In This Moment, At this Moment . . .

In The Moment, At This Moment ...

Reflections on life during the COVID-19 pandemic from RCDS Middle School students MAY 2020

In March 2020, school and life changed for the RCDS community— and for communities around the world—as the COVID-19 pandemic advanced, requiring all of us to quarantine and practice social

Table of Contents

By Author

distancing. Although a great deal was unknown, Rye Country Day's commitment to learning and community stood strong. The spring of 2020 was an intense time that our community navigated together. In the

4 Andrea F. '24

29 Celine F. '24

6 Sarah Z. '24

30 Olivia L. '26

7 Evan R. '26

31 Cole D. '24

self-care, creativity, and joy. One particular writing assignment had a

8 Diana D. '27

32 Isabella J. '25

profound impact on the students and teachers. The following pages are an

10 Juliette M. '27

33 Connor R. '25

archive of that meaningful work.

11 Izzy R. '24

34 Luke S. '25

12 Theodore H. '24

35 Caroline S. '27

13 Nola C. '26

36 Piper M. '24

14 Sydney S. '24

37 Evan B. '26

15 Milin T. '26

38 Ayush M. '24

16 Jack d. '24

39 James S. '25

17 Charlie P. '26

40 Isa P. '25

18 Ryan S. '26

41 Kiran R. '24

19 Rhodes B. '24

42 Aidan M. '24

20 Elizabeth C. '26

43 Dominique A. '26

story, poem, or personal reflection about anything related to life right

21 Maya T. '27

44 Avery G. '24

now. Here are a few prompts for poems or personal reflections: What

22 Tasia B. '27

45 Barrett P. '24

inspires you right now? What is important to you right now? What have

23 Caleb Z. '24

46 Shea H. '25

24 Marshall M. '24

47 Penelope B. '24

25 Sameer H. '24

48 Zack W. '27

26 Liz L. '24

49 Davis C. '25

27 Amir H. '26

50 Frank Z. '26

28 Tara M. '25

51 Zoe S. '26

Middle School, then-principal and current Assistant Head of School Dr. Meredith deChabert took to issuing weekly divisional assignments that were aimed at encouraging students to take time for introspection,

The Assignment May 2020

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s his week’s assignment is another creative one! Let’s create our own collection of creative writing inspired by our current situation. Middle schoolers can write a short

you learned you really love about your family? Where have you found beauty? What are your hopes for society as a result of this pandemic?

What kind of person do you want to be? What do you miss? Upload your writing here when it’s ready. The deadline for submissions is Saturday, May 9, 2020. We’ll put it all together in a beautiful format and share it with the whole Middle School community!

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— Dr. deChabert

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Under the Streetlights

ANDREA F. '24

this is a ghost town the streets have never been so empty so achingly lonely, so quiet this was a busy town, a city that works, always bustling with people, car lights, voices but it is all gone now i walk alone tonight i shiver, the air around me frigid faint steps the only sound for miles the lonely city night surrounds me remind me painstakingly of better times i am a magpie for memories; i pick them up, clutch them tightly sort them into little piles but there’s always too many and i am never strong enough i remember hazy summer light campfires in colebrook the brilliant reds of autumn leaf piles in the park i remember snow tipped grass drinking mugs of hot cocoa the bright blooms of spring flowers and being surrounded in beauty where has it all gone? where is the beauty in this, the corpses laying on the street, the families ripped to pieces, the discord, the hatred the virus driving people mad being left all alone? the magpie in me crumbles.

Ticking Time ticks by Ever so slowly Days linger far too long The sun refuses to set My clock is broken And life bleeds into routine I am a machine Stuck in the loop Of waking up Doing work Distracting myself And falling asleep This is my world now A familiar pattern Within four walls Unable to tell When this will All be over Until then, I’ll be here As time ticks by Eternally

this city night is black and cold lone streetlights lighting up the way the pale moonlight wraps around me, holds me tight in its quiet grasp i hear a wisp of laughter a beautiful sound, and i pause, glancing around but it’s just me, alone on the asphalt where i’ll always watch the streetlights die 4

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SARAH Z. '24

EVAN R. '26 Quarantine

Inspiration is hard to find But when it is found It is always on your mind See it in the light green trees Hear it in the cool, whistling breeze Smell it in the wild berry febreeze Think about it day and night But you never put up a fight Inspiration Keeps me going Even when the rain starts pouring My heart keeps on soaring Floating high among the clouds Never crashing back to the ground Rushing like a waterfall Never falling to a stall Embracing the light you see ahead Leaving the darkness in past Looking forward Learning from the past

Q uite different to what we are used to U nusual circumstances A nd frustrating R CDS is online A gain and again and again N o sports T ough times I nternet overload N icer days to come E ventually will end

Hard at first But it gets easier Finding inspiration Growing happier and stronger Little by little

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Sometimes in quarantine, you feel sad, but sometimes you feel happy. Here are 2 poems: one for the good days, one for the bad.

