Media releases

• A reminder to students about social gatherings during COVID

  Friday, September 11, 2020 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 11 September 2020 – R0136

  With some students across the country returning to their college and university communities to start the Fall Term, education and enforcement is being stepped up to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

  The Province of Ontario remains in Stage 3 of its Reopening Plan, which means there are still restrictions in place around the number of people allowed to gather together.

  The maximum number of people allowed together in a household gathering is 10, and if they’re not all from the same social bubble, then masks must be worn and physical distancing is a must.

  The Niagara Regional Police, as well as Brock Campus Security and by-law enforcement officers in Thorold and St. Catharines are stepping up patrols and enforcement to ensure students living off campus or on are following public health regulations.

  Last week, Brock University published its Good Neighbour Guide with lots of information for students on neighbourhood relations, student life and community resources.

  “The initial response to the launch of our Good Neighbour campaign has been positive and we are continuing to promote the importance of being community-minded and making safe choices to Brock students living off-campus,” said Brad Clarke, Director, Student Life and Success. “Given the inherent risks associated with COVID-19, it is critical that we work together and take action to reduce the possibility of community spread.”

  Thorold Mayor Terry Ugulini said the municipality wants to make sure everything possible is being done to flatten the COVID curve.

  “This is a very serious issue,” he said. “We’re not just dealing with the issues associated with people hosting parties; we’re dealing with health and safety because of COVID-19. This is different from any other year.”

  St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik encouraged students to enjoy what the city has to offer in a safe way and following health recommendations.

  “We know Brock University has worked hard to continue its commitment to providing students with a safe, enriching, high-quality educational experience, and by working together we can also ensure that commitment is in place for our community,” said Sendzik. “I encourage students to be good neighbours and do their part to avoid the risks of COVID-19 community transmission.”

  Police and by-law officers will be taking a zero-tolerance approach to gatherings that exceed public health restrictions, as well as parking, noise or garbage violations. Fines can range from $300 to $5,000 or more.

  Some key Niagara Region Public Health guidelines to remember:

  • Limit the number of guests at gatherings
  • Maintain a safe physical distance of two metres
  • Wash and sanitize your hands often
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
  • Wear a mask and wear it properly
  • Stay home if you’re sick
  • Self-quarantine for 14 days when returning from travel outside Canada

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca or 905-347-1970 

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  Categories: Media releases

• Children headed back to school fearful of COVID-19, research finds

  Wednesday, September 09, 2020 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 9 September 2020 – R0135 

  Most children participating in an ongoing Brock University study on COVID-19 say they’ve missed certain aspects of school, especially seeing friends, and are open to returning to class.

  But many are also worried about becoming sick or bringing the virus home to their families, says Professor of Child and Youth Studies Rebecca Raby.

  “As families and teachers prepare for children to go back to school, either in-person or online, we have generally not heard from children themselves about their views of the pandemic, their experiences of online schooling in the spring, and their thoughts about going back to school,” says Raby.

  Raby is leading a research team that began a study in early April consisting of regular online interviews with 30 children and youth about their experiences at home during the pandemic, including online schooling.

  Details began to emerge in May as the children opened up about their lives during a pandemic. In the early summer, the children shared with the team their back-to-school hopes and fears.

  “As well as missing friends, they missed their peers: interacting with kids who aren’t necessarily their close friends, but just being able to have fun together,” says Raby. “School is a place where they get to hang out and see each other.”

  One 11-year-old girl told the research team she can’t do much during the day because she lives with just her mother, who is often at work.

  “It’s hard because … I don’t have anybody to talk to throughout the day, so I’m kind of alone,” she said.

  Like with parents and teachers, the children had mixed feelings about returning to school, with concerns over safety, logistics, class sizes and other uncertainties.

  Unlike some commentators’ views that children wouldn’t be able or willing to physically distance or wear masks, Raby’s research shows a high level of awareness around the pandemic.

  “A lot of the children we talked to were really aware of the pandemic and of what you need to do to stay safe, and they were worried about other people not following the rules,” says Raby. “It’s important to recognize and honour children’s knowledge and insights in their thinking right now.”

  An eight-year-old girl was focused on what recess might look like.

  “No games of tag, of course,” she said. “Maybe you can use a stick. I think that using a stick with tag is the only way to play the game. You can also play basketball, but if someone touches our ball with their hand, with their hands on it, oh no, they won’t. So no basketball courts, so maybe there won’t be any recess.”

  Raby says many factors — housing/space, finances, family configurations, parents’ work, dis/ability, age and style of online schooling — have shaped children’s experiences during the pandemic, including loneliness, their ability to do online schooling and their willingness to return to school.

  The team reports some broad trends about online learning experiences and back-to-school views, including:

  • Challenges with self-motivation because of learning on their own, finding the work uninteresting and finding themselves easily distracted online.
  • Concerns about not being ready for future grades because of time missed at school, especially among older children.
  • Worries about missing out in those cases where parents are keeping their children at home for the fall term.
  • Worries about safety logistics such as playing with peers during recess, sitting at desks, sharing supplies and space.
  • Feelings of loneliness during online learning and a desire to interact with peers.
  • Enjoyment about learning at their own pace and setting their own routines during online learning.
  • A few participants preferred working at home to avoid social difficulties at school.

  Raby says many children have been quite autonomous and independent over the past six months, which opens up expanded areas of research. Besides her study, there has been little research on children’s experiences and perspectives of the pandemic and return to school.

  “We are interested in how they will they adjust to going back to the rigidity of schooling, especially when there are more limits on their autonomy with new protocols around distancing,” she says.

  Brock University Professor of Child and Youth Studies Rebecca Raby is available for media interviews.

   

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases