As the first “normal” school year with COVID-19 rolls out, almost all students and staff are back at school with safety precautions being mandated.

On July 19, Kelley Gallt, superintendent, sent an email about the 2021-2022 school year stating that “the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has recommended that all Districts within the State of Illinois be prepared to implement one of five instructional models beginning during the 2021-22 school year.”

This year, according to a Bear Facts survey of 348 students, many students are feeling more satisfied with the safety guidelines with almost 57% of survey respondents saying they feel there is nothing that makes them feel uncomfortable or concerned with attending school.

“For me, specifically, I don’t feel like I’m in any danger at all. I feel like [the guidelines] are perfect the way they are but I like how it’s not too strict where it gives you the freedom to walk to classes next to your friends, and sit on the learning stairs or sit across from [each other], not micromanaging what we’re doing,” McKenzie Anderson, junior, said. “But I do like the constant reminders [about masks].”

Lily Garcia, health and PE teacher, expressed a few different thoughts. Garcia says that although “the guidelines are fine,” there needs to be more enforcement in order for students to understand that it is “just human rights to feel safe and protected” for everyone, including their family members and teachers around them.

“I’m really just focused more on what’s happening in the classroom and how I can make sure [students] feel safe in the classroom and feel like they have enough space that they wanted and needed. [I am] really just trying to follow the requirements for the classroom,” Garcia said.

Despite her high comfort level, Anderson addressed a singular concern of hers regarding the adherence to rules in the school.

“[What] concerns me the most maybe is probably just the only couple bit of like outliers who don’t wear their masks,” Anderson said. “Sometimes, if you go outside and [people] don’t wear masks that might freak me out a little bit just because some people who aren’t vaccinated might be spreading [the virus].”

Anderson isn’t alone in her concern. Almost 35% of surveyed students regard individuals who do not wear their masks correctly as one of their worries about attending school. Although Anderson says she believes the “school has done a lot to help the students, especially with the reminders every day [about] masks in the morning,” she is afraid that the lack of proper mask-wearing may lead to a shutdown of the school.

Though there are some problems that still need to be addressed, like the “confusion” Garcia says she feels due to the underlying circumstances for each different setting, the overall distancing and organization of classrooms is much better than previous years.

As everyone returns to the building this year, Garcia says she hopes teachers and students will be patient with each other as everyone adapts to being back at school. In addition, she feels excited to be back at school to return to a more normal setting with students in classrooms.

“By far the best thing about coming back is getting a chance to get to know kids and laugh with them, hear the funny things they say, hear how their lives are going, see them for the first time after lots of time on zoom, and really be reminded of why we are teaching students,” Garcia said.

[/sidebar]As the first “normal” school year with COVID-19 rolls out, almost all students and staff are back at school with safety precautions being mandated.

On July 19, Kelley Gallt, superintendent, sent an email about the 2021-2022 school year stating that “the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has recommended that all Districts within the State of Illinois be prepared to implement one of five instructional models beginning during the 2021-22 school year.”

This year, according to a Bear Facts survey of 348 students, many students are feeling more satisfied with the safety guidelines with almost 57% of survey respondents saying they feel there is nothing that makes them feel uncomfortable or concerned with attending school.

“For me, specifically, I don’t feel like I’m in any danger at all. I feel like [the guidelines] are perfect the way they are but I like how it’s not too strict where it gives you the freedom to walk to classes next to your friends, and sit on the learning stairs or sit across from [each other], not micromanaging what we’re doing,” McKenzie Anderson, junior, said. “But I do like the constant reminders [about masks].”

Lily Garcia, health and PE teacher, expressed a few different thoughts. Garcia says that although “the guidelines are fine,” there needs to be more enforcement in order for students to understand that it is “just human rights to feel safe and protected” for everyone, including their family members and teachers around them.

“I’m really just focused more on what’s happening in the classroom and how I can make sure [students] feel safe in the classroom and feel like they have enough space that they wanted and needed. [I am] really just trying to follow the requirements for the classroom,” Garcia said.

Despite her high comfort level, Anderson addressed a singular concern of hers regarding the adherence to rules in the school.

“[What] concerns me the most maybe is probably just the only couple bit of like outliers who don’t wear their masks,” Anderson said. “Sometimes, if you go outside and [people] don’t wear masks that might freak me out a little bit just because some people who aren’t vaccinated might be spreading [the virus].”

Anderson isn’t alone in her concern. Almost 35% of surveyed students regard individuals who do not wear their masks correctly as one of their worries about attending school. Although Anderson says she believes the “school has done a lot to help the students, especially with the reminders every day [about] masks in the morning,” she is afraid that the lack of proper mask-wearing may lead to a shutdown of the school.

Though there are some problems that still need to be addressed, like the “confusion” Garcia says she feels due to the underlying circumstances for each different setting, the overall distancing and organization of classrooms is much better than previous years.

As everyone returns to the building this year, Garcia says she hopes teachers and students will be patient with each other as everyone adapts to being back at school. In addition, she feels excited to be back at school to return to a more normal setting with students in classrooms.

“By far the best thing about coming back is getting a chance to get to know kids and laugh with them, hear the funny things they say, hear how their lives are going, see them for the first time after lots of time on zoom, and really be reminded of why we are teaching students,” Garcia said.