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11/30/2020 Guidance for Extracurricular Activities and Athletics

OKCPS Families & Staff,

Although OKCPS has committed to Remote Learning through the remainder of the semester, we recognize the social and emotional toll that being out of school takes on our students. We know that positive interaction with peers and the ability to participate in school-related activities can play an important role in a student’s overall physical and mental wellness. For this reason, OKCPS has made the decision to resume fine arts, athletics, and other extracurricular activities in a safe and healthy manner effective immediately. Please see below for details. 

As a reminder, OKCPS has a dedicated hotline for all staff to report COVID-19 cases or exposure, and families should call their child’s school directly if their child tests positive or is presumed to be positive for COVID-19 or has been exposed to a positive person. The health and wellness of our students and staff is still our priority, and although we are currently in a Remote Learning setting, we encourage families to continue to report positive cases of students to their schools in order to continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 cases. COVID-19 Reporting Instructions can be found here: www.okcps.org/Page/5673

Stay well, and thank you for your continued support of OKCPS.

_____________________________________________________________________

 

Guidance for Extracurricular Activities and Athletics

November 30 - December 18, 2020

 

High School Fine Arts Extracurricular Opportunities

We realize that keeping students associated with fine arts winter extracurricular activities is important for student engagement and academic success. To enhance connection opportunities, we will be allowing sites the option to bring up to 15% of the student body to the building after school each day for a 90-minute activity block or before school if needed. Additional details and guidelines are as follows:

  • This option is currently open to fine arts students in high school only.
  • Groups can meet before school or up to 90 minutes after school. 
  • Students will provide their own transportation. 
  • Student participation is voluntary. No student can be penalized for not attending.
  • Masks or face coverings are required at all times, except when playing a wind instrument. 
  • Safety protocols must be in place.
  • Temperatures will be taken by the teacher/sponsor when students arrive.
  • Teacher/Sponsor must be present while students are in the building. 
  • Teacher/Sponsor must keep a record of students in attendance.
  • Teacher/Sponsor participation is voluntary.
  • Site principals will work with teachers and/or sponsors who volunteer to ensure we have no more than 15% of students in the building each day during the activity time.
  • The weekly schedule of activities to be hosted at each site will need to be approved by ILDs each Wednesday for the following week. 

 

High School Athletics

High School Winter Sports return to practices Monday, November 30, 2020. 

High School Winter Sports return to competitions the week of Monday, December 7, 2020.

 

OKCPS Participation in Athletics in RED Alert Level

  • Varsity Teams Only
  • Participation by coaches and student athletes is voluntary during the Red Alert Level. Grades for student athletes CANNOT be negatively affected by choosing not to participate.
  • Current COVID Screening practices will be continued.  This includes temperature checks for everyone entering facilities for practices or competitions and maintaining proper records on the COVID Screening Forms.
  • Masks are required to enter and must be worn in all OKCPS facilities unless actively participating in competition.  This includes athletes, coaches, and administration in attendance. No mask, no entry.
  • Social distancing must be maintained at all times.  Use multiple rows for benches at games.  Maintain distancing at practices and when waiting for games in the stands.  Do not allow athletes to congregate closely together without masks on.
  • No fans allowed in any OKCPS facilities.  Administration from both schools, Security, Filmers, Temperature Taker and Athletic Trainer or Medic for medical coverage are allowed. Will reevaluate next semester.
  • No Cheerleaders at any competitions during Red Alert Level. Cheer teams can continue to practice.
  • We are working to make home games available via live stream through Hudl.
  • Middle school sports will continue to be evaluated and a start date will be determined.

 

Basketball:

  • Masks or face coverings must be worn when entering and exiting practice.
  • During practices, athletes must have their face coverings on to be able to pull them up when shooting around, listening to coaches, or during low intensity activity.  When participating in a full court drill or scrimmaging, these coverings can be down.
  • If this is not followed, the Athletic Department may require teams to wear masks at all times during practice.
  • Basketball teams participating in tournaments will sit as a team in the stands, must wear masks at all times. 
  • Prior to scheduled games, stay together as a team, socially distanced as much as possible in the facility, especially from other teams and fans.
  • Leave promptly following the conclusion of your game. Do not congregate for any reason.

 

Wrestling:

  • Masks or face coverings must be worn when entering and exiting practice.
  • During practices, limit practice groups to no more than 3 athletes at a time.  Athletes should practice with the same group every day.
  • Tournaments are not permissible.  Only duals, tris and quads.  Schedules can be adjusted to accommodate this change.  District Duals are allowed.
  • Leave promptly following the conclusion of the competition.  Do not congregate for any reason.
  • Off season spring sports practices are postponed until after Winter Break.  To be reevaluated at that time.

 

OKCPS Participation in Athletics in ORANGE 2 Alert Level

  • Varsity Team Only; JV and Freshman will be reevaluated at this time.
  • Current COVID Screening practices will be continued.  This includes temperature checks for everyone entering facilities for practices or competitions and maintaining proper records on the COVID Screening Forms.
  • Masks are required to enter and must be worn in all OKCPS facilities unless actively participating in competition.  This includes athletes, coaches, administration, and fans in attendance.  No mask, no entry.
  • Social distancing must be maintained at all times.  Use multiple rows for benches at games.  Maintain distancing at practices and when waiting for games in the stands.  Do not allow athletes to congregate closely together without masks on.
  • Limit attendance to 25% of gym capacity for competitions.
  • No Cheerleaders at any competitions during Orange Alert Level 2 due to Limited Capacity of 25% per Facility. Cheer teams can continue to practice.
  • Middle school sports will begin practice and competitions. Game schedules will be updated as necessary.