The Siksika Nation, along with every other school district in Alberta is getting ready to send their kids back to school.

The Siksika Board of Education has decided to follow scenario #1 put forth by the Alberta Government and will be opening all schools on September 1.

The school will be establishing high safety measures which include cleaning, sanitizing, and physically distancing.

To make it easier to comprehend, the school board has established the acronym SAFER for parents, staff and children’s information

The S stands for screening. Staff and students will be screened before entering the school. Thermometers will be at all entrances at the school to check the temperatures of anyone entering the school. Anyone with unacceptable temperatures will be sent home. The school also asked all parents to screen their children before sending them to school as well.

The A in the acronym will represent adjusting school and transportation to maintain social distancing. Students will arrive at the school staggered to control the amount entering the school, and adjust for cleaning time. Individual desks will be put in place of round group tables. Lunch will also be eaten in the classroom to ensure safe physical distance.

Next, the F is for the focused efforts the school will put on cleaning and disinfecting the school. There will be reinforced hygiene etiquette like sneezing into elbows, proper disposal of used tissue, and hand washing.

Effective usage of Personal Protective Equipment is the category for the E in the acronym. Masks and gloves will be regularly used when appropriate for all staff and students. Hand sanitizer stations will be placed at entrances and designated places throughout the school along with Plexiglas barriers.

Finally, the R, which stands for reaching the best possible outcomes for the students in the nation by providing regular updates and encouraging communication from parents and staff.

A full list of changes made can be found on the Siksika Board of Education Facebook page.