August 26, 2020
Closed for the labour day long weekend.
Saturday, September 5th – Monday, September 7th
Hi Everyone, I just wanted to update you on what’s happening at Superkids Karate.
Like expected the classes are quite small at the moment. 5-7 years old (5-8 students) 8-12 years old (8-12 students) Teens (12-17 students)
One change we made to our previous Covid-19 protocol. Students waiting for classes are not waiting outside to enter together. That caused too much congestion. They enter as they arrive and wait separated in the office, the waiting area, or into the workout floor while the other class is going on.
Everyone is temperature checked for fever and use hand sanitizer before and after each class. All doors are left open so that students do not touch any handles when entering or leaving. Also left wide open for circulation of fresh air.
There are no parents waiting inside watching classes. No students and parents doing homework in my office. No changing in the change rooms.
Parents coming in to pick up the younger kids (5-7 years) must wear a mask.
All students wear a mask when training and NEVER take it off. If they need to take it off for a “breather”, they must step outside of the building.
All students have adjusted really well to wearing a mask while training and have been very respectful of protocols. To my surprise, very few are fiddling with it and complaining about it being uncomfortable.
When working with partners, the students are instructed to go with the same partner as last time. This way to make their own social circle within the Karate school. Students are also instructed to watch out for each other. If they see anyone touching their faces under their masks, they are instructed to tell each other to re sanitize.
After using pads, they are discarded to the other end of the dojo and not used again until they are cleaned.
If masks get too wet, the effectiveness is compromised. Students are encouraged to bring in a spare if they are having this issue.
I’ve been tested 4 times since opening the school in August. I get tested every Monday. Each time I ask the nurses different ways that I can keep everyone safe while training in the dojo.
Their advice in order of importance was to wear a mask, wash or sanitize your hands often, and to limit yourself from touching anything.
The nurses say when everyone is doing this, it is very safe, even if physical distancing of 6 feet is not possible.
I know a lot of parents are having second thoughts of having their kids start school in September. My question to the nurse a few days ago was, ” Do you feel it is safe to have the kids go back to school in September even with the class sizes unchanged?”
His answer was if the kids are all wearing a mask, washing their hands regularly and not touching and sharing belongings of other students, then he can’t see why not?” He also said a lot of thought has gone into the reopening of schools. The gov’t has worked very hard for 5 months to get the new case numbers to this level and it would be very irresponsible to throw it all away with one bad decision. Keeping a child at home and not giving them the opportunity for interaction with other children could possibly have a negative effect on their mental health. He also recommended that the kids in the lower grades (3 and under ) wear a mask too. I’ll ask this again next week, I always like to get a second opinion.
Lastly, if any students or parents are not feeling well, or have traveled outside of Canada within the last 14 days please do not come into the dojo.
Full and honest transparency from everyone is more necessary than ever.
I hope everyone is having a terrific summer and look forward to seeing you all back soon.
Thank you for your trust and confidence, take care and be well,
Sensei Kwong
