Extra-curricular activities can start again today.

EXCITEMENT is the shared feeling of Guernsey’s extra-curricular activity providers, who can start teaching face to face again today.

KD Dance students surprising their teacher Miss Amy in their KD team kit during lockdown 2. Image by Amy Mumford. (29357085)

Many involve manual or group elements so hand sanitiser and sign-in sheets will be used to be safe.

Some were able to hold lockdown sessions online, but it was challenging at times without the correct facilities.

‘We were waiting for Beau Sejour to run Monday classes which are held there, and were given the go-ahead on Friday,’ Brandi Attewell, KD Dance co-principal and B Creative Dance & Fitness director.

Brandi Attewell, KD Dance co-principal. Image by Etienne Laine. (29357083)

Since then she and co-principal Kirsty Bell have been busily preparing to get going again.

‘We are now able to get back to normal, which is fantastic. Everyone is very excited.’

Lockdown has taken a toll on students, who are excited to get off Zoom to see teachers and friends again in the studio, she said.

‘We’ll be back for a couple of weeks before breaking up for Easter.

‘The only differences will be that we’ll still use hand sanitiser and have a sign in, but everyone’s feeling good about this week.’

Anna Petts, Island Gymnastics operations manager, said as a stage three activity, lessons were held virtually in lockdown.

‘We’re so excited. For some children Zoom takes up the internet when their parents are working from home, so we’ve had about 50% of students joining in online.’

Upon their return students will be rewarded for completing international competitions from home, with squad gymnasts graded by an international judge.

‘It will be absolutely lovely to hand out certificates and medals in the first week back. We entered about five competitions and they have all done so well, so it will be lovely for them to be awarded.’

Thirst Music School director Wayne Mahy said: ‘We’re very happy, we’ve done probably 85% of our lessons online. It has affected everyone in a different way, but everyone is coming back.’

Wayne Mahy, Director of Thirst Music School. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 29357140)

Many students were excited for the Battle of the School Bands competition on 8 February, which had to be postponed

‘Some were disappointed, but we’ve managed to move it to 15 May. We’re really relieved about it.’

Lockdown may have offered more chance to practise, and it was easier to adjust to online lessons this time, he said.

‘From Monday everything should be back to normal, I’m feeling really positive about it – we just have to keep moving forward.’