Rocky View Schools is trying its best to answer parents' questions as the deadline to decide between in-school or online learning options quickly approaches.

RVS has posted a Q&A page on its website addressing some common questions and themes they’ve heard from their school community.

Board Chair Fiona Gilbert said it’s an attempt to keep all parents as up to date as possible on the very fluid situation that is the return to school come September.

“We are getting lots and lots of questions and will continue to work through them and post the answers as quickly as possible,” she explained.

RVS said the questions won’t deal with any one particular student and will instead but will be more broad or general questions and answers.

Students, teachers and other school staff will need to do a daily health check. Anyone experiencing any of the following signs or symptoms will not be allowed to attend the school:

fever, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, sore throat, chills, painful swallowing

runny nose/nasal congestion, feeling unwell/fatigued, nausea/ vomiting/diarrhea, unexplained loss of appetite

loss of sense of taste or smell, muscle/joint aches, headache, Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

According to RVS Children with pre-existing conditions like asthma or allergies will be required to have a COVID-19 test to establish that their symptoms are not related to COVID-19.

If a student begins to feel sick while at school they will be taken to a designated space or infirmary room and the parents will be contacted to pick up their child from school.

If a confirmed case of COVID-19 occurs, Alberta Health Services will notify parents if their child may have been exposed to a confirmed case. RVS adds it’s still waiting for guidance from AHS as to what the best practice and policy will be if a student or teacher does test positive for the virus.

Students will not have access to lockers to reduce crowding in hallways which means students must carry their belongings with them throughout the day.

When it comes to sports and extracurricular activities, RVS said it is working with Alberta Education, Alberta Health Services and education partners, including the Alberta School Athletics Association, to explore possibilities for organized athletic activities and events during COVID. At this time, RVS’ extra-curricular athletics are cancelled until further notice. Extra-curricular fine arts performances are cancelled until further notice. Officials say if clubs are able to meet while maintaining physical distancing they can continue as long as they wipe down touched surfaces. Clubs that cannot maintain physical distancing are cancelled until further notice.

Parents are encouraged to review the Q&A and send in their own questions to Rocky View Schools as they make the decision on how they want their child to return to school this fall.

“We are looking at updating it every few days and posting answers to questions,” said Gilbert.

To see more questions and answers from RVS, click HERE.