Published Monday, July 19, 2021 4:00PM EDT Last Updated Monday, July 19, 2021 5:46PM EDT Schools in communities with a low number of COVID-19 hospitalizations should be able to forgo physical distancing and cohorting in the fall while adopting a more relaxed approach when it comes to masking and screening students for symptoms, according to a new paper being released by Ontario’s science table. The paper, which was prepared by a Sick-Kids led group of experts, argues that schools should remain open for in-person learning “barring catastrophic circumstances” and that extracurricular activities should be prioritized as “an important component of return-to-school plans.” The 41-page report does say that temporary school-based measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 should continue for the time being but it suggests that they should be imposed differently depending on the level of “community COVID-19 burden” rather than transmission
In-person learning is essential for students: Ontario Science Advisory Table
by Todd Hayes and maleeha sheikh
Posted Jul 19, 2021 10:24 pm EDT
Last Updated Jul 19, 2021 at 11:16 pm EDT
In-person learning for school children is essential, says Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, and schools should only be closed again due to a catastrophic scenario.
The group, made up of doctors, scientists and experts from a myriad of disciplines has released a report that includes a list of recommendations to the provincial government that it says will ensure a safe environment for all students returning to in-class learning this coming September.
“Stop using school closures or deviation from in-person learning as a tool for pandemic control,” said Dr. Peter Juni, the scientific director of the advisory table. “This was and continues to be associated with considerable harm for the mental health of children and for learning progress, we really need to get back to normal with our
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“Although she laughed, rapped, and sang through the surgery, the recovery was hard, and she needed extra care and still takes her anti-seizure medication,” writes her sister Kayla, who organized the GoFundMe drive.
“It has been a good 3.5 years, and she has grown so much, become such a beautiful 16-year-old girl and student.”
A small tumour remained from that first operation, however, and the family was alarmed to learn a few weeks ago that it has grown significantly from 2 mm to 5 mm in some places since it had been assessed six months earlier.
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“These awards represent a rich tradition of honouring excellence in Rainbow schools,” said board chair Doreen Dewar in a release. “We are proud of all recipients for their commitment.”
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The awards for 2020 and 2021 included Outstanding Contribution to the Co-Curricular Program, Community Partnership Awards, the Go Green Globe Awards, Awards for Excellence, the Barbara Konarek Memorial Award and the William N. Roman Teacher of the Year Award.
Employees with 25 and 35 years of service were also recognized.
“On the front lines or behind the scenes, award recipients are champions for children and youth,” said Director of Education Norm Blaseg. “They are dedicated employees and dynamic educational partners who go above and beyond the call of duty to reach minds and touch hearts, enabling students to achieve their fu
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The new Sick Kids hospital at Little France had running costs of over £7m in 2020/21
The previous year the new building had running costs of £3.5m even though the building was standing empty.
The figures were obtained under Freedom of Information legislation by Lothian Tory MSP Miles Briggs, who said it was a waste of taxpayers’ money having to run two hospitals at the same time.
He said: “These are huge chunks of money which the health board has been forced to spend on running two hospitals because of the delay with the new building.
“People understand that – patients need to have that reliable health service available – but this is a situation which should have been avoided.”