Student viewpoint: First week of high school
School has finally started again at OHS, but things are not quite the same. Before school started, students had the option to either go to school and wear masks all day or to stay home and do online school. All Olney High School students started school on Aug. 24.
Students have faced many obstacles while entering school. For example, students who do online classes are not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities. There still have been many more changes in the high school.
For instance, if students drive to school, they have to wait in their car until the bell rings. Students also have to get their temperatures taken before they can enter the building. If a student has a temperature over 100 degrees they will be sent home. Students are required to wear masks all day unless there is a class that has six students or less and that are six feet apart, then all students can take off their masks.
Breakfast and lunch have also changed tremendously. Breakfast is now a carry out only, and students are not allowed to eat breakfast in the cafeteria. During lunch, students have two options: to sit in the cafeteria and or to eat outside. Students who sit in the cafeteria now have to all face one direction while having a seat between one another. The school has provided benches for students to eat outside, but there can only be four students per table. When students are done eating, they are required to put their masks on and have the six feet apart distance.
Athletics has also made a huge change due to this pandemic. Coaches go out of their way to protect the students in order to not lose their season.
During volleyball, if you are not active or not on the court you have to wear your mask. Coaches have given each students a gaiter so it is easier to slip on and off when wearing masks. After each practice the head volleyball coach, Pulliam, sprays and sanitizes the volleyballs. Also, athletes are given a personal water bottle since water fountains are not allowed to be used. There is a water jug that is provided, but athletes are not allowed to touch it. Only the coach can fill up water bottles; no one else can touch the spout so there can be no contamination.
“Every thing is very different now and I know everyone is just trying to keep us safe, I just love playing volleyball and I hope we don’t have to cancel our season,” high school student Brie Hagle said.
In conclusion, there have been many changes done to the high school. In order to keep everyone safe and healthy. “ I believe that the school has done a great job of making sure that everyone is safe as possible”, high school teacher Mrs. Kimbro said. “Hopefully with the changes in place, we can keep everyone in school and avoid closure.”