By: Izzy Larsen
As of Tuesday, September 28, 2021, students that are currently on Covid leave take part in the new Zoom check-in system.
When a student either gets Covid or is exposed, they are required to stay home for 10 days or get a negative Covid test, to keep the spreading of the virus to a minimum.
This new Zoom-in Tuesday was put in place in hopes that students would not fall behind while being gone from school for such a substantial time.
Mrs. Bettencourt, a chemistry teacher at Redwood says, “it could be beneficial if the student can ask questions or listen to lectures.”
Bettencourt expands on the idea, that for some, this system might not work. “It probably won’t be very beneficial if the students in class are doing work or a project where the teacher is helping the classroom students and ‘ignoring’ the zoom-in student.”
Finding a balance in this sort of situation is important for both the students and the teachers.
Mrs. Tolbert, the AP Language and Composition teacher says, “checking in with teachers, even for a short amount of time, will help students touch base and hopefully feel a little less lost.”
Keeping up with missed classwork is not the only aspect of school students are missing, as they are also missing the social interaction with their peers.
Tolbert continues, “not only that, but even that small connection can help students feel ‘part of the class’ still, and cut down on those feelings of alienation.”
Some classwork can be worked on remotely from home and on a computer like many experienced during the 2020-2021 school year.
But how does a PE student keep up with the teacher and other students when they are unable to participate in the activities with the rest of the class?
PE teacher Mr. MacDonald talked about the unique situation that quarantine PE students have to face, to keep up with their class.
MacDonald says “our zoom-in is a little bit different. We zoom-in with students on Monday morning during our PLC time.”
An agreement amongst all of these teachers, however, is best said as MacDonald put it: “any time you have connections with kids they will benefit.”
Ultimately it comes to the teachers and students working together to make sure that those who are gone can keep up with their work and get the help they need.
Tolbert ends by saying, “zooming students can choose to engage as much or as little as they want. I’m always afraid of facing a black screen and muted microphone.”
Bettencourt builds from this and says, “I think it will work if teachers implement it effectively and if students actually zoom in with questions.”
Tags: clubs & lifestyles, covid leave, izzy larsen, Mr. MacDonald, Mrs. Bettencourt, Mrs. Tolbert, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, tuesday zooms, zoom