—Diana D.

DIANA D. '27 H aving nothing to look forward to O nly seeing people on a screen P reparing yourself for a long time at home E very day just trying to think on the bright side

H ome for school, so you can wear sweatpants O hh it is so nice how you have so much free time.

P eople around you have time to chat.

E ating family meals.

I want to be free again T ea drinking when I wake up at 7:00 am

I have more time to bake and sing T ime for long conversations.

I mean it S tay home

I t is nice to have time to pursue new hobbies.

S miling when you see stories about people helping in this hard time

A ll you can do is sit and imagine being able to see someone face to face L istening to the news on a Saturday morning and hearing crazy stories M edical professionals using their skills to help O nly seeing the world outside your window S hielding yourself from bad news T he world is a sad place

A bility to take up the guitar because I have a lot of time L unch with your whole family because no one is going to work M orning walks before school O nly being in places you know, so you can feel comfortable S unshine beating down on you when you walk around your yard T he ability to have scientists come to your zoom class

O nly getting 3,000 steps; it’s raining and you have nowhere to walk V ery long days E very day just wondering when it will end R ealizing that this is not a bad dream, but, it is real

O nly being away from your dog a few minutes a day V ery great walks with your family E ating homemade dinners every day because R eading books for a long time each day

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JULIETTE M. '27

IZZY R. '24

Family

Finding Inspiration

Father And Mother Infinitely Love You

Being stuck in a house all day long bored out of your mind with nothing to do During this time it can be difficult to find inspiration and motivation Zoom classes are long lots of work to be done it seems like an endless cycle of intense work and then boredom Trying to find the silver lining although difficult helps me to find some light I find inspiration in the front line workers working long hard hours to make our lives slightly better They inspire me to be thankful making the best of my situation because I know they are risking their lives to save ours I find inspiration in others coming up with ways to pass the time

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They inspire me to be creative cooking, baking, crafting 10

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THEODORE H. '24

NOLA C. '26 Quarantine Day

My home is my existence 6-feet apart that’s the distance To be honest, it’s not that poor My families’ house a nice interior Maybe there’s a message in this dire situation Many seem to be more considerate to the major population And you can see the benefits visually After all, the dolphins are coming back to Italy

For what I do on a quarantine day when everything is on delay School starts at 9:30 but I’m still up early I read my book In my nook And think about the day Of when I can go To play, and play, and play

Yes it seems it’s true, “nature is healing” China can see the sky that smog used to be concealing Who knew the way to help future generations Was to keep people away from larger concentrations Am I saying COVID-19 is a good thing No, pretty far from the truth We might come out of this stronger But I don’t know, I’m just a person.

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SYDNEY S. '24

MILIN T. '26

The world is hurting Times are turning Everything has changed

Before Social, Collective Purposeful, Determined, Goal-Based Unity, Motivation, Seclusion, Pointless Separated, Isolated, Bored Aimless, Lost After

In the madness To stave off sadness I enter worlds unchanged

G randparents’ Health R CDS@HOME A vocados at every meal T he Crossfit Workouts to keep my body and mind fit E ssential Workers F amily & Friends (Remotely) U nderstanding Teachers and Coaches supporting me through this time L ongford’s Mud Pie Ice Cream

Tonight I fight Flying like a kite Twisting through the sky The real world melts away Tonight different ones hold sway I wave the Earth goodbye To sail the seas Drift along the breeze That is the meaning of freedom Look to new horizons ahead Feel the warm sunset Watch the changing of seasons Jump through the air Soar unimpaired This world is mine for the taking And then comes the bend That world must end From a wonderful dream I am waking But why must I stay?

When there I could play And my heart would be filled

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But this is what happens They’re put into wrappings The greatest stories forever unfulfilled.

