Middle School students have been adjusting to school with COVID restrictions. Even with the many changes and precautions the KO Middle School has undertaken, students are still given the option to remain online or go to school in person.
While most students come into school, around five students in eighth grade chose to remain online. “I think it’s hard to become friends with someone online because you’re just doing work,” eighth-grader Yzzy Albert said. Furthermore, some students are completely new to KO and might not even know many classmates because they are online.
New sixth-graders Natay Belachew and Bryson Carter found some positives in being online and new to KO. “We are staying safe, and we don’t have to go out on rainy days, and it feels good to be in your own house, ” Bryson said. Natay agreed. “We are safer than I would be going to school,” he said.
Middle School math teacher Megan Farrell talked about some of the things you can’t do anymore with COVID restrictions. “Collaboration is very difficult and having students work with each other in class,” she said.
With the new restrictions, it is hard to work with a class as we could in past years. This is Ms. Farrell’s third year teaching at KO, and she considers this year to be a large adjustment.
“I would love to stay how we are staying right now,” Ms. Farrell said. “I would not want any online days.” Although there are some risks to going to school in person, these voices represent many of the KO community who would rather be in person with the restrictions than being online like we did in the spring.
