With just one more day before students get a break for the holidays, the Thames Valley District School Board has announced another school closure.
Early Thursday evening, the Board announced Sir Arthur Currie Public School in London will be closed for in-person learning on Friday due to staffing issues surrounding the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
"Effective Friday, December 17, 2021, students at Sir Arthur Currie Public School will temporarily transition from in-person to virtual learning, as able, until returning to school after the winter break on Monday, January 3, 2022," a release from the school board read.
Classroom teachers will follow up with families with additional information regarding independent learning the school board said.
Now seven London-area public schools and four London Catholic schools have closed before the winter break due to COVID-19 concerns.
Also on Thursday, the school board reported cases of COVID-19 at 10 London-area schools including:
• Clara Brenton Public School • Emily Carr Public School • H.B. Beal Secondary School • Hickson Central Public School • Hillcrest Public School • John Dearness Public School • North Meadows Public School • Princess Elizabeth Public School • Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School • Tweedsmuir Public School
While there has been no official notice from the province on whether or not classes will resume for in-person learning in the new year, the LCDSB is recommending that students take home all personal belongings, learning materials and technology.
In November, the Ministry of Education announced it would be providing students across the province with rapid antigen test kits to take home during the winter break to be used twice a week during the holidays and then again before they return in January.
