COVID crushes this year’s hopes for Mutchmor Rink

Letter from the principal of Mutchmor Public School, Sandra Walker

We appreciate your patience as we worked to come to a decision about the rink for the 2020-2021 school year. COVID-19 has put a wrench in a lot of our planning, and it is no different for our decision about the rink.

We have consulted with many stakeholders and considered our outdoor use during recesses, gym class and outdoor learning opportunities, and we have decided that we need the space in the yard to maintain distancing and safety of our students and staff. This year we have six recesses, where last year we had two. The yard has been divided into four zones for classes to use throughout the day. Adding the rink would make these zones too small for students to distance themselves properly and safely. Even the small advantage of class use of the rink has been rendered moot due to COVID-19. Without volunteers to aid our little skaters and with the hut too small to allow for proper distancing, COVID-19 precautions have removed our own ability to use the rink.

We recognize that this may be a disappointment for some community members, however the decision is for this year only. Hopefully COVID-19 will be under control by next year, and we will be able to have the rink installed as it was last year.

At school, student and staff safety is of utmost importance. This year, more than ever, we need to do everything we can to maintain our students’ ability to stay safe during this pandemic, to not compromise anything that could jeopardize that safety and the ability to stay in school.

We greatly appreciate your understanding.