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JACK d. '24

CHARLIE P. '26

During this incredible and tragic time, it is easy to miss the little, positive impacts this pandemic is having on the world. Us humans, although we are apart, are working together, maybe even harder than before, to ensure this virus will be annihilated. The fact that we are all working together and working hard inspires me, and gives me faith that we will persist through this time. This time also makes us “shelter in place” at our homes, which forces us to spend more time with our families. I took advantage of this time in order to bond more, which I have, and I now realize how much fun and joy I have recently been missing out on before this quarantine. This is really beautiful, being able to spend quality time with those whom I love the most, and another thing of beauty that I have found in this time is the peace and quiet around my home. I have also found beauty around my home, where many animals, such as deer, foxes, chipmunks and squirrels, and birds have come out from hiding, due to our inactivity outside our home, and have roamed around my property free from the interaction and endangerment from us humans. Although there is much beauty that I have discovered during this time, I hope this pandemic ends soon, for I really wish to see my friends and family again, face to face. I hope that this pandemic helps society learn from this unique experience, and will help us be much more prepared, cautious, and ready the next time an event like this happens. Even though this has been a very quirky and interesting experience, I hope I will not encounter another pandemic in my lifetime, but if I do, I hope to be ready for it.

This Thing Called COVID-19 This thing called COVID-19 has really changed this world and my life.

Sometimes it just feels like a dream and it is really hard to wrap my head around what is happening during this time. My house seems like a whole different place now. It is practically the world to me right now, and my family are the only humans living in that world. We have all changed during this time in good ways and bad ways. My dad is now living in our pool house because he works at a hospital in the city, so he isn’t even allowed in the house anymore. He has to stack up on food and bring it to the pool house because he can’t get food from the main house. We are going so insane that we bought a new kitten even though we already have three other pets. My room has shifted into a school and a bedroom combined which I think is wild. I find it really weird to think about what will happen when this all ends. Will we go on with life like nothing really happened or will our entire world shift and become a totally different place? I don’t know what to think about all this. Will this coronavirus be a good thing for us humans or will it change our society in a horrible way? Honestly, I am kind of having an awesome time during this pandemic and I have no idea why I think that way. Maybe this is because I can hang out with my family and I don’t have some of the stresses that I typically have in my everyday life. It almost feels like a type of vacation from the real world. In some ways this makes me feel guilty because I am very aware that some people are having the worst time of their lives during this horrid year of 2020. Although this time is one of the worst times of the 21st century so far, I am kind of dreading going back to normal life. Even though I think this way, I still wish that this would all end because I know how terrible of a time a great number of people are having. Some healthcare workers are even taking their own lives because of this disgusting virus. I know that life will still go on no matter how long the coronavirus lasts, but the question that I have been asking myself is how I will get on with my life.

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RYAN S. '26

RHODES B. '24

A Walk in the Park

Nature’s Beauty

Walking in the park the peacefulness can be strange And for the quietness that sure is a big change Reminiscing about those days in school when I felt free And had no place to be except for PE Wind blowing in my face that feeling you cannot erase Walking by the basketball court People gearing up to play such a good sport Walking on the paved path Wondering if these times will pass

There is a tree Outside my window But now it shines A beacon of light In these grim times With its pink petals gleaming A thing of pure beauty And peace To stop one in their day And make them just sit there in awe Taking in Nature’s beauty I wish I could be As free as this tree.

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ELIZABETH C. '26

MAYA T. '27

What Shines

The New Normal

Sitting around in our homes Waiting as the virus still roams There’s nothing you can really do But isolate and try to pull through

Separated from Society Isolated from Others Six Feet at all times Feeling Idle AND Restless Looking for Smiles in Eyes Only to find Blank Stares Gazing Back Wanting to Reach Out, But Fear Blocking their Path. Worry Towering over Love Uncertainty and Weariness Building up into a Thick Fog, Shielding Joy From Others. Hope and Positivity Struggling to Break Free Though Slowly Growing Stronger Taking Their Time Working to Light up the World SLOW AND STEADY.

Watching the news every morning While thousands around the world are mourning.

Every minute spent outside is a risk But doctors and their patients must coexist.

The Ambulance rushing through the fastest route Meanwhile another soul calls out.

Life flashes before their eyes The family had yet to say their goodbyes.

During these devastating times, you have to be thankful for what shines.

