COVID-19 AND NRHS

North Royalton, Ohio, is weeks later, was ready for the second dose. Although struggling to keep up the first round of vaccines is going well, one can exwith the COVID-19 pect some illness to come along with round two. pandemic, just like “Almost twelve hours later, on the dot, I started the rest of the world. But now, we feeling very nauseated,” said Bockelman. “At first, I may just have the solution. The didn’t think it was the vaccine. I thought it was someCOVID-19 vaccine is being tested thing I ate. About twenty minutes after that, I felt like throughout the state of Ohio. As more people begin a truck ran me over. I was achy, my neck hurt, and to gain access to the vaccine, scientists are slowly be- my body hurt. I almost felt like I had the flu. I woke ing granted more information that they can analyze. up the next morning and I felt horrible. I didn’t real-

Before getting the vaccine, one must be aware of ly feel good that whole day. I had no energy at all. I what phase of distribution they fall into. The Centers went to bed early and the next day I woke up and it for Disease Con- was like nothing trol and Preven- even happened.” tion (CDC) has Even though resuggested that the actions to the COVID-19 vac- second round cine be given out vaccine are difin phases. In each ferent for everyphase, people who one, most people require the vac- experience simicine more urgently lar side effects to are given the ear- Kristen Bockellier option. People man. Healthcare within phase 1a, workers are not according to the forced to receive CDC, are health- the vaccine, but care workers and long-term care facility residents. This Kristen Bockelman and her fellow coworker holding up vaccine slips after round one of the COVID-19 vaccine. it is highly suggested. Teach means that people ers and staff who work in the medical field, as well as people who within the North Royalton City School District live in nursing or assisted living homes, are the first were given the option to receive the Pfizer vacpeople eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. cine on February 22, 2021. The second dose is Frontline essential workers and the elderly, consid- supposed to be following a mere three weeks ered seventy-five years of age and older, are next in later on March 15. The majority of the high line to get the vaccine under phase 1b. The last es- school staff were present for the vaccine on that tablished phase, phase 1c, includes essential work- Monday morning. Although the vaccine is opers, those aged 65-74, and people aged sixteen to tional, teachers are opting to get the COVID-19 sixty-four with underlying medical conditions. Al- vaccine to protect themselves, their families, though the next phases are not yet determined, the and the students at the school. CDC will provide them when deemed necessary. Despite the enthusiasm by most to receive

Many healthcare workers have already received the vaccine, some people are still wary about both the first and even second round of the vaccine. getting the COVID-19 vaccine. With new solutions Kristen Bockelman got round one of the Moderna comes uncharted territory. Some individuals are apCOVID-19 vaccine on December 29, 2020, and three prehensive due to the fact that scientists have very

limited information on how the body will react to this new vaccine. “At first I was worried to get the vaccine because it is so new and the long term possibilities are still unknown,” stated Nelly Kelley, a staff member at the North Royalton Middle School, “I eventually decided to agree to get the vaccine because it is for the greater good and I want to be able to move on with my life.”

When looking at statistics, one can clearly see the drop in cases after the first of the COVID-19 vaccines were distributed in Ohio. The vaccine was more widely issued after the first of the new year. In December of 2020, the maximum cases reached in one day came to a grand total of 25,721 in just Ohio. There was a gradual decline from this maximum to a much lower 1,816 cases that Ohio experienced on February 17. From these numbers, we can clearly see that the Coronavirus vaccine is helping to benefit the overall positive case outcomes in a day.

With today’s unprecedented times, the reassurance that we may have a solution is uplifting for many. With more people being allowed access to the vaccine each day, our chances of pushing through this pandemic are becoming more likely. We can simply hope that the COVID-19 vaccination is sufficient enough to keep decreasing the cases we see each day.

provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) showcasing the decrease in Coronavirus cases. Online school has become a reality for most students in the world because of COVID. Some students dislike staying at home looking at a computer screen all day, while some students like the comfort of their bed when they are doing school work. But the teachers also have been forced to deal with this new style of education. Although it had its definite disadvantages, they are trying to stay positive and learn from the experience.

