Safety reminders for Remembrance Day school assemblies

Creekside Elementary hosted an outdoor Remembrance Day ceremony last year -- outdoor ceremonies are a great, safe way to recognize and remember Canada's veterans.

As schools across the district host Remembrance Day assemblies this week, it's important to remind students and staff to practice our health and safety protocols and ensure the safety of special events.

Schools are permitted to host in-person assemblies within the Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 Settings, which include respecting others' comfort levels, personal space and room occupancy limits. In the district, assemblies are allowed for up to 50 people or 50% of the room capacity, whichever is greater, bearing in mind that the space must allow for appropriate physical distance.

"Keeping in mind the capacity piece, schools should still have enough space to spread everyone out, making sure that the venue is large enough to hold everyone - or even better, hold it outside," said Vanessa Ezaki, health and safety officer with the district.

Compared to standard assemblies, Ezaki said Remembrance Day ceremonies may have more to consider, such as music and theatre performances or guest speakers. She recommends administrators determine if guest speakers could attend remotely instead.

"If they are inviting guest speakers like veterans, consider if having them there in person is necessary for the event or activity - virtual calls are still a great option," she said. "If a guest speaker is attending in person, they need to follow our visitor protocols."

Visitors at any of our schools must:

• Check Up: Perform a daily health check prior to entering. Do not attend if you are symptomatic or don't feel well.
• Back Up: Maintain physical distance and respect the personal space of others.
• Wash Up: Wash and sanitize your hands before and after visiting a school.
• Mask Up: Wear a mask indoors at all times.
• Sign Up: Sign in and out with contact information at the office. Records will be kept for 45 days.

Visitors access will also be limited to the purpose of their visit.

For more information on school gatherings and events, see the provincial K-12 guidelines.