Extracurriculars a go in T.O. schools
Activities being offered to students 12 and up due to vaccine eligibility
Toronto schools are now allowed to offer extracurricular clubs and sports, both outdoors and indoors, after public health lifted a temporary ban it imposed at the start of the month — one that caused an uproar among parents, students and coaches.
However, for now, activities will only be for students ages 12 and up, given they are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, and about three-quarters of teens ages 12 to 17 in Toronto are already fully vaccinated. “This is a big win for students,” said Evan Woo, one of two student trustees at the Toronto District School Board who is looking forward to joining the volleyball and ultimate frisbee teams, among other sports and clubs at Earl Haig Secondary School.
Toronto was a holdout across Greater Toronto when school began 2- 1 ⁄ 2 weeks ago, with public health saying it wanted schools to first sort out the usual reorganization of classes, on top of reintroducing pandemic safety protocols after last year’s lengthy school shutdown.
Public health now says highcontact sports such as football, field hockey and basketball will be allowed outdoors, and students do not have to be masked. Outdoor, interschool games are also permitted. Low-contact extracurriculars — such as clubs and bands, and some sports — are allowed inside, with masking and physical distancing.
“We’re relieved to begin offering extracurricular activities as we know how important they are to students’ mental health, sense of belonging, and overall school experience,” said Colleen Russell-Rawlins, director of education at the Toronto District School Board.
“While it will take some time to get these important activities up and running after so much time without them, we need to do this gradually so that we can ensure all the appropriate health and safety measures are in place.”
More details are to come from boards, but Brendan Browne, education director at the Toronto Catholic District School Board, said “you could be driving by Toronto Catholic schools and starting to see practices happening as early as this week. We know people are chomping at the bit” to see them up and running.
Public health is asking boards to look at restricting the number of clubs or sports kids can be involved in, to help limit contacts. The Toronto public board had previously limited secondary students to two, and elementary students to one, before the extracurricular pause was put in place ahead of the start of school.
“Students are super excited about having extracurriculars to reduce some of the stress that’s come with the return to school, and to have a chance to socialize with friends outside of the classroom,” said Jyoti Dadhich, a Grade 12 student at Central Toronto Academy, who plays frisbee, badminton and is usually involved in some school clubs.
Dadhich, who is also a student trustee for the TDSB, said the move also allows students who can’t afford to play paid sports in the community to get access to activities, but said some have expressed concern about winter and the need to keep sports outside as much as possible.
Toronto Public Health also said field trips may also resume, but again with older students first.
Toronto public health says “the use of gymnasiums, swimming pools, change rooms, weight rooms, indoor physical education equipment and shared outdoor equipment are permitted with masking and physical distancing.”
As for music, wind and brass bands are still not allowed.
Public health’s move to delay extracurriculars caused an outcry from students, parents and also education directors, who said they are important to children’s mental health and wellbeing, and penalizes low-income students given pay-andplay community sports remain up and running.
Toronto’s Catholic elementary teachers, however, remain on a work-to-rule, so no extracurriculars will resume for younger children in that board unless they have hammered out a contract by the time public health allows clubs for those under 12.
Older students are looking forward to extracurriculars and the change “has given us hope for a new, more normal year,” said Stephanie De Castro, a Grade 11 Toronto Catholic high school student and member of the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association
“This is definitely good news for secondary students who haven’t had that experience, and great for students leaving this year to have one more year of extracurriculars. Everyone is super excited about sports coming back.”