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Youth sports are a mixed bag during the pandemic

It’s been a mixed bag during the pandemic for youth sports. Kids need to move and have exercise but for good reason youth sports were shut down this spring to protect them and the community from COVID-19.

However as adults, it’s been a mixed bag across the spectrum. Some haven’t been doing their job to ensure the safety of the kids during this crazy time.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel took a look at it in ‘I just want to play’: $19 billion youth sports industry powers ahead through the pandemic largely unregulated. For the most part, I have seen most of what they have described. But what they have described mirrors society and is not specific to youth sports.

I’ve been proud of what the youth soccer clubs have been doing in Colorado to ensure the safety. The proper protocols have been put in place and for the most part families have been following them to ensure safety and that the kids can continue to play.

However that can not be said for other sports. I have seen baseball teams practicing on fields that are closed by the local county and no one wearing masks when not playing. Coaches should be wearing masks the entire time.

Teams have been traveling out of Colorado to play in tournaments because they could not happen here. This only increases the danger and spread of the disease. This is not good if we want to keep our kids playing.

As parents and responsible adults we need to set the positive example for our kids. Follow the guidelines and the rules and not only will we keep the kids playing but we will eventually kick this pandemic so we can get back to as near to what normal was as possible.

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Should Colorado schools go to a four day week?

This article in today’s Denver Post raises an interesting question, will urban schools move towards a 4-day week instead of the traditional 5-day week.

I think it is time for a creative look at school in this country and COVID-19 is forcing schools to re-think how they teach our kids. Last spring did not go well for our kids despite the best effort. They liked the online non-synchronous learning as it allowed them to sleep in and work on their projects and work at their own pace and when they work the best.

But the synchronous learning that they are doing this fall is much more impactful on them and I think they are learning a lot more. They still can do their work when they feel they work best, but they are not missing a beat with the online learning. I think they are liking it better.

One thing that they are doing this fall on online learning is Wednesday is a non-teaching day. The students have work to do by a specific time, but there are no scheduled classes. If a student needs some extra help, the teachers have office hours available.

They were already on a shortened day on Wednesdays. The had a half a day and that allowed the teachers to have a day of planning. It would not be a big stretch for my kid’s school district to go to a 4-day school week. It is something that could be beneficial to the kids and save the district funding while trying to keep all the big buildings cool or warm 5-days a week.

What are your thoughts?

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Driving through the plains

A couple of weeks ago I went for drive in the eastern plains. I started out in Greeley through Brush and Byers back home. I just needed to get out during this new normal.

Fort Morgan, the eastern plains, and Last Chance.
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Happy Easter

Happy Easter from Colorado as we are social distancing.

It was 72 degrees yesterday and it’s now 30. We received some snow overnight, enough to cover the pansies.

Snow on Easter Sunday