Videos circulated online last week of students gathering outside the school grounds at lunchtime in Kelowna without following social distancing protocols.

The videos garnered some media attention but left Interior Health and Central Okanagan Public Schools with no definitive ideas on how to address the problem.

Kevin Kaardal, superintendent/CEO of Central Okanagan Public Schools, issued a statement asking parents, store owners and other members of the community to support the school districtsa国际传媒檚 efforts to reinforce values of safety and responsibility among students.

sa国际传媒淥ur staff at secondary schools work hard to organize and supervise students as they arrive, take breaks, and leave campus. We also continue to educate students on responsible behaviour during the pandemic and being community contributors at all times,sa国际传媒� said the statement.

sa国际传媒淥ur efforts to reduce risk at schools are greatly impacted by community memberssa国际传媒� behaviour sa国际传媒� students and their families need to understand that personal responsibility extends beyond school grounds.sa国际传媒�

Interior Health declined to comment, pointing to provincial health director Dr. Bonnie Henrysa国际传媒檚 response to that question during her press conference on Monday (Sept. 28).

Asked about students gathering off school sites and outside of their cohorts at convenience stores or local restaurants, Henry said teenagers are presented with challenges with how schools are adjusting to the COVID-19 health safety requirements.

sa国际传媒淚 know itsa国际传媒檚 very different, particularly for teenagers, and that strong urge to be socially connected at that time in our lives is a very challenging one to overcome,sa国际传媒� Henry said.

She students gathering in groups raise concerns about a contagious disease like COVID being brought home and infecting family members.

sa国际传媒淭hose are important things and I know young people believe that as well. So nowsa国际传媒檚 the time, wesa国际传媒檙e getting over the novelty of how this going to work, to put in place those rituals, those procedures so that we can safely go back to school, continue the learning and the connection that we have and not have those potential exposure events outside of the school setting,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淪o parents and young people, letsa国际传媒檚 support each other and stay small.sa国际传媒�

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