Game on: Sports to return at Windsor-Essex schools

Sports activities will be starting upat schoolsin Windsor-Essex.

A spokesperson for the Greater Essex County District School Boardsaid practice will begin as soon as participants have verified they are fully vaccinated, and games will beginthe week of Nov. 22.

It's the same for the schools within the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.

Sports and other extracurricular activitieshave been on pause,based on guidance from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

Earlier this month, however, WECHUrecommendedthat school boards set a policy, allowing fully vaccinated students to participate inactivities.

The move to delay school sportshas been controversial, promptingprotests from students, despite many schools experiencing COVID-19 cases and outbreaksthis year. The acting medical officer of health has said that more than 300 school cohorts have been dismissed because ofexposures.

Riley Hulse-Smith, a Grade 12 student at HonourableW.C. Kennedy Collegiate, said many of her peersreally want to get back into sports, but she has reservations, saying that she doesn't want to see school get shut down.

"I feel like weneedto be very, very careful when we do open things up, and if they do, because again, we do not want COVID cases to rise," she said.

Jayden Captonalso saida lot of people are excited and happy about the return to sports.

"It's really good for kids to be able to play sports and practice with the sports they love, and I know a lot of people use sports as a way to get away from at-home activities and stuff like that," he said.