Is this plan final?
Please recognize that this continues to be an ever changing and evolving situation and we will need to exhibit great grace and flexibility as these plans may change response to the advice from our medical advisory team and greater school and district wide policies and needs. We will continue to have a need for virtual connections and communication to limit meetings and without the availability of indoor spaces for our traditional meetings.
What does contact day in small groups mean?
These will be optional and small group activities where 6ft of distance is maintained at all times allowing us to pilot mitigation strategies and systems.
What is the difference in WIAA season dates?
These dates will be as we look to phase in program practices and potentially competitions
Why some sports right away but not all, how was the prioritization determined?
Based on our medical advisors and NFHS phased reopening guidance indoor activities and sports with high contact and use protective equipment have a higher transmissibility. Additionally, we will not use indoor spaces or locker rooms as the buildings prepare to open for all students for instruction and the increased spread potential in those environments. We hope to provide activities for all programs at some point during this spring.
What will we do for students that wish to participate in overlapping seasons?
We would advise students to prioritize the Spring season activities over contact days as we phase-in for the most robust experience, students are only able to participate in one co-curricular activity at a time.
What are we waiting for to start in-person sports and activities?
Like in-person instruction, we plan to use a phased approach to restarting in-person athletics and all co-curricular activities. Our medical advisory team reviews and provides feedback weekly on appropriate timing and mitigation strategies. We also have a coach and student advisory that is providing feedback.
Can athletes stay virtual students and do in person activities?
Based on the schedule and cohorting of groups there may be restrictions on who gets to participate in activities on certain days depending on if they are in-school that day or coming from home and gathering size limits, activities taking place unattached to the in-person school day reduce contacts and gatherings so may be feasible.
Will we have competitions?
Competition status will be determined on a sport specific basis by March 26th, participation in end-of-season WIAA competitions will be determined 30 days prior to the end of the specific season.
What about fall and winter in-person contact?
If we do not return to in-person activities prior to the end of the WIAA calendar, dates we will provide in-person contact days as allowable near the end of the school year. This will be communicated by March 26th at the latest and it will be specific to sport.
What does this mean for other clubs and co-curricular activities?
We are working on identifying similar ways to phase in all co-curricular events focusing on outdoor opportunities similar to Spring sports.
Why was this decision and timeline decided upon?
Phased approach, field conditions and weather more likely to be usable, acclimatization and resumption of activity is gradual. Spring sports also lost the Spring 2020 season, so we are focusing on them while still giving all students opportunities this school year to reconnect in person with their desired activities.
How are the coaches working to implement in-person athletics?
The privilege we have been afforded as education based athletics comes with an associated responsibility and we will be diligent in enforcing protocols and mitigation practices to resume athletics in the safest manner possible. We will have sport specific district coaches meetings for all levels to train on screening tools, mitigation efforts, provide input on season guidelines and competition structures in the coming weeks prior to small group contact sessions by sports
