Teens lament loss of school sports, clubs due to COVID-19

Sofia Henson Preibisch, who's entering Grade 9 at Canterbury High School, has counted herself among the members of adrama club, a Harry Potter club, a community helpers club and a culinary club where kids make and sharerecipes from around the world.

She said joining different clubs was how she made friends the last time she started at a new school.

"You get to meet new people, try new things, have new experiences, see what you really like that you wouldn't expect," shesaid.

But thanks to COVID-19 precautions in Ottawa schools, there will be less of the education that goes on outsidethe classroom this year, and that's hitting some students hard.

Team sports have been cancelled this fall, bands won't be practising in music rooms,and other clubs are going to have to find virtual alternatives to their usual meetings.

"I'm not going to get to meet new people and try as many new things as I would without COVID,"Henson Preibischsaid.

WATCH | More of what losing clubs can mean:

Its not going to be the same: Student club activities curtailed by pandemic

4 years ago

Duration 0:51

Sofia Henson Preibisch, whos starting Grade 9 at Canterbury High School of the Arts, says shell miss the clubs and social activities that are usually part of her life at school.

A place to be themselves

For Amy Simcoe, who's startingGrade 11 at Cairine Wilson Secondary School in Orlans, jazz band was where she made her best friends and the fond memoriesthat have defined her high school years.

"I find in band I really have a place where I can be myself and I feel accepted, which I'm really going to miss, especially in this hard time," Simcoe said.

Now, COVID-19 has silenced that aspect of her high school experience. Rehearsals by video chat haven't worked out because of the lag time, and it's too risky for the young musicians to get together in person.

"For a jazz band especially, most of the instruments are wind instruments. You can't play with masks, and that's a big issue. Oftentime, you're really in close contact with each other," she said.

WATCH | Fewer chances to make friends:

School bands, music programs hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions

4 years ago

Duration 0:56

Amy Simcoe, whos starting Grade 11 at Cairine Wilson Secondary School, says jazz band used to be a place where she could make new friends and be herself.

Sports dreams on hold

Abdul Berete, who's entering Grade 12 at Immaculata High School, said his love of football always helped himstay focused on his school work.

"I've always wanted to play college football and go to university," Berete said. "I have a big dream:I want to make it to the NFL [or the]CFL. I put in the work every day hoping I could get somewhere."

But Bereteworries the loss of this footballseason could ruin his chances of getting noticed bycollege and university recruiters, and that could ultimately dash his dream of playing professionally.

"This is taking a chance away from us for getting scouted. This is the year that scouts should be coming out. It's our final year. Everybody will be showboating, putting in all the work, allthe effort in."

For now, Berete is running drills by himself, shooting videos to send to the scouts who might never see him in person.

WATCH | Losingextracurriculars can hurt career prospects:

As COVID-19 restricts school sports, students worry theyre missing out on the big leagues

4 years ago

Duration 0:51

Abdul Berete, whos entering his final year at Immaculata High School, says with the football season on hold, hes worried about missing an opportunity to be seen by professional scouts.

Missed opportunities

Lisgar Collegiate Institute teacher Mark Mysak said the downtown high school has more than 40 clubs that are all trying to figure out how to make this school year work.

"I want to run all these clubs, except it's not obvious how to navigate all ofthis,"said Mysak, who advises the school's student council and Muslim Students Association, as well as a club promoting community engagement.

Mysak said the student council is trying to run a virtual welcome week that encourages new students to get involved. He said as an educator, he recognizes these activities provide an important opportunity outside the classroom for many teens.

Mysak said school sports and clubs provide a space where students from different socio-economic backgrounds can learn about the value of teamwork, and he worries not every family has the means to get their kids involved in similar activities outside the school environment.

"The concern is that because we're not able to offer a space for these clubs to meet in person, that some students will be lacking ... a peer social groupor something that provides that kind of mental stability ... especially in these hard times."

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.