1st Place, Environmental, Health or Science
2021-22, Division MS, News Writing
By Luke Marmou
Crane
Cranbrook Kingswood Boys MS
Some felt nervous. Others were undecided. But she was ready. “[I] felt relieved and hopeful when I learned that the vaccine had been approved for children, ages 5-11,” Brookside Assistant Director Kai Robinson said when she heard the news last November 2, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children. This was almost a year after a vaccine became available for adults and, five months later, also for kids 12 and older. “It has been a long (almost) two years and it feels as if the vaccine will allow us to turn a corner.” With almost 8 million 5–11-year-olds living in the U.S., the KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), a nonprofit organization focusing on national health issues, stated that a month after it being permitted by the Center for Disease Control “an estimated 16.7% of 5-11 year-olds had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose as of December 5, 2021.” As pharmacies, hospitals, and pediatricians’ offices started to distribute the vaccine to eligible kids, Cranbrook School showed support by organizing a clinic for the Covid-19 vaccine for kids with Mills Pharmacy in November and December 2021. “Because Covid-19 had been around for around two years, and I feel this is a big step to neutralize Covid-19,” Cranbrook middle school for boys sixth grader Cranbrook student Josif Basha said.
Even with the CDC’s predicted side effects such as fatigue, aches and pains, headaches, chills, and nausea, Basha said he only felt an ache in his arm for a day. “I know many kids were more than happy to roll up their sleeves and get the shot,” Robinson said. “I did not hear of any kids who had the kinds of reactions adults were having. I imagine there may have been some sore arms but mostly I saw lots of smiles.”
While Robinson said the vaccines have allowed Cranbrook students to take field trips on the Cranbrook campus, there are still precautions regarding trips to off campus locations and other important decisions regarding student safety.
“[There is] still insecurity about when we can return to how things were before Covid,” Head of Middle School for Boys Kirk Effinger said. “There are so many other variables that influence developments. Our driving goal has been to maintain in-person instruction. We need to be able to do that.”
NW-17. Environmental, Health or Science
This story will focus on an environmental, health or science topic. It can be a straight news story or an investigative piece.
Judging Criteria
- Topic relevant to the school or students and covers health, science or environmental story that is informative
- Sharp, attention-getting lead grabs reader and arouses curiosity
- Shows thorough reporting skills through research and interviewing
- Effective use of facts/quotes from both primary and secondary sources
- Balanced, fair and sensitive presentation
- Sentences, paragraphs of varied length; written clearly, concisely and vividly
- Proper diction/grammar; use of third person