BACK TO SCHOOL PLAN

by Milan Streit
After a long summer break, school in British Columbia is officially back on September 10. The provincial government says it wants a safe and organized return, despite coronavirus cases on the rise again.

School boards across B.C. have been revealing their return plans, including ours, in Vancouver. September 8 and 9 will be for teachers and other staff. Suzanne Hoffman is the Vancouver School Board (VSB) superintendent of schools, and says that time will be used to review all health and safety measures.

"We will begin reaching out to students and their families with specific details about the first week of student attendance. Classes will be organized and timetables finalized."

Secondary students will have two classes a day, one online, the other in person. But the online course can also be taken in school using school Wi-Fi in a study area such as the cafeteria or foyer. Between those two courses, you are given “flex time”. Basically, it is a free block and you can also use the time for lunch or work on the yearbook or trades.

Students will be taking two courses every ten weeks, with the school year divided into four quarters.

All the COVID-19 safety features from June’s “dry run” will still be in place along with a new mask mandate in hallways and places where physical distancing isn't possible. Schools will have masks on hand, however you may choose to bring your own.

The VSB says learning groups at the secondary level will be limited to 120 students at a time.

The West End Journal asked King George students on social media what they thought of the back to school plan. Opinions are mixed.

Max Comrie is a Grade 11 student at KG and says he did not like the back to school plan. Priya Mack is also in Grade 11 student and agrees with the plan, but is waiting to see how it actually functions.

The Dragon's Pen will let you know how the secondary school is working under the new pandemic schedule in the October edition.

The King George Dragons are practicing for the new season. (click on all photos to enlarge)

DRAGONS TRAINING DESPITE UNCERTAIN SEASON

Despite the pandemic, members of the King George Dragons senior and junior boys' basketball teams have been practicing hard, outdoors and online.

You may have seen them doing lay-ups and practicing free throws at courts around the West End and Stanley Park, taking appropriate safety precautions. Coach Darko Kulic says that despite COVID-19, players have been connected since March.

“We started with three times a week of Zoom meetings during the quarantine, now, for the past eight weeks, we have done camps at Lord Roberts."

A total of 60 kids have been attending the camps, separated by grades with each grade getting three sessions a week on the court.

"Senior players have been helping with the programs, planning and running the camps." Kulic says.

He maintains social distancing is required in all camps. "We make sure to follow the provincial 'Return to Sport' protocol. It's a safe environment where kids are following protocol, but also improving their play and having fun."

Parents were also contacted before camps started to make sure they were okay with their teens attending.

While the basketball season remains uncertain and will be very different if it happens, Kulic and his players are thinking positively.

"I know there is a fear, specifically for the seniors, that the season will be cancelled. But we have made sure to work hard regardless and have a fun summer. I am very proud of them as they have had a positive outlook with doing what they can, realizing they can't control if there will or won't be a season."

He feels pushing the start date of sports back to Spring is smart.

"It gives more time for everything to hopefully clear up."

Artist Paige Smith is offering a free podcast workshop series for teens.

A PODCAST WORKSHOP FOR TEENS

West End artist Paige Smith is offering a free podcasting workshop series for teens this fall. You’ll learn how to record, edit, and compose an audio documentary of your own creation that expresses what it's like to live during COVID-19, working individually or with a partner to create an audio story between five and 15 minutes long

How has the pandemic affected your life? How have your school, work, friendships, or activities changed? How are you staying connected with others during this time? These are some examples of questions that might guide your production.

A variety of podcasting techniques will be considered. Your podcast might include interviews, journalistic investigation, poetry or environmental recordings. You'll be encouraged to experiment.

The four sessions will run from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays October 10, 17, and 24 and November 7.

This mentorship program is supported by VIVO Media Arts Centre, and the final audio documentaries will be shared with the public through VIVO's website.

The registration deadline is September 18. Check it out here.

The empty halls of the West End Community Centre will be busy again in early September, with some restrictions and precautions.

COMMUNITY CENTRE REOPENING PLAN

Most Vancouver community centres are set to reopen September 8.

Many popular programs will remain on hold due to the pandemic, but the Park Board says “essential programs” are set to resume. That includes childcare, fitness, and services important to King George students such as youth programs.

This means hopefully weekly programs like Teen Night at Coal Harbour Community Centre and Pre-Teen Night at the West End Community Centre may happen with COVID-19 regulations in place.

The Mount Pleasant Community Centre has been hosting small events for teens such as outdoor volleyball, soccer and tie-dye days.

It’ll be a bumpy ride down Haro and Barclay for speeders from now on. Slow down folks!

NEW SPEED BUMPS

West Enders recently got a couple of surprises on Barclay and Haro.

The City of Vancouver installed much-needed speed bumps around King George High and the West End Community Centre.

Many of us at KG feel this is a major win because vehicles were known to speed down the streets, putting students at risk. The Dragon’s Pen wrote about street safety around the high school almost a year ago, not knowing if anything would happen.

The new speed bumps could be a result of a complaint to the city sent by former KG Principal Jason Lauzon.