Plan For School Sports, Extracurricular Activities

Education officials have outlined how sports and extracurricular activities will work when students return to school in September.

Deputy education minister George Daley provided an update on the province’s return-to-school plan Tuesday afternoon.

“Students cannot be in a position to reach their full potential if we don’t take their physical and mental health into account in educational planning,” said Daley.

Daley said teachers are being encouraged to use outdoor spaces as much as possible for physical education.

If students do have to use the gymnasium, they will have to wash or sanitize their hands when entering and leaving.

Daley said high school students will stay at least one-metre apart during physical education class.

Students in kindergarten to Grade 8 will participate within their class grouping and, like in the classroom, will not have to physically distance, he said.

Class groupings must stay two metres from one another. A divider or curtain may be used if two groups are using the gym at the same time.

Daley said “enhanced cleaning protocols” will also be introduced for changing rooms and shared equipment.

“Equipment will be disinfected after each use, and if this is not possible, the equipment should not be used,” he said.

Sports And Extracurricular Activities

School sports and other extracurricular activities will go ahead, as long as the province stays in the current “yellow” phase of recovery.

Daley said spectators will be limited to 50 people for outdoor events and will be banned outright at indoor events, although virtual options are being encouraged.

“Competitive sports events should be limited to subdivisions of school districts or within small regions to allow and limit interactions across different regions,” he said.

All interscholastic or extracurricular activities or events will need to have an operational plan in place.

Sports which have a provincial governing body will have to comply with plans developed by that body. All other sports must have a provincewide plan which complies with the directions of the Department of Education.

Students taking part in school clubs will have to follow physical distancing guidelines. Daley said it is recommended they hold meetings virtually, if possible.

“We are finalizing directions for music education and music-related extracurriculars. That information will be coming hopefully later this week,” he said.

All intramural activities will be suspended if a zone moves to the “orange” or “red” phase of recovery, said Daley.

Top Doctor Encourages Participation In Extracurricular Activities

New Brunswick’s chief medical health officer hopes students will take part in extracurricular activities.

Dr. Jennifer Russell, who is a parent of two teens, said these activities are an important part of school life.

“Our children need to be in the classroom to continue their education, but they also need to be on stage, on playing fields, and in school clubs and activities that are vital to their growth and development,” said Russell.

The province’s top doctor said her office has been working with the Department of Education to ensure the activities are as safe as possible.

Despite the precautions put in place, Russell said we cannot eliminate the fact that the pandemic still exists.

“If things change, as things evolve, we will continue to look at the numbers, we will continue to review our processes and adjust as we need to.”