Confused Surrey students caught congregating in crowd on first day of school

SURREY (NEWS 1130) — A picture showing dozens of Grade 8 students crowded together outside Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School in Surrey started making the rounds on social media as kids returned back to class in B.C. amid a global pandemic.

A spokesperson form the Surrey School District says the image was indeed taken in 2020, capturing the Grade 8s Thursday morning before they had a chance to learn the expectations for the “new normal” at their new school.

“This image was taken at Lord Tweedsmuir this morning when our Grade 8s arrived at school for their health and safety orientation, and it really serves as a reminder that we need to ensure that all of our students understand the importance of physical distancing and their responsibility in following critical infection control practices,” says Ritinder Matthew.

“Prior to the first day of school the school had protocols in place for student orientation and there were multiple communications that were sent home through newsletters and parent emails that explained the new process and this morning when our Grade 8s arrived we had staff spread out outside to answer questions, and this is also when masks were handed out. Prior to students coming in for the health and safety orientation.”

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Students aren’t supposed to all crowd one entrance, they are supposed to go in the doors closest to their class.

“We did communicate all the new protocols with our families before the first day of school but I think our Grade8s aren’t familiar with the school so they did want to enter from the main entrance but staff were outside and we do have more clear signage,” she says.

According to Matthew, the issue was resolved by the afternoon.

“We did make adjustments to our process before the Grade 9s arrived. So before the next group arrived. Staff were directing students into the multiple entrances throughout the school,” she says.