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TASIA B. '27

CALEB Z. '24

COVID-19 Appreciation Paragraph I am very thankful for everything that all the health care workers, and first responders have been doing. It’s amazing how quickly a virus can spread, but even more crazy how fast our health care workers can respond. Everyday they go to work, putting their own lives at risk to save others. We have a lot to be thankful for through this time, including the shelter, food, water, and care that we get. Some people don’t even have that which makes it 1,000 times harder for them. Now we realize how many awesome things we had before, because now we don’t have them at all. Eventually this will end, but in the meantime we have to stay strong, and believe that everything will be ok. Horrible things happen, and right now we are living through those hard times. In the end, we will be so happy that we have everything we love to do back in our schedules.

To some people, it might seem crazy that it’s happening to them. I believe that the strongest people thrive through the hardest of times.

Throughout the years there have been many weird but interesting things that has happened to the US, but not all good things. COVID-19 is a virus that has been traveling around the US for over 3 months now and is one of the biggest pandemics to ever happen. COVID has killed thousands of people and put over one hundred thousand people in hospitals. COVID is very contagious, which means if you are sick you can’t see anyone for two weeks and you have to be all alone. This virus has shut almost everything down including schools, restaurants, and sports. This virus has changed my life in the last couple of months because I am a big tennis player and this season is the tennis season where I could improve as much as possible, but because we are not allowed to play sports I have been stuck in my house only being able to watch old clips of some of my favourite matches. This virus has been a very life changing but interesting change for many people including me.

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MARSHALL M. '24

SAMEER H. '24

Quarantine

Hibernation

Tis shame we’re stuck at home Disallowed to roam and studying Ancient Rome Nine to Twelve in school Quarantine is cruel

I wake Get ready Eat Go to school All alone

Some resorting to Fortnite Playing until midnight Watching TV is relaxing Though doing homework is taxing Spending time with family COVID is a calamity Playing video games with friends Until this quarantine ends

Used to the loud halls Snickering classmates Rebuking teachers Slamming lockers The normal buzz But This buzz has worn off Now silence Hopelessness And loneliness Ring through the land

Corona is not a victimless crime All we have to do is serve time When will it end?

That I cannot comprehend

But a ring breaks this A call From a dear and missed friend How long has it been But the prospect of fraternizing Almost mocks us But soon I am left lonely again To my own consideration In my hibernation Which will save us But at what cost

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LIZ L. '24

AMIR H. '26

Overused

Quarantine

It started over there and it came over here Corona was a curse because it made my life worse

COVID-19 is a serious threat But ya boy learned how to make an omelet Zoom meetings can bring a little drama But nothing is that bad when you’re in pajamas

I had already been used Multiple hours a day And now I feel abused Why can’t humans go out to play

Socializing with my team the Riverside Hawks And DABO been playin on the Xboxxxxx

I am saving lives And helping my human survive By drawing them in with my screen to follow the law of quarantine But it’s bad for their brain and my electronic system Whenever they feel pain I feel it too, down to my subsystem

Enjoying family time and walks around the block And now I have a bedtime past ten o’clock I notice that the trees are beautiful and green I hope we can all keep up our hygiene Staying healthy is our task Let’s make sure we all wear our mask

They will slouch on their bed hurting their back And I’ll feel it too, I’m starting to crack Most of my light is blue And too much of that will hurt the humans eyes I feel the pain too, I just want them to realize

Social distancing is our rule I just can’t wait to go back to school

That All I want to do is assist them Now I feel like I’m hurting them I just want humans to understand The responsibility when I’m in their hand

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But I can’t tell them because I’m a device My only hope is if they figure out on their own to be nice My purpose is to help humans if they’re confused But I can’t do that if I’m overused 26

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TARA M. '25

CELINE F. '24

Mom’s Absence

An Ode to Craving Our Friendship

Early morning light mist, cool rain She leaves seamlessly and unafraid Not terrified of the dangers ahead Me in bed, shoulders heavy eyes made of lead

and so it is 2:38 the moon is a gentle speck caressing the empty sky but insomnia holds me like a mother cradles her child

Chaos, confusion, terror where she is She is overwhelmed and scared The smell of bleach up her nose Her patients reaching much too close It’s been hours, phone rings A shrill piercing sound A brightness in these countless hours My mother’s voice no longer bound Late at night, she comes home every time What if she doesn’t?

