Videos circulated online last week of students gathering outside the school grounds at lunchtime in Kelowna without following social distancing protocols.

The videos garnered some media attention but left Interior Health and Central Okanagan Public Schools with no definitive ideas on how to address the problem.

Kevin Kaardal, superintendent/CEO of Central Okanagan Public Schools, issued a statement asking parents, store owners and other members of the community to support the school district害羞草研究所檚 efforts to reinforce values of safety and responsibility among students.

害羞草研究所淥ur staff at secondary schools work hard to organize and supervise students as they arrive, take breaks, and leave campus. We also continue to educate students on responsible behaviour during the pandemic and being community contributors at all times,害羞草研究所� said the statement.

害羞草研究所淥ur efforts to reduce risk at schools are greatly impacted by community members害羞草研究所� behaviour 害羞草研究所� students and their families need to understand that personal responsibility extends beyond school grounds.害羞草研究所�

Interior Health declined to comment, pointing to provincial health director Dr. Bonnie Henry害羞草研究所檚 response to that question during her press conference on Monday (Sept. 28).

Asked about students gathering off school sites and outside of their cohorts at convenience stores or local restaurants, Henry said teenagers are presented with challenges with how schools are adjusting to the COVID-19 health safety requirements.

害羞草研究所淚 know it害羞草研究所檚 very different, particularly for teenagers, and that strong urge to be socially connected at that time in our lives is a very challenging one to overcome,害羞草研究所� Henry said.

She students gathering in groups raise concerns about a contagious disease like COVID being brought home and infecting family members.

害羞草研究所淭hose are important things and I know young people believe that as well. So now害羞草研究所檚 the time, we害羞草研究所檙e getting over the novelty of how this going to work, to put in place those rituals, those procedures so that we can safely go back to school, continue the learning and the connection that we have and not have those potential exposure events outside of the school setting,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淪o parents and young people, let害羞草研究所檚 support each other and stay small.害羞草研究所�

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