With the fall weather and flu season upon us, student absences throughout the Wild Rose School Division (WRSD) are on the rise and higher than usual.

Officials say staff illnesses are also increasing and the WRSD is continuing to have a difficult time finding substitute teachers and casual support staff.

According to the WRSD, Alberta Health Services (AHS) is tracking student absences due to illness in all Alberta Schools. The WRSD notes schools are currently required to report to AHS when 10 per cent of their students are absent due to illness. When that happens, AHS places the school on Outbreak Status and sends home the following important reminders to all students, staff and parents to help minimize the spread of any respiratory illness:

• Ill students should stay home
• Perform hand hygiene frequently by washing their hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub.

Practice respiratory hygiene:

• Cough and sneeze into their sleeves or
• Cover their mouths and noses with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
• Throw away used tissues immediately after sneezing, coughing or wiping their noses.
• Perform hand hygiene as described above.
• Clean surfaces that are frequently touched such as door knobs, light switches and bathroom taps.
• Immunization is an important public health measure and all families, children and staff are encouraged to complete their routine immunizations, COVID-19 and influenza immunizations.

The WRSD says they have a few schools that are currently on outbreak status. Officials say parents will know if their child’s school is on outbreak status because a letter from AHS is sent to all parents at that school.

AHS says when a school is on outbreak status, they remain on it for two weeks. During that time, the school must submit daily absence data to AHS for monitoring. Other than the recommendations above, AHS says no additional restrictions are placed on the school.

If the absence rate does not improve by the end of the two week period, further support and recommendations could come from AHS.

Whether a school is on Outbreak Status or not, the WRSD says students, staff and parents at all of their schools should be following the above recommendations. WRSD also asks everyone to consider the potential benefits of wearing a mask when in public places. The WRSD wants to ensure that all students, staff and parents are welcome to wear a mask if they so choose, at any time while at school.