Province as was expected, and we’re not immune to that, it could happen with us as well, and there’s a clear protocol in place if that were to happen.”  

DeRuyck attributes the smooth transition back to school for everyone to the open communication between the school division, their schools and their families. 

 

“We’re waiting for other things to see where they go,” adds DeRuyck, “for example the high school athletics; they’re able to practice now with parameters in place and we’re waiting to see when league or competitive play will be able to resume.” 

“So, there’s still lots in the air but it's been a ‘so far, so good’ mode that we’re in right now.” 

Each year school divisions receive a list of students in their catchment area who are participating in a home-schooling program. Given the COVID circumstances surrounding sending their children to school, DeRuyck shares some parents have opted to home-school instead.  Last year’s enrollment for the TMSD numbered 1043 students. This year 26 of those students are being home schooled, about half in Boissevain and half in Killarney. 

“As things evolve and change and hopefully continue to improve, we would hope to see those students return.  And it’s an open door,” he adds.  “If a family has opted to register through the homeschooling office wants to have their children return to school, they can do that at any time.”