It should come as no surprise to learn the New Frontiers School Board (NSFB) has seen record levels of absences this fall. It certainly will not come as a shock to parents, who have no doubt spent more than a few days at home with sick kids since September.
“The numbers have definitely gone up,” says Michael Helm, the NFSB’s assistant director general, who reports that the high rate of absent students is not necessarily related to COVID cases; colds, the flu, and gastro are now more often the culprits.
Over the week of November 28 to December 2, the NFSB registered 2986 absences with 1087 students being reported as sick with cold, flu, or COVID-19 symptoms. 1992 students were reported absent over the same period last year, when the Omicron wave was beginning to surge. Just over a thousand more students were reported absent last year over the same period between the end of November and early December, when the Omicron wave was beginning to surge. At this time during the 2019-2020 school year, back when we were just beginning to hear echoes of a new virus circulating in China and Europe, there were 699 students reported absent. Of those, only 117 were not in school because of illness.
“I think parents are doing an exceptional job in supporting the idea that if a child is sick, they should not be in school,” says Helm. He says they are seeing a similar situation when it comes to staff taking days off when unwell. Many are also wearing masks when they return, or at this point as a precaution in general.
Helm says the two years of the pandemic have changed how parents view and react when their children come down with something. “It is that first day,” he says, admitting that while his children are older now, he remembers sending them off to school despite complaints of not feeling well in the morning, Now, he says, parents are keeping their children home at the onset of symptoms, and are likely keeping them away longer as well.
“In general, we are more aware, and we have greater concern now. This has been carried forward from the pandemic,” Helm says. “In some cases, a child who may have been out for two days is now out for three to four,” he reports, suggesting that at this time, the NFSB is very aware people are being extra cautious and the number of absences is not cause for alarm. “We know they are for legitimate reasons,” he acknowledges, suggesting the NFSB is now emphasizing the importance of good communication between home and the schools to ensure students are not falling behind.
When students do return, masks are available in each school and centre. Public health authorities have recommended that people wear masks while recovering from any respiratory illness at this point, and while the NFSB is not going any further in recommending its staff or students wear masks, Helm says they are working to ensure each building has a steady supply, so anyone who prefers to wear one may do so.
“This is just the reality of what is happening right now,” says Helm. “Is it because we were so locked up and protected? It’s hard to know,” he says, noting that one thing is certain: the teachers, school staff, and administrators are all looking forward to a relaxing Christmas break. For the past two years, they have spent much of their time tracking COVID cases and preparing for extended holiday periods and possible returns to online learning. With this aspect of pandemic management behind them, Helm says he is looking forward to some time to unwind.