Alessandra Gass. Features Editor
For the past two years, NCHS has attempted to put utmost amount of effort into protecting the health of the community. Students wore masks in schools and maintained distance from others, all in the hopes of returning to a sense of normalcy. While restrictions and adherence to guidelines allowed case numbers to lower, many feel that COVID remains a prevalent force in day-to-day life. Even though a more traditional school year has been planned, the question has been raised: are truly we living in a post-COVID world?
Dr. Brian Luizzi, the superintendent of NCPS, acknowledges that our new routine may permanently differ from that of the past. “I don’t believe in saying that we’re going back to normal. We’ve learned so much, and we don’t want to forget all the things that we learned and go back to the way we were pre-pandemic,” he said. “We are still affected by COVID, and we must use the lessons we’ve learned to continue on our path forward.”
On August 29th, students and faculty were given the choice to begin school without masks. “It was very refreshing to start the new school year and see most people’s faces,” said Lindsay Reihl, one of the school counselors. “Obviously, we do still have some people in masks, but it really helps to connect with students and colleagues with less sense of fear and worry in the world.”
However, many have remained cautious of COVID, choosing to wear masks and adhere to guidelines. William Egan, Principal, recognizes that the possibility of contracting COVID is not completely gone. “The mask-optional policy is really that: if you feel like you need to wear a mask, then wear a mask,” he said. “I want people to do what feels best for them, as it will help them enjoy the year safely. COVID is not gone, and we must learn to coexist with it”
Yes, it’s scary to take off our masks and begin to live life without cautionary measures, as the possibility of falling ill has not been eliminated. However, Dr. Luizzi believes that moving forward will aid in coexistence with the virus. “We’re at a point now where COVID still has some impact on our schools and our operations, where some may still get sick and have to be out for a period of time,” he says. “After the disruptions that we’ve face in the last couple of years, we’ve figured out how to quickly adjust and making sure that disruptions don’t become anything more than they have to be. ”
Knowing that COVID remains a threat can be worrisome, but once you feel ready to reincorporate pre-pandemic activities into your life, counselor Erica Schaedler offers a few tips. “As much as possible and as much as you’re comfortable with, get back out there and do the things that used to feel really normal,” Ms. Schaedler said.“Even just going to dinner, which a lot of people didn’t do for a while, it’s incredibly nice to just get back out there. Concerts are also another thing that I would really recommend if you’re trying to get back out there and move forward.”
While many students and faculty may continue to feel affected by the pandemic, extracurriculars have begun to lift restrictions on participants. Nicholas Mohammed, who has been cast as Angus in the upcoming Tuck Everlasting musical, is extremely happy with the changes made in the theater department. “Even though we wore clear masks during our productions last year, having no mask at all allows you to become more immersed in your acting and singing,” said Nick. “Additionally, wearing a mask can ruin the quality of the microphone on your face, as the sound can become muffled or unclear. Taking off masks improved everyone’s performance and allowed everyone in the play to fully experience it.”
Aside from the theater, many athletes have felt that lessened limitations on their sports teams have improved their abilities and team connections. “We’re able to travel to other towns and play other teams, without worrying about our health,” said Pippa Murray, a sophomore on the junior-varsity field hockey team. “The best part about playing a sport is the connection you build with your team, and I feel that it has truly returned once restrictions were lifted.”
Homecoming and Prom, two major events typically held each year pre-COVID, are currently planning to return in full-swing. “We are cautiously optimistic that we will be able to hold all of our events at full capacity and be able to do it,” said Mr. Egan. “We want to move forward and enjoy the year, and this will allow us to do so. We want our students to remain safe while simultaneously making the most of their limited high-school years.”
It has also been noted that the removal of masks in the classroom allow students to grasp material easier, and make absorbing information a less-painstaking process. “Now that I can see my teachers face, I feel more engaged in the lesson,” said Pippa. “Before, we were just sitting at our desks listening to our teacher speak from a distance. Now our learning is more hands-on and immersive.”
Our new version of normal is foreign to all, and it will prove beneficial for the community to continue to stick together and experience it as a whole.“School should be a place that challenges students to be the best they can be academically, physically, in the arts, and everything in between, but a major part of school is the social experience,” Mr. Egan said. “I think it was really hard for students and teachers alike, and even though many aspects of our life may seem normal again, we should understand that it’s going to take time before we can get back to where we were.”
