Medicine Hat school boards talk mental health resources amidst new restrictions

While most of the new provincial restrictions came into effect May 5, all students from kindergarten to Grade 12 went to online classes.  These new measures are part of the government’s scenario 3 learning strategy.

Bridge City News spoke with the Medicine Hat Public School Division, and Medicine Hat Catholic board. Officials from both say teachers are ready to go, but stressed the importance of providing resources for students’ mental health. 

“(We are) really mindful of how everyone who’s part of our system is doing. We try and communicate clearly which mental health supports are available to our students throughout the change in restrictions,” says Medicine Hat Public School superintendent, Mark Davidson. He adds, “all of those staff are retained or urged to reach out to our families”.

“Given the context of the last year or so we have all of our councillors in the jurisdiction available — both to schedule online meetings, or we could arrange to have students come to the school,” says Medicine Hat Catholic board superintendent, Dwayne Zarichny.

Students across the province will be learning from home until May 25.