While Everett News Cafe remains closed, the headlines don’t rest and the Gottesman Libraries Services Team wants to keep you informed with news from the U.S. and around the world. As always, our selections are inspired by the Front Pages posted daily on Newseum.org. Today, we’re focusing on schools navigating 2022 in the wake of vaccines, variants, and unknown variables.

Online school days... by Rod Cuthbert, Credit Courtesy of Creative Commons 

The Niagara Falls Review Published in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Niagara students, families prepare for resumption of online learning

The government returned all Ontario schools to online learning for at least the rest of January given the increase in COVID-19 cases brought by the Omicron variant. As news of the change came just this week, many families are struggling to adjust their schedules at the last minute to stay at home with their children.

The Irish Examiner Published in Cork, Ireland 

Rolling class closures likely as schools report 'incredibly difficult' first day back

Attendance at Irish schools have reached record lows for both students (in some cases under 70%) and staff, due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. Teachers are calling for the government to restart contact tracing in schools to curb the spread.

The Democrat and Chronicle Published in Rochester, New York, USA

Monroe County schools 'walking a razor-thin line' and struggling to stay open, official warns

Teacher and staff shortages are making it difficult to keep schools open in Monroe County, though districts are trying to keep the doors open for the sake of student mental health and education, and to allow for parents to go to work. The CDC recently approved boosters for kids aged 12-15, which could help slow the spread in schools.

Khaleej Times Published in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

New UAE weekend: Schools kick off first-ever Friday classes with shorter lessons, break time

The new year marked a new weekend for workers and school children alike in the United Arab Emirates as they adopted a Saturday and Sunday weekend. Schools shifted to a 4.5 day week, with most nurseries remaining open for the entire day to accommodate parents who now have a full work day on Fridays, a holy day in most Middle Eastern countries.

The Chippewa Herald Published in Chippewa Falls, WI, USA

School closure debates put teachers unions front and center

Teachers unions continue to battle school districts over plans to return to in-person learning, citing safety concerns due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. Schools in Chicago, for example, have been canceled for a third day, with teachers demanding more regular COVID testing.

Book bins by Allison Shelley, Credit Courtesy of Creative Commons

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