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The Toronto District School Board is clarifying that kids will not be eating lunch outdoors in the freezing cold as a COVID-19 measure after some teachers initially told parents it would happen.
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“There is no system direction to have lunches outdoors, especially in the winter,” explained TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird, in an email to the Sun . “Possibly when weather improves in the spring that might be more realistic, but certainly not now.”
The Sun was informed by concerned parents that Birch Cliff Public School in Scarborough was planning to have at least some children eat outdoors when in-person learning resumed this week. The forecasted temperature highs for Thursday and Friday are colder than -10 C.
However, those attempts have now been nixed.
“To confirm, our lunch routines will remain what they were prior to the Winter Break and students will not be eating outdoors during winter weather,” wrote principal Heather Cairns, in an email to parents that the TDSB shared with the Sun .
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“I apologize for any confusion caused by a previous message that was sent to parents and guardians in error,” the email from the principal adds. “Our school continues to follow all TDSB guidelines related to COVID-19, including guidelines for lunchtime routines.”
It is believed that the outdoor lunch plans were devised by individual teachers and not the principal or the board.
“Lunchtime continues to be one of our greatest challenges during COVID-19,” explains an email sent last week to one group of Birch Cliff PS parents from a teacher. “Moving forwards, our class will be eating snacks and lunch outside unless we are under a cold weather advisory or there is precipitation. If you are able to do so, please provide your child with a reusable grocery bag, sit-upon, or small mat they can sit on outdoors.”
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The email continues: “A colleague recommended that children bring thin gloves if possible so their hands do not get too cold during lunch time.”
According to one pediatric expert, it’s a problem that the idea was even considered in the first place.
“I think it is time to push back on these very restrictive non-evidence based measures,” says Dr. Martha Fulford, an infectious diseases physician at the McMaster Children’s Hospital and associate professor at McMaster University. “We do not do this in other settings, such as our workplaces. Why are we doing this to our children? There are no studies to indicate that this is necessary.”
The Sun has been made aware of a handful of similar plans at other schools that were initially in the works but have been overturned as they go against board policy.
FUREY: School board nixes attempts to make kids eat lunch outdoors in winter - Toronto Sun
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