Headmaster's Weekly Newsletter --Week Three

Traditionally at KES, today has been called “Freedom Friday” because it marks the first weekend when boarding students can take weekend leave.  This year, today also marks the day when boarding students may leave campus to go downtown and enjoy a trip with friends to the coffee shop, the pizzeria, Baby Panda (a favourite for fairly-authentic Chinese food), or to Sobeys, etc.  This freedom has been well earned.  For many of our students, their last taste of liberty was in mid-August when they boarded planes to come to Nova Scotia and start their isolation. I can only imagine how sweet it will feel for them to sign out and experience the simple pleasure of walking around town off campus.

My own freedom was restricted this week when I awoke on Sunday with a runny nose and a sore throat. I immediately went online, went through the “should I get tested” COVID-19 questionnaire and dialed our 811 public health hotline.  In Nova Scotia, testing is done by appointment. There is a period of several days when one is, a) waiting for the appointment to get tested and, b) waiting for the results of the test. During these days one must self-isolate and act as if one is positive.  From Sunday morning until Wednesday night when I received confirmation that I simply had a cold, I was pretty much locked in our guest room at home. Our dogs loved having me home all day of course, and Belinda was amazing (as usual) at looking after me (she prepared and brought all my meals to the bedroom door on a tray!), but the whole experience was tougher than I expected.  It didn’t help that I had scenarios running through my head of being the only positive case in Nova Scotia and what that would mean for all of those considered “contacts”.  

In the end though, I gained a tremendous appreciation for the hundreds of Nova Scotians getting tested every day and self-isolating while they wait for their results.  I also was treated exceptionally well by everyone in public health. The nurse on the phone was empathetic but firmly professional. The testing centre was outstanding: friendly, efficient, and compassionate (the test itself is not much fun). 

My “Freedom Friday” started yesterday morning when I was released from confinement. It was a great feeling.  It is even better knowing that we are on the cusp of even greater freedoms as of October 1st, when Nova Scotia opens up even further, and expands our ability to run theatrical performances and competitive sports.  Freedom is earned, and the provinces in our Atlantic bubble have worked hard to keep us healthy and safe.  When so many in Canada and around the world are facing further restrictions, it is a much-appreciated joy to be free.