Pilot Life: Sheltered-in-Place

Pilot

Mr. Fong took the chemistry lab home with him so he could continue to share his elaborate experiments with students virtually.

Sheltered-in-Place

Life

In March 2020, Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School students were faced with a challenge most teenagers— and adults— wouldn’t expect to experience in their lifetime: adjusting to life in a global pandemic. Like students throughout the world, SJND Pilots were forced to accept a new reality, which included distancing from family and friends, sheltering in place, and transitioning to a new way of learning. With co-curricular programs cancelled, classes moved online, and campus doors locked, “Pilot Life” as students knew it changed overnight. Here’s what life looked like for SJND students sheltered-in-place.

Teachers Going the Distance

Not only did students have to adjust to a new way of learning, SJND teachers adjusted lesson plans and teaching styles in order to ensure a continuation of learning during the long-term dismissal. Many teachers, including theater teacher Ms. Rosi and science teacher Ms. Yoon, took advantage of our new, digital-connectedness to arrange video conferences with industry professionals, some based on the other side of the country.

SJND Donates PPEs to Local Healthcare Workers

Ms. Adam and Mr. McKee led efforts to donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and other equipment to local healthcare workers on behalf of SJND. Mr. McKee took advantage of the new SJND IDEA Lab 3D printers to create masks and face shields, while Ms. Adam gathered materials from the science department for donation. Together, they donated over 1,500 gloves, nearly 100 pairs of goggles and safety glasses, eight gallons of hydrogen peroxide, Lysol wipes, and several adult and pediatric masks to local institutions and healthcare workers.

Honoring the Class of 2020

Although graduation events were altered due to the circumstances, that didn’t stop SJND from celebrating its spectacular seniors!

On May 30, SJND held a graduation car procession for the graduates and their families. For the first time in nearly three months, the stretch of Chestnut Street in Alameda between San Antonio and San Jose Avenues lit up in a sea of blue and orange as the SJND community eagerly awaited the Class of 2020. Seniors and their families— in cars decked out to the nines— followed a route through Alameda and concluded at 1011 Chestnut Street amid cheers from their teachers and coaches.

Faculty and staff paid each senior a socially-distanced visit to hand-deliver their Class of 2020 yard signs.

Theater Students Give Zoom Performance

There’s a first time for everything! On May 14, the SJND Theater Department gave their first-ever Zoom performance, with a reading of the original play, “Personification.” The one-act play was written by Ms. Gunn-Graffy, based on characters conceived and developed by Honors Musical Theater 3 students. Ms. Rosi directed the play, which was performed by Honors Theater: Play Production.

Athletics Goes Virtual When athletic competitions were cancelled for the remainder of the school year, many teams transitioned to virtual group workouts and team meetings.

The JV Men’s Baseball Team, led by coach Michael Stehr, held virtual team meetings twice a week to stay connected.

“I am very proud of the work we were able to do despite the difficult circumstances,” he said.