It was expected but the Winnipeg High School League has been forced to make the difficult decision.
The 2020 season has officially been postponed.
Officials are now working on a Spring 2021 season to replace the lost fall season if the COVID-19 pandemic allows it.
The league will be working with coaches on a possible restart.
Dryden, Kenora and Fort Frances had already announced they wouldn’t participate in any fall sports.
There will be no local high school sports to start the school year.
The Northwestern Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association has cancelled all fall sports.
This impacts boys volleyball, girls basketball, football, cross country running and golf.
This is inline with All-Ontario reopening strategies.
A decision on winter and spring sport seasons will come at a later date.
Meantime, the Winnipeg High School Football League has made an announcement on the status of the 2020 season, impacting Dryden, Kenora and Fort Frances.
The statement reads:
“Based upon the approval of Football Manitoba’s Return to Play – Stage 2 – “Stay & Play,” the WHSFL is now in conversations with each school division and their member teams to determine the future of any resemblance of a 2020 season.
We are committed to ensuring the safety of athletes, coaches, support staff, officials and all involved in our game. As communication continues and feedback is received from the divisions, we’ll make future decisions.
Training camps scheduled to open on Monday, Aug. 24th have been postponed indefinitely until future notice.”
The provincial government says it will end streaming in Grade 9.
The Ministry of Education says students will no longer be asked to chose between the “applied” or “academic” stream when they start high school.
The government says school board statistics show the practice has meant Indigenous and Black students are streamed into the applied classes in higher numbers and are less likely to earn a diploma than other students.
Premier Doug Ford says it’s not fair to divide students into separate paths which determine whether they are prepared for college, the trades, or university.
“You’re asking a 14-year-old child to make a decision in grade nine, for the rest of their high school career and post-secondary schools that they’re going to.”
Ford says “I just don’t think it’s right. It’s a broken system. We’ve heard nothing but positive remarks from communities and I’ve heard it from teachers. I’ve heard it from everyone across the board. So I think it’s a really good move for the parents and the students and the teachers.”
Education minister Stephen Lecce calls streaming racist and discriminatory and is expected to end by the 2021-22 school year.
The premier says an announcement to end the system and to make other curriculum changes will be made later this week.
The government is also expected to end suspensions for students in junior kindergarten to Grade 3.
Meantime, NDP leader Andrea Horwath says they have been calling for an end of the “applied” and “academic” practice for years.
“About time. I mean we were pushing the Liberals for a generation to get streaming out of our schools. I don’t know why they never acted on it. So I think this is something that is long, long, past due.”
Horwath says “Should have happened a long time ago but we need to support our public education system. Watching this government completely drop the ball on letting parents or kids or educators or anybody know what to really expect come September is really troubling.”
Horwath adds the Ford government hasn’t been great when it comes to supporting students and funding the education system.
(With files from Colin Redston-Thunder Bay and Tim Davidson-Kenora)
The top athletes of the year have been honoured at Red Lake High School.
Because of COVID-19 the Rams decided to announce individual winners on their Twitter page over the past couple of weeks.
Matthew Potter and Kyle Gelderland were named co-Male Athletes of the Year, while Jorja Kelly picked up Female Athlete of the Year honours.
The Terry Fox awards for Athletic Inspiration and Determination went to Shanye Bruchkowski, Garret Crampton, Wil Campbell, Kaci Mota and Landon Okell.
The Male Freshman Athlete of the Year award was shared by Ben Norlock and Gavin Kowalchuk.
Jillian Campbell and Camryn Morse both took home the Female Freshman Athlete of the Year awards.