The sound of her heels clacking on the marble Fill the silent air that was once wasn’t I was helpless in the rush As she walked out the door Paralyzed beyond repair All I could do was stop and stare

time is slowed down but as april melts into may let us remember what we used to be I have taken myself apart and laid it all out bare for you my bones are clad with dirt as I bury seeds of hopes in my marrow I want to see your face without a mask or fear of contamination let us touch our fingertips together and reminiscence about our summers I want to laugh with you sing along to lorde dance to whitney instead of watching the plants sprout but right now I can only use hand sanitizer religiously in replacement of being social

Yet now she is back An ending to her fight So I may rest assured She will be alright

the iron gates of my house are layered with dust our shoes abandoned at the front door laces untied silence has become the melody that the birds chirp in the morning switching places with the squirrels in my backyard cooped up & slowly suffocating certainly isn’t fun

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OLIVIA L. '26

COLE D. '24

Short Story

Day by Day

The horns went off, signaling the start of Foras, where our whole country of Sivanus would celebrate nature. I didn’t hate nature but I didn’t love it either. But what I really hated was waking up at five in the morning to celebrate Foras. Trudging along, I followed my family to the same spot we sat at every year to listen to the president of Silvanus, Grex Montfort, talk about nature. I thought everything was going to be the same as always but I was wrong. I rested my head in Father’s lap as I always did to try to fall asleep, and usually he didn’t mind but this year, he made me listen.

“I know some of you, especially our fourteen year olds don’t love nature. This makes me sad because as all of you know, Silvanus needs nature to thrive. Without it, we couldn’t live because Earth is not safe without it. Before the Great War, we used nature but not as much as now. Hear me out, I know you guys may not like this but listen. Since a lot of you have complained about Agroam being small and how there is so much unexplored land we can use, I propose sending all of our non-nature loving fourteen year olds on a quest to find more land and discover how wonderful nature is! If this applies to one or more of your kids, come in two days to the Macalinka Warehouse” Everyone cheered except for the fourteen year olds, including me, groaned. “Great,” I muttered sarcastically to my twin, Aster who nodded his head in agreement. “You don’t have to come,” I told him but he just shook his head.

Two days later, my brother and I jogged up to Macalinka Warehouse to prepare. I was kind of excited and nervous because we had been warned enough times about how dangerous behind the border was. When we approached the warehouse, we swung the heavy, metal door open and walked inside. I heard a crash and then passed out. I had absolutely idea what had happened. I wished I was still with my family and I would go to Foras if I could be with them. When I got back, I would stop taking them for granted. I felt groggy and disoriented as I awoke. The birds chirped peacefully in the trees, which were gently swaying in the wind. Looking around I saw fourteen year olds and trees, all around. I longed to be at home in Agroam again. Why was I here anyways? Maybe Aster would know because he is smarter than I am.

“Guys, let’s go find food. We shouldn’t starve out here just because we don’t know where we are,” a fourteen year old named Morgan shouted. “Follow me and we will find out where we are!” The fourteen year olds started walking towards a stream, grabbed berries from trees and popped them in their mouths. Suddenly they heard people. Morgan jogged up to them and said, “Where are we? Are we in Schwift? Or Arbem?” I personally hoped we were in Schwift because I had heard there was a cool city that I had always wanted to see there. The people backed up until they were six feet away from Morgan and one of them asked, “Where are you from? I have absolutely no clue what and where Schwift and Arbem are. Plus, back up. You do know what social distancing is right?” Social distancing? I thought. Why would people want to do that? Humans need each other to survive so why would they keep their distance?

“I don’t know why you guys are social distancing, I don’t know where we are so can you please help us?” Morgan pleaded.

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At the beginning, it seems like we’re winning Continue on and the odds are thinning Then, the end, the schools shut down, don’t travel out of town, as our hopes start to drown At the beginning, school is through a screen at home with your family It’s new, it’s fine, it’s got the shine of possibility Continue on, start to wonder if you’re really free Start to wonder if the walls are closing in on me?

At the end, it's hard to comprehend, that someone can think that online school is a god send At the beginning, agitation, irritation, and lack of patience are growing Family’s too loud, they start to feel like a crowd School is dull and slow, we’re all just wonderin’ where it’ll go Continue on, and you start to grow a tolerance to your family’s preposterousness At the end, nothing seems stunning and the only thing keepin’ my wheels runnin’ is that I gotta finish strong… for how long Hey, but it’s not all bad At the beginning, hangin with my friends became a given just a part of living Continue on, gotta say goodbye but at least there is Facetime Then, the end, the schools shut down, don’t travel out of town, but I won’t back down At the beginning, school through a screen at home with my family Excited to explore a new virtual reality Continue on, I’m glad I got my family cuz I’m feeling sorta lonely End, online school gives me more free time and lowers my responsibilities At the beginning, agitation, irritation, and lack of patience are growing but I won’t give up My family talks a lot which keeps me from going crazy School can be slow but at least the teachers try hard to entertain me.

