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Between 40 and 50 per cent of North Van, West Van elementary students back to school

The sound of children laughing and running on the playground outside her office has made all the preparations and learning of new habits worth it to Ecole Pauline Johnson principal Tara Zielinski.
Lynn Valley back to school

The sound of children laughing and running on the playground outside her office has made all the preparations and learning of new habits worth it to Ecole Pauline Johnson principal Tara Zielinski.

Over a week into a partial return to school this month, it’s reclaiming some of those small moments that have made the work to reopen worth it, said Zielinski.

“That’s the joy of the job,” she said.

Just over half of the West Vancouver school’s 420 students came back to school for the first week – on staggered days.

“The children were thrilled,” said Zielinski. “I have not seen children this happy for a long time.”

Seeing their friends and being back in a predictable routine is a big deal to most elementary school students, said Zielinski. “It’s what we as educators have always known,” she said. “Consistency and predictability for kids is so important.”

In West Vancouver School District, about 40 per cent of students returned to school for about two days each last week.

Numbers in North Vancouver were similar, with about half of all elementary students coming back to the classroom. About 470 students went to school for three days of the week, while about 300 students went to school for four or five days. The latter group included children of essential workers plus students who need extra support.

Fewer students returned at the high school level.

In West Vancouver, returning high school students are cycling through their timetables on one day a week while in North Vancouver, students who want extra in-person help have been asked to make appointments to see their teachers.

About 10 to 12 per cent of high school students were back in North Vancouver secondary schools last week, said Lisa Dalla Vecchia, spokesperson for the school district.

Officials in both school districts say it’s possible those numbers could go up as more families decide they want their kids to return to schools.

Steve Rauh, principal at West Vancouver Secondary, said teachers came in the week before school started to get familiar with new COVID-19 protocols for cleaning and physical distancing.

He’s hopeful more high school students will come in and see fellow students and teachers before the end of school – particularly those students who are graduating.

“School plays an integral role in our communities,” he said. “For many [students] they’ve spent five years in this building. It holds a special place in their hearts.”

Across the province, over 157,000 students went back to school during the first week of June – about 30 per cent of B.C.’s total school population.