School policies | 2
Student experience | 4-5
Reopening sports | 7
How the new school policies can prevent an outbreak of COVID-19 on campus
Students discuss the ways that their everyday lives have changed this year
Athletes react to new sports restrictions for games and competitions
Vanguard College Preparatory School, 2517 Mt. Carmel Dr., Waco, Texas 76710
October 2020, Volume 48, Issue 1
The Vanguard Review A VCPS Publication
Coming of age
Emily Coleman ‘21 business manager
First-time voters share excitement about upcoming election
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igned, sealed, delivered. You have just registered to vote in the upcoming, and very heated, presidential election. Anxious but excited, you get to partake in an important civic duty. Seniors Samantha O’Flaherty and Brooks Indergard have just experienced this feeling for the first time. “It makes me feel like a real adult,” said O’Flaherty. “Knowing that I get to have my voice heard on election day this year is exciting.” With the polls opening in November, 18-yearolds all across the country understand that they are making a difference with their vote. VCPS Civics teacher Hunter Edmundson said he thinks it is important for new voters to be informed about current situations. “Democracy is about governing, not about being governed,” Edmundson said. “The earlier you start, the earlier you can take a small step towards fulfilling one’s duty as a citizen.” Fifty-six percent of students said they believe that one person’s vote makes a difference, according to an Oct. VR poll. “I’m voting because I think it’s important that we have a forward progression in our country’s timeline,” Indergard said. “Leaving yourself out of the
vote makes the results less accurate, and makes you passive in your country’s future.” O’Flaherty agrees. “I find it a privilege and a duty to vote as an American citizen because it makes you a part of this country and gives you somewhat of a say in the government,” she said. Indergard intends to make himself more aware of both sides before he votes. “The issues most important to me are environmental issues, debt/inflation and police reform,” Indergard said. “However I intend to inform myself more before voting, so that I can educate myself on the issues I already know of, as well as discover new issues that will inform my vote.” Some students and new voters may not care, but Edmundson thinks everyone should, because it is, in fact, their future. “You might not care about politics, but politics cares about you,” Edmundson said. “People have to be informed.” O’Flaherty has recognized her duty as a citizen. “I grew up in a household where not every adult was able to vote,” she said. “My dad was unable to vote because of his citizenship status. He is
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finally able to vote this year for the first time, and I think that has made me learn to appreciate this opportunity more.” In an age of constant news, new voters are often faced with overwhelming influences and information from various parties and affiliations, and choosing which platforms and candidates to support is incredibly important. Indergard said he differs from his family in political views but doesn’t like to bring the subject up much to prevent an uproar. “I don’t talk too much about Indergard shows O’Flaherty his voter registration card in anticipapolitics within my family,” Inder- tion of the upcoming election. Photo by Emily Coleman / VR staff gard said. “It just gets tiring to hear people regurgitate the same arguments, and most of the time even if what you say is logical they still won’t change their mind. I do feel a bit pressured sometimes by friends and the media, but I try not to let them sway or get to me too much.” O’Flaherty said she feels she is given an opportunity in her community to speak her mind. “I’ve always been very strong on my beliefs, Madi Burch ‘21 and I wouldn’t change that because of the opinions guest columnist of others,” O’Flaherty said.