Continue on, almost halfway there, it’s hard not to care as you realize virtual learning can be hard to bear End, virtual school is a god send, my family became my friends, being there to no end Virtual school has made some look like geniuses and others like fools It can be cruel or it can be cool If you succeed or if you can lead Lies on whether you have a positive outlook on your newfound opportunities.

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ISABELLA J. '25

CONNOR R. '25 Wanting Sun

Quarantine fun, lonely Exciting, boring, tiring Staying at home

Split splat spit split splat, wind swaying wet trees, We stay in all day, longing for fresh air.

Finally a change, rain sprouting flowers, Sun shining, plants blooming, Spring is now here.

Swish swish banked swish, on our new shiny hoop.

We’re out in the sun, exercising fun.

Only... to hear a boom then a flash and‌.

Splish splash, we head in heads down, wanting sun.

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LUKE S. '25

CAROLINE S. '27

Corona Blues

Quarantine

Sitting in a bean bag, wondering what to do.

If i’m being honest, Corona has me feeling blue.

Stuck in the house With nothing to do I wear a mask And rubber gloves too

Waking up every morning, ready to get on the bus, and quickly realizing…. there is no rush.

In my pajamas Always on Zoom Outside the windows Tulips bloom

Missing hangouts with friends, wishing I could swim in a pool, knowing I must stay inside, pale as a ghoul.

Mom has gray hair now And Dad grew a beard My brothers are baking This is all so weird!

But I’m getting tired, tired of wearing a frown.

I won’t let quarantine keep me down. even though she wears a crown.

I am not her subject.

My dogs are still normal They eat, sleep and play they don’t understand Stay six feet away

I am a Wildcat and we are all fighters.

Staying connected will get us all through.

Together we’re stronger, that much is true.

Zooming while donning our gold and blue.

We’ve exhausted Netflix There’s no more to binge News of extended lockdown Makes me cringe I stashed the chocolate I’ve hidden the chips We won’t get more Until Amazon ships

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PIPER M. '24

EVAN B. '26

When times are tough Nature thrives Green trees and fresh leaves Blooming throughout the forest As people lose hope, nature still stands And we know it'll be there Forevermore

Life at home isn’t so bad. I get to spend more time with my family and I am much more active. Also, I have found many things to entertain me. I like to go on drives and I even made my own board game. I like to go outside and play basketball with my brother. My sister came home from college early, so I get to spend a lot more time with her. At night I get to play games with my brother and sister, which I don’t usually do. We bake and watch movies when we are bored. Life in quarantine isn’t so bad after all.

We see the broad trees Powerful Strong Never second guess if they'll be there They always will It's been there all along Through thick and thin The tree will stand Giving hope to others So they stand too Nature will never fall It prevails through it all Even when it doesnt need to Nature inspires us to stay strong Especially when we need it the most

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AYUSH M. '24

JAMES S. '25

Until the Cows Come Home In a small room On the edge of the world Uncertainty abounds Where the stream meets the ocean Nowhere between here and there A sprinkle of dust In a fog of mystery Past, present, future, Are now a combination Out of nothing, there’s something.

Time, irrelevant, Devoid of all feelings ‘cept desperation The cloud will block the sunshine Just until the cows come home.

Gratitude A giving force That pleases us Especially in times of Hardship And quarantine Quarantine Keeps us locked away Scratching at our doors To get outside and play But to keep us safe from The virus The virus Floating in the air The cause No one knows The reaction Rescue Rescue For the sake of our lives Rescue Shows the bravery of ones That we truly should give Gratitude

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ISA P. '25

KIRAN R. '24

Quarantine Thoughts

Inspiring Everyone

Another morning, another day Cannot believe it's already May I look and stare into the blue With nothing I could think of that's better to do

Doctors and nurses Working their hardest Trying their best To save those in need Their lives on the line To save you from death Inspiring everyone And showing us true bravery Healthcare workers motivating us To be our best We can learn a thing or two From these brave men and women We can learn Many things Like what is courage?