Clearly online schooling has its disadvantages. Mrs.Walker, an English Language Arts (ELA) teacher at North Royalton High School, said one of the disadvantages of being online is “not getting to know the students as much and missing out on their personalities. That is one of my favorite things about teaching, and I miss it!” Teachers like to get to interact with the kids and be able to get to know them and have personal connections. In this format it becomes more difficult to get to know everybody.

But despite the obvious setbacks, many teachers have learned new techniques and skills that will carry over to in-person teaching. Mr. Hemery, a senior ELA teacher, saw some interesting byproducts of this new format. He said kids that typically don’t ask questions and stay quiet during the class have been more comfortable communicating online. Mr. Hemery said, “What I witnessed is that many of the ‘shy’ students were willing to express themselves in this format a lot more freely by using the chat feature of Zoom and online programs like Parlay.” Kids that don’t typically come out of their comfort zone have been able to express themselves more. This may end up helping students take one step at a time to become an extrovert instead of an introvert.

Other advantages of online school are the other platforms that teachers have discovered to teach on. Teachers now have many different ways to teach and might have found a new way to teach class even after COVID. Mrs. Walker also added that online school is a good thing when teachers have to stay home due to COVID because they can continue instruction with their students without the lapse that occurs when teachers are absent.

There is also another world of school since COVID happened called hybrid where students go in school some days and are online some days. These many different formats are challenging for teachers in an already hectic career. “It is time consuming to reimagine all my lessons in different formats and programs, while keeping up with curriculum and grading,” said Mrs. Walker.

Online school has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s not always easy for teachers but they are trying their absolute best to make the best out of a bad situation. Many people have different opinions on online school. But unfortunately because of COVID, we have to stay safe while getting an education. There are many pros and cons about online school, but as long as we’re staying safe, that’s all that matters.

By: Savea Brinegar

The year 2020 was an en- Having family in Florida, her close family would lightening time frame for travel down there so she could spend time with everyone. COVID caused her grandma and grandpa. “The main thing I miss the seniors at the time to though, is just being able to see people’s faces. The lose their high school experience while adults lost warm smiles and hugs always brought me joy,” Pratt their jobs or had to find a new way of living. With says. so much free time on everyone’s hands due to be- With a very extroverted personality, Pratt’s coming stuck indoors, most people reflected on what fort place is spending time with people. She truly enthey wanted to do with their lives once COVID joys just being in the presence of others, no matter was over. The main thing people were itching to the situation. She hopes to get out and spend time do was to start trav- with people again beeling again or even cause that is what she for the first time. loves to do.

April Gleisinger, Venturing in the a mother from North group that is believed Royalton, had aspira- to be affected by the tions for what she was pandemic the most, going to accomplish Lilian Black, a high once travelling was school student, says allowed again. “The what she wants to do main thing I want is to most after COVID is give my older children to get to experience a chance to experience all the things she new things without missed out on. “I want their younger sib- to travel to beaches, lings,” Gleisinger says. cities, and places I’ve Her family had a only dreamed of,” cruise trip planned Black says. “I want to earlier in the year, fill my gas tank up at but once COVID hit, everything was cancelled. Despite this setApril Gleisinger shares an old photo of when she traveled to Niagara Falls before COVID. random highways, I want to have stories to tell future friends, I back, she was still determined to plan another time want to forget what day of the week it is. I just want when they could spend time together. to finally live.” “I want to take them to the Caribbean to snorkel, COVID put a pause on people’s lives for months. try new foods, and to just have new experiences,” Most people don’t want to just go back to their old Gleisinger says. Wanting to spend time with her kids lives. Instead, they are craving more than they ever before the older ones head off to college, she is hope- had. They want new experiences, they want to meet ful that they will all be able to travel somewhere to- new people, and they want to satisfy the craving for gether. adventure that had built up over the course of stay-

From a similar perspective, Julie Pratt shared how ing inside. While COVID can definitely be viewed much she misses the interaction between people. “I as a negative thing, it has opened up everyone’s eyes want to travel to beaches with my family. We always and inspired people to venture into things they never go on family trips together, but we haven’t been able would have before. to go,” Pratt says.