Editorial: School Deserves Praise for Community Uplift

Director of Enrollment Brian Beale welcomes students to school on Opening Day earlier this year. (©David M. Barron / Oxygen Group)

While the COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges for learning environments, the Administration has worked continuously to ensure the safety and well-being of all students.

As the School enters its fourth month of the 2021-2022 academic year, we must extend our gratitude to the faculty and staff who have made the return to school close to that of pre-pandemic years.

With COVID-19 restrictions constantly adapting over the past two years, the School has accommodated students in many ways. Last year, the school day began later with modified schedules, a new system of lunches, and frequent COVID-19 testing.

Among the many safety precautions such as mask-wearing and social distancing, the School has remained dedicated to creating a healthy and stress-free campus.

This year, as students commenced their classes in September, there was much more flexibility within COVID-19 restrictions. Today, we enjoy a social and academic environment much closer to past years with the reopening of the cafeteria, athletics and theatre department, and many other opportunities within the classroom.

We owe the administration, faculty, and staff a heartfelt thank you for all that they have done to support and uplift the community this year.

Our community has persevered and proved resilient by battling COVID-19 restrictions and supporting each other during an unprecedented time. However, none of this would have been possible without the work of the Administration.

We owe the administration, faculty, and staff a heartfelt thank you for all that they have done to support and uplift the community this year.

We are grateful for the faculty, who have found different ways to learn and thrive as a community under modified conditions. Throughout the pandemic, classrooms have not faltered as faculty have continuously provided students with an engaging and dynamic academic experience.

Additionally, Director of Health Services Beth Escobar has worked tirelessly to keep our community safe. Through providing weekly COVID-19 testing and encouraging safety protocols, Escobar has ensured that the School remains a healthy environment and we are thankful for her efforts.

Furthermore, with the return of events like Harvestfest and the annual Thanksgiving assembly, we owe thanks to the Administration for the ability to reconnect as a community after a year six feet apart. Students have found further joy in the reopening of the athletics and theatre department, with in-person events and performances being a highlight after an isolated year.

From maintaining student health to promoting a lively learning environment, it is clear that the Administration truly cares about the safety well-being of all students. We greatly appreciate the School’s support and wish to extend our gratitude to all of the faculty and staff members who have made the return to the 2021-2022 school year feel much closer to normal.