Manitoba students return to in-person learning today
Students and teachers returned to the classroom on Monday after a week of remote learning following the holiday break.
The remote learning period was required by the province so school divisions could beef up safety measures amid the surge of the Omicron variant.
There were mixed feeling among students and parents about returning to school.
"Quite anxious about her going back to school," one parent told CTV News.
"Worrisome but hopefully, hopefully things will go in a good direction," another parent said.
Some students are happy to be back as they have missed the social aspect of school, while others feel more focus should be put on the safety of students.
"I know they really want to get people back in school but it's important, like I said, to think of safety," said Chloe Robinson, who goes to River East Collegiate.
Some students decided to hold a walkout over the return to school as they want more safety measures in place and say remote learning should still be an option.
"The Omicron surge is going to come in two to three weeks and if we're all stuck in school, we'll fall ill and no one will have education," said Brie Villeneuve, a Grade 12 student at Grant Park High School.
But others felt the return to class is safe.
"I don't agree with (the walkout) because we've been online for quite a while now and it really affects my mental health and my ability to perform in school properly," said Lexus Mackenzie, another Grant Park student.
Like some of the students, teachers also have concerns over safety and worry about staff shortages.
"I know we have members out there who are worried in two, three, four days, they're going to be ill with COVID," said James Bedford who is the president of the Manitoba Teachers' Society.
A statement from Education Minister Cliff Cullen said a lot of work has been done to improve school safety, which includes distributing 700,000 rapid tests, an additional five million masks and ventilation improvements.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Pro-Palestinian protests roiling U.S. colleges escalate with arrests, new encampments and closures
The student protests of Israel's war with Hamas that have been creating friction at U.S. universities escalated Tuesday as new encampments sprouted and some colleges encouraged students to stay home and learn online, after dozens of arrests across the country.
Tabloid publisher says he pledged to be Trump campaign's 'eyes and ears' during 2016 race
A veteran tabloid publisher testified Tuesday that he pledged to be Donald Trump 's 'eyes and ears' during his 2016 presidential campaign, recounting how he promised the then-candidate that he would help suppress stories that had the potential to harm the Republican's election bid.