By Brooklynn Hathcock
Arrow
Utica HS
1st Place
Division 2, News Writing
Return to School
After learning remotely since Michigan closed schools in March, it was announced that students and staff will slowly be brought back into schools for face-to-face learning. Schools will be attempting to bring students back on Nov. 9.
“I am very excited to go back and meet new people, but school will not be the same, especially since we will only be there for two days and see half the class,” sophomore Savannah Ruiz said. “I also think the health code rules will be very strict, as well, so it will take a lot of interaction away such as hugging friends and high-fives, which I find fun.”
Many new rules and protocols are up in the air, but the plan for now will be to keep students’ “A” and “B days,” instead now calling them “Orange” and “Black” days. Cohort groups will be taking place for students’ schedules, meaning students will be now hybrid learning. Only going in class for two days a week, remote for two days, and Wednesday all students will be remote.
“To begin this transition, students will be in school for two full days of school each week through a cohort group of students,” principal Thomas Lietz said. “By pairing students in cohort groups, we are able to manage the interactions between students and mitigate any potential spread of COVID-19. In addition, we are increasing the number of lunch hours each day to five different sessions.”
Cohort Groups
In order to try and keep the classrooms, hallways, and the entire school at half capacity, cohort groups were created. Students’ group assignments correspond to their last name and that determines what days they will be in school face-to-face, or at home for remote learning.
The Orange group consists of students with last names beginning with A-K, and the Black group consists of students with last names beginning with L-Z.
The purpose of the groupings is to keep the classrooms at half capacity, socially distanced, and clean, but students acknowledge this change will take some adjustment.
“I’m not too sure how I feel about this change yet,” junior Olivia Pinto said. “I’m super happy to go back into school, don’t get me wrong, but I’m very worried about my family, friends, and as well as myself for now being possibly exposed to COVID. I have high hopes and a positive outlook for the year, but I’m not too sure how long it’ll last to say the least.”
The cohorts will allow students to meet with half of each class, and each teacher, once per week, since the hybrid schedule has students attending their first three classes on A days, and the last three classes on B days.
Safe Environment
Utica Community Schools has made lots of accommodations for COVID-19 to keep classrooms a safe environment for the staff and students.
Masks are required for anyone in the building, and signs will be post- ed throughout the building as re- minders. Students must wear their masks properly, covering their nose and mouth, according the CDC guidelines.
Keeping students socially dis- tanced while sitting in class, they will also be doing all work on the laptops that they received prior to school starting this year. This will prevent the amount of things being touched and passed around by one and another.
Travel throughout the school will also be limited to one direction where possible, as well as stairways that only allow up or down travel. The main stairwell, across from the media center and counseling offices, will be closed off to travel.
Secondary students will also be required to help and do their part by cleaning up after themselves. Students will wipe off their desk or work area when they arrive into the classroom, and again before leaving the classroom.
In addition to the alcohol wipes were purchased for student use, classrooms will also have hand sanitizer and gloves. Masks will also be available in every class, in the event that a student’s mask breaks and they need a new one.
Self Screening
Another way students will help by doing their part will be to self-screen every day before arriving to Utica.
“Students must be self-screened by parent or legal guardian prior to reporting in-person to any school class, function, or activity including short duration visits,” according to a memo sent to Utica Community Schools employees and volunteers, who were directed to make sure their students were following the protocols.
Self-screening is a quick and easy process for any student or staff member, and it’s a way to do a quick check if whether or not it is safe for them to go to school. This is done by asking yourself if you have or have had a fever in the past week, if you have any of the COVID-19 symptoms, like nausea, throwing up, etc.
In addition to remaining off school grounds, those who answer yes to any question should promptly contact the Department of Health and Human Services or family phy- sician for further guidance, accord- ing to the memo. It also states that schools should call the Executive Administrator of Schools office with any cases of COVID-19 or close contacts of COVID-19 immediately.
Doing this will make a big dif- ference to the school, helping stu- dents and staff feel more safe while being in the classroom, hallway, or lunch with others.
If one is to test positive for COVID-19, that student will be sent home to quarantine for two weeks then make sure to get a negative test back. Students around them will do the same, to make sure there
isn’t any second-hand exposure.
“With a global pandemic underway,” Interim Superintendent Robert Monroe wrote in an email, “the safety of your child and your child’s teacher is something we take seriously.”
Monroe also acknowledged the many concerns ex- pressed by the community.
“UCS reflects our country: Some feel we are moving too quickly; others feel we are much too slow,” Monroe said in his letter. “Regardless of where people stand, and we listen to all perspectives, our commitment is to have all students back in the classroom, but only when a safe and positive learning environment can occur.”
Lunch Protocols
With CARES act funding, all school lunches, in addition to breakfasts, are free for all students throughout the school year.
Utica will also be adding on to its normal three lunch periods, increasing them to fifive. Students will fifind out their lunch schedule for the year in an upcoming e-mail that teachers will receive and tell their students.
Lunches will go based on student’s second hour on “Orange” or “A” days, and their fififtfth hour on “Black” or “B” days. Lunches will be held in either the auxiliary gym or the cafeteria. Students will be spaced six feet apart, and will have assigned seating.
“I was so sad to hear that even the lunches would be socially distanced,” senior Landon Sitarski said. “I don’t think this far ahead with how much COVID-19 is going to change the normal school day. I was excited to at least see my friends more oftften, but now I don’t think I’ll be able to interact at all without it being totally safe.”
Students Already Back in School
Some UCS students and staffff have already re- turned to school buildings. Kindergarten through fifirst grade, as well as special needs students, have been in school since Oct. 26.
UCS junior highs will begin next week, along with MST and CSI students.
“For me personally, I liked in-person school. It was nice to be in an actual classroom, and be able to learn face-to- face. Online school can be diffifficult to keep focus at times,” senior Alex Powerski said. “I was a little worried over being exposed to COVID-19 due to people not properly wearing mask and not taking that we are in a pandemic seriously. ThThe district, I believe, is doing the best it can under the cir- cumstances because, in my opinion, no matter what they do COVID-19 will still be there and people will get it.”
Many districts have already returned to face-to-face learning, like Rochester, Chippewa Valley, and Armada. Many schools, however, have had to close due to positive tests and quarantines.
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