Editor's note: Karim Zohdy is a Grade 12 student at College Heights Secondary with an interest in writing and journalism. On his own initiative, he reached out to The Citizen in June about internship opportunities. With COVID-19 in mind, we had him shadow a couple of our reporters on assignment during parts of the summer. This is his first news story.
Four weeks into the new school year and area high school students have adjusted to the new COVID-19 pandemic rules.
At College Heights Secondary, students wash their hands every morning and wear masks in the hallways. These halls are much more disciplined this year, since chattering groups don’t form at lunch. This is because of new rules that aim to decrease the likelihood of an outbreak. Students must either stay in their first class or leave the school during lunch hour.
Everyone has also received safety briefings, outlining the new procedures and educating students on the symptoms of COVID19.
One of the most significant changes has been the transition to a quarterly system, where students take two classes per day instead of four. This system makes it easier to group students into separate learning groups, where specific groups of students take classes together.
Theo Halka, a Grade 12 student at College Heights, likes the new system.
“I actually enjoy having two longer classes per day, compared to the four per day we used to have," he said. "I find it more productive.”
On the other hand, the learning group system has made student schedules much less flexible, a change Cooper Chamberlain, another Grade 12 student, doesn't appreciate.
“To be honest, it gets a bit annoying, but I understand why,” he said. "It could be worse."
The learning group system also only applies to inside the school. Holka out that, although the “school has done their best given the situation ... everyone just takes their masks off and huddles when they get outside.”
Within the school, College Heights is taking steps to make this year easier for students. For example, the WIFI reception has improved, which is especially useful since the pandemic makes using school provided laptops difficult, Halka noted.
“We can use our own devices without having any problems, whether it’s to do work or to unwind during a break our teacher might give us.”
Arrival times have also been staggered to avoid crowding. Younger students arrive at school on time and older students arrive a bit later.
"As a Grade 12 student, I particularly enjoy being able to start school a little later and finish a little earlier,” Halka said.
Overall, students have taken the current situation in stride and classes are running well. Students are finding creative ways to engage with their classmates. For example, the chess club, unable to run in school, has been able to continue online. Important assemblies also take place on Zoom and the learning groups have been able to foster a sense of camaraderie. Despite all of the changes, school has managed to adapt and remain engaging. After such a long time away from school, Halka echoed a common sentiment.
“I’m just really happy to be back.”
