(a) "Extra-curricular activities" means student-related athletic, social, recreational and cultural activities, occurring outside the normal school day, but does not include activities related to academic or instructional matters or curriculum subjects outside the normal school day, whether such occur alone or with students, parents or administrative staff, such as (without limitation) staff meetings, parent/teacher meetings, committee work, in-service sessions, marking and setting examinations, or marking school assignments.
(b) The parties acknowledge the importance of extra-curricular activities as an integral part of each student's educational experience.
(c) An eligible extra-curricular activity is an activity which has received prior approval from the school principal.
(d) (i) In any school year (as per the Minister of Education’s definition) a teacher will be entitled to a paid leave of absence of one-half day for twenty-five (25) hours of eligible extra-curricular activities to a maximum of four (4) half days. Hours not meeting the minimum requirement (of 25 hours) can be carried over to the next school year.
(ii) The date for such leave shall be agreed upon between the principal and the teacher and such additional day shall not be cumulative beyond the current school year. However, the two half days may be used up to December 15 of the following school year. The teacher shall provide at least two weeks notice of the request to the principal.
(iii) Should coverage for the teacher’s assignment be necessary for the date agreed upon the Board shall provide a substitute teacher at no cost to the teacher.
(e) Teachers authorized to engage in approved extra-curricular activities shall be reimbursed for their proven reasonable and actual out-of-pocket expenses.
(f) Extra-curricular activities shall be considered voluntary.