STF sanctions: withdrawal of noon lunch supervision for Thursday, February 8
Dear GSCS parents and caregivers;
On Monday, February 5, 2024, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) announced job action for Thursday, February 8, 2024. In a letter to the school division, the STF outlined the following teacher sanctions:
- Teachers will withdraw noon lunch supervision services for one day on Thursday, February 8, 2024.
We respect the bargaining process and STF’s right to take job action. Our primary focus will remain offering high-quality Catholic education in a safe and secure school environment for students.
Because we do not have enough out-of-scope staff to cover noon lunch supervision at our 50 schools—which would compromise student safety—schools in Saskatoon, Martensville and Warman will be closed for the lunch break, and a modified daily schedule will be implemented on Thursday, February 8, 2024.
Elementary school changes:
- Morning in-school learning: Classroom learning will be held in the morning. The schedule of periods/classes may be altered to allow time for learning for all daily subjects.
- Schools will be closed during lunch periods: There will be no noon lunch supervision. All students must leave the school and school grounds.
- Dismissal at lunch will be up to 30 minutes earlier than normally scheduled.
- Bus and taxi schedules will be adjusted: Buses will pick up students approximately 15 - 30 minutes before lunch to ensure students are not left unsupervised. There will be no end-of-day bus service.
- Schools will communicate specific times.
- Bus and taxi schedules will be adjusted: Buses will pick up students approximately 15 - 30 minutes before lunch to ensure students are not left unsupervised. There will be no end-of-day bus service.
- Afternoon work period: Students will receive learning packages (either electronically through Edsby or handouts) based on their morning learning, and the afternoon will be a work period.
- Students able to return to school are encouraged to do so for the afternoon. Teachers are available for help and support.
- Students unable to make it back to school will work from home on the material. Teachers may not be able to provide help or respond to messages, as they will be engaged in helping students at the school.
- Half-day pre-kindergarten programming will continue:
- Morning programs will receive busing to and from school.
- Afternoon programs will not have busing to and from school.
- Before and after school programs will continue:
- Programs will operate before school in the morning and at the end of the school day in the afternoon.
- They will not operate during lunch or after lunch offering care while teachers are in classrooms.
High School Changes:
- February 8 is a scheduled shortened-Thursday PLD.
- Students will attend their morning instruction as usual.
- The schedule will be modified to ensure students have enough time to leave the building at lunch.
- All students must leave the school property. There will be no noon lunch supervision.
- Special education bus and taxi schedules will be adjusted: students will be picked-up as much as 30 minutes before lunch to ensure students are not left unsupervised.
- Schools will communicate specific times.
- Saskatoon Transit schedules will not change.
Regular schedules for classes, transportation and noon lunch supervision will resume on Friday, February 9, 2024.
If STF’s plans change, we will provide updates via direct communication through Edsby and/or School Bundle messenger (emails from noreply-gscs@schoolbundle.ca, listed as Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, or text or voice messages from 1-306-400-6811), updates on our website (www.gscs.ca), and on our Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) accounts.
If you have specific questions about school operations, please contact your school principal.
Sincerely,
François Rivard
Director of Education