But most of all We can learn The power of helping others

I wonder if it’s the second or the third As I listen to a song from a bird I look and stare into the blue With nothing I could think of that's better to do My eyes hurt from screen time And forget there even is something called bedtime I look and stare into the blue With nothing I could think of that's better to do Being with my friends is my wish But instead I’m here, washing a dish I look and stare into the blue With nothing I could think of that's better to do I have no motivation to exercise Although I know that would be wise I look and stare into the blue With nothing I could think of that's better to do At my hundredth meal of the day I let my worries wash away I look and stare into the blue With nothing I could think of that's better to do

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Through the blue I see a tree With a grand responsibility I no longer look and stare into the blue I go outside to help my Earth and see what I can do 40

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AIDAN M. '24

DOMINIQUE A. '26

As the sandstorm that is COVID-19 completely engulfs us Chaos erupts in a country Money just seems to be flushed down the toilet While time and boredom acquire top spot Even in our political system One trying to save the country while others investigate why Subsidies to save business go criticized and tax day is postponed The predictions are numerous Some saying we will have to be trapped in our homes for another year While others say a month or two is enough Healthcare workers take the burden Of a sick nation on life support My mother is one of those workers Late nights and early mornings To arrive at the hospital to see dying people with no proper equipment To compare one’s ennui, however, to the struggle of thousands is quite selfish I could obviously complain about quarantine, but to do so would be to make unimportant the people who are dying and risking their lives for the dying The future looks bright although the economy may be changed forever People, at least for the near future will be hesitant to be in crowded areas because of what COVID-19 has done One thing that has been beneficial for me was the extra time with my family I learned things about them that I would not have otherwise And time cannot be bought so must be savored despite unusual circumstances

This pandemic might have caused bad situations for most people, but it actually has had a good effect on me. My mom always said there will be a time in your life that you will never forget. I never believed her until this virus came along. I’ve explored new places and discovered new hobbies. Although it can get very boring being confined in a tiny space, I’ve discovered new ways to have fun. Sometimes, I’ll go on my bike and ride down the street feeling the cool breeze on my face. When the weather is nice, I’ll go to the pool or beach to cool off. During the night I’ll do a puzzle and listen to music. But most importantly, I’ve become closer with my family. Before, I would fight with my siblings, and roll my eyes at my parents. Now, we are forced to be together and get along. I’ll walk my dog with my siblings down the street as we talk about our days. My mom and I bake at night and listen to music. Yes, I miss my friends, but I can always talk with them through facetime. Although we can’t be together in real life, we’ve figured out ways to have fun like prank calling people, doing facemasks, and watching movies on netflix party. This virus has opened my eyes to the world I’ve been living in all this time.

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AVERY G. '24

BARRETT P. '24

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Inspiration During Dire Times

We’re living in a scary world So it’s hard to find the answers to questions But for when it’s all over I have a few hopes and suggestions

Inspiration can be found everywhere, no matter the situation that engulfs you feeding on every small mistake you’ve made throughout your hard and tiring life. Even though inspiration is all around us, it may be hard to find no matter how hard you look. The key to inspiration isn’t looking tirelessly for something else that you don’t need because of greed and wealth. It’s not doing something you hate or don’t like. It’s finding something that really drives you and fuels you to be the greatest and to try your hardest because you want to and you won’t take any other outcome than yourself being the greatest person there is at what you do. I feel as though this deadly pandemic is almost like a message in disguise for me and our society. This is a horrible thing that is happening but if I use this hardship and challenge and thrive and flourish off of it I could take this horrible tragedy and make it a blessing. This is where greatness happens. This is where the best of the best would use this as an opportunity to become more powerful than before. The power to find hope and possibility in the darkest of times. One thing that’s not changing in this unique time is weather, and the weather still continues to be sunny, warm, and beautiful, almost like rays of hope passing through endless possibilities that you and you only control. It’s almost like it’s my duty to get stronger in this quarantine, to use this time wisely, to control my energy, and to focus and use it for good. A lot of athletes come from bad situations, but that didn’t stop them from achieving their goal of being a superstar and getting to where they are today. Like an athlete, inspiration floats in your head and stays there like a moth to a flame, no matter how rough your situation is inspiration will always be more powerful.

