Becky Druhan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development

Sports and field trips are back as students prepare to return to a much more normal school year.

The province dropped mandatory mask wearing in schools late last year and it will be optional to begin the year for students and staff entering the new year.

“This is an exciting time of year for students, especially now with a return of extra-curriculars that are so vital to the education experience. As always, we keep safety and the health of our students and staff as our highest priority and will remain in close contact with Public Health,” said Becky Druhan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. “We finished strong in June, and we plan to pick up where we left off.”

Schools will continue to have hand sanitizer available and high-touch surfaces will also continue to be cleaned regularly. Meantime, Druhan encourages students to stay home if they are sick, and adds schools have been dealing with illness in schools prior to COVID-19.

Every school this year will once again receive more than $5,000 via a healthy living grant, money that school advisory councils and principals can use to support physical and mental health activities or cultural awareness activities.

Outdoor learning will be promoted, and enhanced online supports will be available for math, reading and writing.

A new physical activity framework is expected to be rolled out this year to encourage students and staff to eat healthy and become more active, as well as to continue to maximize learning opportunities in areas like outdoor learning and summer literacy programs.

The first day back for most students is September 6 while students in Halifax return on September 7.