This year, we have noticed a massive growth in sick students and teachers. While a fall flu and cold is not abnormal, the rate and vigor that illness has spread around campus has shocked us.

In addition to the common cold, pneumonia and COVID-19 have made a brutal resurrection within the community.

Their effect on the student body has been vast and merciless, sending many individuals home and others to Director of Health Services Beth Escobar.

“We have seen an uptick in student and faculty absences during September and that is to be expected. Students and faculty have been away from school for almost three months and when school begins again, many germs start mingling,” Escobar said. “Sleep is very restorative and we can’t live without it. Proper nutrition is key as well.”

The illness has reared its fiery head through the student population, leaving chaos in its wake. Class numbers have dwindled as students are forced to take time to rest and recover at home.

However, many students have chosen to brave the illness and continue attending school even though they feel unwell. We understand the motivations behind these decisions, seeing as now is an incredibly busy time at school and many teachers are assigning important daily work and assessments, which students must make up if they are not in class.

Nevertheless, by staying at school and refusing to go home, students are contaminating the school and putting their classmates are risk. While it’s important that students stay caught up on school work, it’s imminent that they’ll spread their sickness if they refuse to isolate.