High-contact sports, music could soon return to Hamilton schools

Hamilton students could soon be able to join sports teams, choir and band after the province lifted a pause extracurriculars Thursday.

Previous restrictions allowed for clubs and low-contact sports, such as badminton and running.

Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board chair Pat Daly said he expects the full range" of sports, clubs and activities will be offered at schools.

Our hope ... is to move forward with the winter season secondary sports, including volleyball, basketball, hockey, as early as next week," he said.

Daly said staff are in conversation" on how this will be rolled out at the elementary level.

Staff at the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board are reviewing ministry guidance and will share information with families early next week," Shawn McKillop said in an email.

At both boards, players who are actively participating in sport may temporarily remove masks," but must put them back on when on the bench and in change rooms, McKillop said.

Masks are not required for outdoor sports and activities.

Elementary students with the public board will remain within cohorts and will continue to wear masks while participating in activities like singing.

Research shows sports and other extracurriculars can lead to improved physical and mental health, and stronger community ties.

Daly said participation in extracurriculars, which have been cancelled several times since the onset of the pandemic nearly two years ago, has been very, very high" at the Catholic board.

Young people ... have really missed these kinds of activities," he said.

Local teachers' unions say coaching and club supervision are volunteer roles and teachers are not required to take them on.

While we recognize that extracurriculars are an important aspect of a high school experience, our members need to be able to take some time to care for their own well-being," Daryl Jerome, president of the local bargaining unit for the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), said in an email.

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com