Peaceful protest
Masks on, hearts together
Elizabeth Watson ‘21 editor-in-chief
VCPS students reflect upon new policies put in place to prevent spread of COVID-19
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hen school began this year, VCPS students flooded back onto campus to greet their peers for the first time in nearly six months, and though resuming in-person instruction was exciting for many students, it did not come without its changes. The VCPS Vision 2020 | Transition Team, composed of Head of School Bill Borg and ten faculty members, began meeting the day after graduation and met throughout the summer with the goal of establishing a safe school year. The team worked alongside Dr. Rod Richie, a local pulmonologist, to implement the new measures. “In returning to campus, our goal is to limit exposure to COVID-19,” Borg said in a statement from a July Vision 2020 newsletter. “Our focus is to open the school in the fall and remain open. We are committed to creating a culture of health and wellness in our community by working together on-and-off campus.” To foster that culture, the administration published the VCPS On-Campus Wellness Guide on the school’s website discussing all of the changes implemented over the summer: mandatory mask requirements except during designated break periods, one-way hallways, outdoor and socially-distanced lunches, as well as sanitation devices and HEPA air purifiers installed in every classroom. “As the father of two Vanguard graduates as well as husband to a Vanguard teacher-tutor and my being a physician, I was asked to give advice about how Vanguard could safely resume in-school teaching,” Richie said. “Although I was asked about a variety of measures, the one I will definitely take credit for is the air filter machines in each classroom, attempting to make indoor teaching as
much like being outdoors as possible.” The policies implemented at VCPS this year have helped reduce the chances of an outbreak occurring on campus among the student body. According to the October VR poll, 61.3 percent of VCPS students said that the strictness of these new policies was just right, and the majority of students, 79.4 percent, are not concerned about catching the virus. “I am impressed with the policies at Vanguard concerning COVID-19,” Naomi West, junior, said. “They show that the staff and administration care about students and their families. Although some of [the policies] are somewhat cumbersome, I do think they have helped mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19.” Senior Aidon Butler concurs. “I agree that all the policies put into place at Vanguard are very reasonable and in-line with CDC guidelines,” Butler said. “I am not concerned about the threat [of COVID-19] because I, as well as others, are taking the necessary precautions to help slow the spread.” Sophomore Avril Maldonado has a similar opinion but understands why certain restrictions are difficult for students to adhere to. “Vanguard is all about respect and responsibility,” Maldonado said. “Therefore, I think that students should be able to prove their respect of the rules and responsibilities towards being clean and maintaining distance outside of school. Students, especially seniors, should be able to go off-campus for lunch. I think that this is a hard thing to do because of the world outside of Vanguard, but if the students are being safe when going outside of school, it should be a doable thing. In general, it’s a
student’s responsibility to know who they’ve been around and be aware of things that they are doing to maintain social distancing or be safe.” The policies implemented by the VCPS administration strive to keep students safe from COVID-19. “I would not change anything regarding the current COVID-19 policies,” West said. “I do feel safe on campus even with COVID-19. The classrooms are well ventilated and students are encouraged to go outside during passing periods, which helps decrease close interactions with other people.” Senior Samantha O’Flaherty agrees. “I think there are enough regulations in place that I feel comfortable with going to school and being around my classmates,” O’Flaherty said. Though the new policies have changed many aspects of day-to-day life on the VCPS campus, students understand that these measures have been taken not only to protect them and their families but also faculty and administration. “I think that the new policies are necessary but still give Vanguard students a great experience,” Townlin Starr, eighth grade, said. “Vanguard is doing a great job, and the only thing I would like to change is after a while, to let loose on some rules, but I know they are just trying to keep us safe.” Fortunately, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that preventing a COVID-19 outbreak on campus is a community effort that relies upon empathy and concern for others. “I am concerned about the threat of COVID-19, but not just for myself,” O’Flaherty said. “My best friend has an autoimmune disease, so I need to be careful so I can still see her and not put her at risk.”
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Photo by Nicole Robles
his summer, I joined members of the Waco community in a peaceful protest for the Black Lives Matter movement. The protest was held during the time when protests spanning across the country were being raided by the police and being met with racist opposers. I was apprehensive at first, but I wanted to be there to show my support and let others educate me. I remember approaching the Suspension Bridge and watching in horror as two white men suited with several guns and knives made their way to the bridge. I stared them down, terrified of the power they held with a gun in each hand standing in a crowd full of people begging for change. We watched as they halted, drew a sign from a backpack, and held it up confidently. “We stand for BLM.” I felt relief washing over the protesters standing next to me. I drove my attention to the circle where Waco citizens took turns sharing their stories. I was amazed at the racial diversity of the groups; they stood tall and listened to each speaker: “I can’t breathe,” “White silence is violence,” “Say their names,” “I will never understand but I stand,” “Enough,” “All lives can’t matter until Black Lives Matter.” The crowd sobbed and cheered and roared with each speaker. It was moving to see such a supportive group of people in Waco. I learned right then in that circle that I have a special privilege which I have the power to utilize for others until we all matter.