STF sanctions: withdrawal of extracurricular and noon lunch supervision for Monday, February 26

Dear GSCS parents and caregivers; 

On Friday, February 23, 2024, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) announced job action for Monday, February 26, 2024. In letters to the school division, the STF outlined the following teacher sanctions: 

• Teachers will withdraw all extracurricular activities for one day on Monday, February 26, 2024.
• Teachers will withdraw noon lunch supervision services for one day on Monday, February 26, 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. 

All extracurricular activities scheduled for Monday, February 26, 2024, are cancelled. 

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 Monday, February 26, 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 follow the same revised schedule from Friday, February 16.
• Afternoon work period:
  • Students able to return to school are encouraged to do so for the afternoon. Teachers will support learning of students who are present.
  • Students unable to make it back to school will work from home on learning packages (given either electronically through Edsby or handouts) based on their morning learning. 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 when teachers are in classrooms. 

 High School Changes: 

• Students will attend their morning instruction as they would on a typical shortened Thursday.
  • The schedule will be modified to ensure students have enough time to leave the building at lunch.
• All students must leave the school property over lunch. 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. 
  • Schedules will be the same as Friday, February 16.
  • There will be no end-of-day bus service.
  • Saskatoon Transit will run “specials” at the lunch period and after school.
• Afternoon work period: Students are expected to do work that was assigned in the morning.
  • Students are encouraged to return to school in the afternoon to work on assignments. Teachers are available in their classrooms in the afternoon for tutorial/supportive instruction for students who are able to return school.
  • Students unable to make it back to school will work from home on assignments. Teachers may not be able to provide help or respond to messages, as they will be engaged in helping students at the school. 

Regular schedules for classes, transportation, noon lunch supervision, and extracurricular activities are expected to resume on Tuesday, February 27, 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