Extra curricular activities in Waterloo Region high schools are being cancelled effective December 10th to the 31st.

The Waterloo Region District School Board made the announcement in response to the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation announcing yesterday its members will not be taking part in extra curricular activities starting December 10th, teachers won’t arrive more than 15 minutes prior to class and they will leave immediately after class.

Executive Superintendent for Human Resources Services Mark Schinkel tells 570 News they’re not sure what to expect when students come back from Christmas break, “We anticipate receiving more information as the month proceeds and we will offer clarification to the community as to what to anticipate in the new year. At this point in time it isn’t entirely clear to us what might or might not occur come January 1st.”

Schinkel calls this decision regrettable, but says the teachers are in a legal strike position, “So as employers, we are not able, when the strike action that’s contemplated is a withdrawal from volunteer activities, we don’t have any recourse to respond, other than to accept it as their next step.”

He adds he feels bad for the students, “They count on these activities and they provide a meaningful source of not only satisfaction and enjoyment and a contribution to their well being, but it’s also an important opportunity for learning to take place, so we feel badly.”