Here are the 2020 Red Lake Rams award winners:
| MVP
Based on athletic ability, leadership, sportsmanship, and contribution to the team’s success |
Terry Fox
Based on positive attitude, inspirational qualities, improvement in skills and effort in practice and during games |
|
| Basketball | MVP | Terry Fox |
| Jr. Boys | Connar Oster | Gavin Kowalchuk, Quinn Crampton |
| Jr. Girls | Jillian Campbell | Camryn Morse/Kalli Pearson |
| Sr. Boys | Matthew Potter | Matthew Hannah, Ethan Dixon |
| Sr. Girls | Shayne Bruchowski | Summer Henstridge |
| Volleyball | MVP | Terry Fox |
| Jr. Boys | Gavin Kowalchuk | Quinn Crampton/Tyson Marion |
| Jr. Girls | Jillian Campbell | Kyra Tougas-Masse/Kacie Mota |
| Sr. Boys | Matthew Potter | Kyle Gelderland/Garrett Crampton |
| Sr. Girls | Jorja Kelly | Sabrina Blais/Trishia Anongos |
| Nordic Skiing | MVP | Terry Fox |
| Quinn Brait | Kyle Gelderland | |
| Curling | MVP | Terry Fox |
| Jakob Tougas-Masse | Mckenna Kristoff | |
| X-Country | MVP | Terry Fox |
| Kolten Gagne | Dyllan St. Jean | |
| Hockey | MVP | Kyle Gelderland |
| Terry Fox | Wil Campbell | |
| Jr. Outstanding Contribution | Landon Okell |
Like many events, this years’ LEAP leadership program is being held online, which means the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is able to offer more students the chance to experience it.
Public school board teacher Jarod Milko says that it’s open to any and all high school students within the board.
Milko says “The LEAP Foundation is a program where students learn important life skills such as goal setting, time management, how to interview, effective communication, and study skills.”
He adds that what makes the program so great is that students learn the skills from expert coaches with supports through stories from very successful, sometimes even famous, people.
This years guests fall into both those categories, and include Mark Wahlberg and Diplo.
The application deadline is June 22nd and you can apply by email jarod.milko@kpdsb.ca
For more information visit http://leapfoundation.com/2020/
Graduation ceremonies at Keewatin-Patricia District School Board schools will look different this year due to COVID-19.
Virtual high school graduation ceremonies will be held at the end of June.
Director of Education Sherri-Lynne Pharand says at this point in time it will be a “virtual acknowledgment” for all secondary students who are graduating.
Pharand says elementary graduation celebrations will be held virtually as well.
She stresses they understand how important walking the stage is for some students so they plan to hold an in-person event at a later date once it is safe.
“Postponement until such time from the public health officials that we’re allowed to be face-to-face. We do anticipate that will likely be into 2021.”
COVID-19 Updates From DOE S… by Rayson Martyn on Scribd
There will be some form of graduation ceremonies at area schools this year and that means the annual tradition of handing out scholarships and bursaries.
Dryden High School warns the deadline for students to apply is fast approaching.
You have until Monday, May 11th to put your name in for a bursary or scholarship.
For more information, visit https://dianejacobsen.wordpress.com/
There’s a new E-learning opportunity for students who are making the jump to high school.
The Ontario Virtual School has launched ‘High School 101’, a free multidisciplinary course for Grade 8 students to equip them with the skills and academic support they need to make a smooth transition.
Instructor Borzou Salavati says the program focuses on”Basic high school courses. Grade 9 to Grade 12. Ontario secondary school credits that work towards the students diploma.”
Salavati says certified teachers will guide students through a number of disciplines including math, digital literacy, effective learning skills and mental health.
He notes the interactive approach will balance social and academic skills and allow for students to learn at their own pace.
“For example they could sign up at any time. Work at their own pace. They could finish their course quickly. Or if they needed longer time to absorb the content, get their materials done, it will also give them that flexibility as well.”
Salavati says this is a valuable tool, especially now with schools closed due to COVID-19.
For more information visit https://www.ontariovirtualschool.ca/free-courses
To hear the complete interview with Borzou Salavati visit the Audio link below.
All high school championships have been cancelled on a provincial level.
The 2020 Spring All-Ontario events have been axed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
OFSAA President Nick Rowe says they continue to follow the direction of public health experts and government agencies.
Rowe is thanking all student-athletes, coaches, conveners and volunteer host organizing committees for their commitment and passion.
NorWOSSA has also cancelled all regional soccer events.
There will be no All-Ontario High School championships for Hockey or Curling.
The four finals have been cancelled due to the Coronavirus.
The Fort Frances Muskies were scheduled to compete in Girls and Boys Hockey as well as Girls Curling.
The St. Ignatius Falcons in Thunder Bay were the NWOSSA representatives for Boys Curling.
All events were scheduled to begin after the March break in various Southern Ontario communities.
OFSAA officials stress they don’t take the decision lightly, noting the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, volunteers and their families is their first priority.
https://twitter.com/OFSAA/status/1238514522018713602
