After almost a year of distance learning, Northwood students and teachers were invited back to school beginning Feb. 1 under Plan B. Although distance learning has led to several challenges, it has also been challenging for school staff to make in-person learning happen. Many safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have been put in place since students’ return to Northwood’s campus. When students arrive at the building they are asked a series of COVID-related questions and their temperature is taken. Then, students are required to immediately report to their first period class. Every hallway has social distancing markers and desks are wiped down after each class.
Northwood students in Cohort A returned to campus Monday, Feb. 1, and those in Cohort B returned Thursday, Feb. 4. To gather more information on how students felt about the start of Plan B, The Omniscient sent out a survey to all students after the first week of school.
“I feel good being back at school,” senior Navya Babu said. “It’s definitely an adjustment, but it makes me more motivated to learn and helps me be more productive because I am physically going somewhere to get my education rather than just sitting at home.”
Students also gave their input on the changes in the daily school routine since returning to Northwood.
“Though the experience and protocol due to COVID is much different than before, it still feels fairly normal to be back at school,” Babu said.
“I liked it much more than I thought I would,” Addy Poole said. “I thought the whole mask thing would throw me off and make the experience worse, but it’s really not that bad. ”
“I’ve been surprised about how well everything has been working,” freshman Sydney Julian said.
“How small the classes are [is surprising],” another student said. “Truth be told, I kind of enjoy it. I like how personalized classes feel now and hope that it stays this way.”
Out of the students who answered the survey (56), the majority reported that so far they felt “good” or “really good” about being back at school.
“I have surprisingly liked the schedule and movement provided by in-person school,” senior Ella Sullivan said. “At home, I did not realize how monotonous my life was becoming.”
“I do find a small bit of enjoyment of being able to get more of a one-on-one approach with learning,” senior Skyyler Hodge said.
Although Plan B just began, over half of students that filled out the survey reported feeling just as productive learning on Plan B as on Plan C.
“Going to school twice a week under Plan B has replenished my motivation, but I feel like my productivity is about the same,” sophomore Olivia McMurray said. “I tried my best to stay on top of schoolwork last semester and not procrastinate, and that has carried over into this new semester.”
“For me, my schoolwork has to be completed; therefore, being at home versus school makes no difference,” junior Noah Civiletti said.
For other students, being back at school provides extra motivation to engage more in their learning and school work.
“I feel like in school I’m more determined to actually do my work,” Julian said.
One anonymous responder wrote, “It’s a lot easier to engage in person, and having less zooms makes it much easier for me to focus.”
On the other hand, some students reported they were able to complete more work outside of the classroom and worked better in their own space.
“I work better at my own pace, not on a school schedule,” another anonymous student said.
Survey responders also noted some nonacademic positives of coming back to school, including cultivating relationships.
“It’s great being able to have social interaction,” freshman Ava DeYoung said.
Chatham County high schools will continue to operate under Plan B for the foreseeable future. At this time, a date for returning to Plan A at the high school level has not yet been officially considered by the CCS Board of Education.