I hope that we have learned To listen to the rules To obey what they tell us And to not act like fools I hope we become more grateful Of everything in sight Our friends, family, and homes Even if we fight I hope we don’t forgot How important it is to say Just two small words That can go a long way Just say “thank you” It’s not very hard To the many important people And maybe write a card I hope when this is over We don’t waste any time We’ll hang out with our friends And do it all the time

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So while it may be getting boring And we have nothing to do When this is all over I hope we’ve learned a thing or two 44

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SHEA H. '25

PENELOPE B. '24

Bringing my Family Together

Waiting for the Storm to Subside

Quarantine has been tough. Sometimes all we’re doing is sitting around for days having nothing to do. Some families do things to bring them closer during quarantine like getting a trampoline or they are taking long walks.

My family got a puppy. We were all bored in the house, and sitting around doing nothing, so we thought it would be a good idea to put in a form for adopting this beautiful lab-boxer mix. Her name was Ravioli and my whole family was so excited. We all shopped furiously to get everything she needed while everything was on high-demand. The day she got here, that’s all we could talk about. She got here and I scooped her up to bring her in. She was shaking and she curled up with us and played and ran around and we love her so much. She brought us together while we clamored over her and we never knew we could love something, or some people so much.

All we are left with is hope that the darkness disappears Vanquishing our fears We hope for a brand new day Without any disarray Through it all, I am inspired By the selfless ones whom I admire Their true colors shine bright As the healthcare workers continue to do what is right The true-hearted people stay inside As they wait for the storm to subside Helping to keep safe those who need protection These people never treat themselves as exceptions

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ZACK W. '27

DAVIS C. '25

What Inspires Me

My Mind is Like

What inspires me during this difficult time is all the delivery men and women.

They work over hours for everyone to get you your delivery. I am inspired by them because all of them are so kind when they deliver and always deliver with a smile. They all inspire me because there is no way I could ever do any of what they do.

My mind is like a library Constantly accepting the new Some books hold knowledge; Some hold creativity.

My mind is like a bowl of raffle tickets When I don’t quite know the right answer, I reach in and hope I get lucky I am not always lucky.

My mind is like a garage sale Selling away the old To make room for the new, And even buying from my own sale.

My mind is like a board game Trying to find a functional strategy For every aspect of life.

There are many.

My mind is like a spider web Making new connections.

Unseen by the world, Yet it is vital to the creator.

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FRANK Z. '26

ZOE S. '26

The Day in the Life in Quarantine

Nature

COVID-19 was a deadly disease that swept through the world in the beginning of 2020 and was a damaging virus.

The taste of the cool morning air is both sweet and salty.

For me COVID-19 is one of the hardest things that has happened in my life.

I lost my Dog in March, I am not able to see my friends in person, and most of all I was not able to go on trips or to school. On the other hand, there are also many happy things during this crisis.

My nose yearns for more of the delicious scent.

My dog was named Bosco and unfortunately we had to put him down due to stage 5 lymphoma on March 18, 2020. But the good news is that within two months from the death, my family and I have already got a spot for another dog and we will be picking him up in June. I feel a bit more sad that I can not see my little companion walking around the house, but I will always know that he is in my heart. Another hard thing is that I am not able to see my friends.

My friends are a bigger part of my life than I realize. They show me support when I am sad, they are always there to hangout, and most importantly, I get to see them almost every day. But now that's not the way it is and through all of this I moved to a new house. I am a bit upset that there is no school and I had to cancel a lot of my trips.

Looking at the bright side there is a lot of joy during quarantine. I am thankful that I am able to attend school virtually. This is the same with friends. I can Facetime them alot and can play games with them. I get to spend more time with my family as my dad works in the city and goes on many business trips usually. Now I get to wake up and see him every morning. Although I may have lost my Best Companion there are still so many things to be thankful for and things could be a lot worse. Life is pretty good I would have to say.

In conclusion, this is a day in the life of quarantine. Even though it is hard, we are all gonna get through this. So we are all gonna do our part. To help The World heal.

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The American Goldfinches sitting on the the branches of the maple trees chirp a delightful song.

The branches of the maple trees sway back and forth in the calm morning breeze.

The gray squirrels scurry from the black roof of the garage to the branches of the Rose of Sharon.

The yellow and black bumble bees pollinate the tulips in the front yard while making their notorious “buzz” sound.

The serene breeze brushes against my skin as I sit by the open window watching, hearing, smelling, feeling and listening to nature.

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