A Very COVID Halloween

As this year inches towards a close, the prospect of lackluster holidays and canceled events is no less disappointing as it was back in March. While traditional trick-or-treating and Halloween parties may be off the table, your October can still be full of spooky, fun, and relaxing Halloween plans that are safe for you and your friends and family. Here are just a few ideas that can be enjoyed alone or in tandem.

In addition to this list, here are some guidelines from the CDC on safe Halloween celebrations.

2. Connecting Virtually with Friends and Family

Just because it’s not safe to gather at a physical party doesn’t mean your Halloween needs to be spent alone! A virtual Halloween gathering might include catching up with your friends and family’s costumes and decorations on Zoom or Facetime, playing virtual games like those from Jackbox, or watching movies at the same time by screen sharing or using a service like Houseparty, Gaze, etc.

Consider keeping your Halloween party staples like costume parties or themed games, and using an online poll to keep track.

4. Make or Find a Halloween Playlist

To get your home into a haunted mood, try finding or making a themed playlist on Spotify or Youtube. Share it with your friends and family for an extra boost of safe socializing!

6. Share Costumes Virtually

If you’ve got a killer costume idea for this year, it doesn’t have to fall by the wayside! Try doing a costume photoshoot and posting the results on Instagram or other social media to share with your friends and peers.

8. Seasonal Rituals

The history of Halloween, or All Hallows Eve, is likely rooted in the Gaelic harvest festival of Samhain. You can still observe the transition to a colder and darker season, the seasonal harvest, and a more liminal time by cooking with or eating seasonal foods (pumpkins, squash, apples, etc.), lighting candles for passed loved ones, taking a walk through the falling leaves and chillier weather, or taking quiet time to contemplate the change of seasons.

National Tutoring Week! Thank You Tutors!

This week is National Tutoring Week! To celebrate our tutors, we asked you all to share notes of appreciation for the tutors, and you delivered! Thank you for your support of our tutoring staff—without you, we would not be able to do what we do. Check out all of the notes of appreciation below!

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Geraldine Raybould: "I have been a student at JTCC for the last three years and have had numerous occasions to seek assistance from ARC. The tutors there have been an invaluable tool in opening the doors to complete understanding with tips in English, writing, math and technological deficiencies. Thank you all so much."

"I personally appreciate all you guys do. Thank you!"

"The JTCC tutors are incredibly friendly and supportive! They are always willing to help students, even if it means going out of their way to find an obscure answer. The tutors take the time to break down the information, to focus on study tactics that work for each individual, and to make it interesting and engaging. They're amazing!"

"I don't know how these students do it! They are smart, patient, and professional. They are able to work with students from all types of backgrounds with all types of needs. They work nights and weekends to support fellow students. They offer such an incredible service for Tyler. Retention is really important to the institution and they help students get good grades and keep them up. Thank you, tutors, for all that you do!"

Kathryn Geranios: "Dear Tutors, Thank you for your support of students pre-Covid and now. The changes you made to accommodate my and all students virtually is appreciated. I would like to give a special shout out to my embedded tutor/TA Carole Skrbin for giving in-class tutoring help and adding to the empathy as well as academics. Her patience in explaining and clarity in giving directions are noted. To all the tutors I have worked with in the face to face before and to Carole in the Zoom class, thank you. Keep up the excellent work and valuable service to our students! ~Professor K"

"I really appreciate the tutors jumping right in to help such that they sometimes get in fights as to who gets to tutor. With that kind of enthusiasm, you can't lose!"

"Our tutors are so welcoming and funny even when there are no students to tutor. Doing my office hour at ARC always puts a smile on my face. Thank you, bright and happy young people for all you do to support higher education at JTCC!"

Robert Konikoff: "I truly appreciate all the effort you put in! I have several students that, for a fact, would not have made it successfully through ITE115 without your help over the semesters I've been teaching. I also know a few went to you for professional help with their job and resumes. You have definitely gone above and beyond!!!!!"

Heather Taylor: "Thank you so much for all that you do for Tyler students! You are so vital to student success and we are fortunate to have such a great group of tutors!"

A. Reinhardt: "I want to thank all of the tutors who have worked so hard during these trying times to accommodate the needs of my students. You have so willingly joined my Zoom sessions or have Zoomed into my face-to-face classes whenever I have asked for an introduction to ARC or to offer services to my students. I wish that more students would take advantage of what you have to offer. You are greatly appreciated."

Jovanny Ibarra: "You guys are awesome. Really cool squad!"

Chava Maimon: "One of the things I have really appreciated is how you developed a special presentation for my SDV students who have a concentration in graphic design, film, theater, and photography. It really gave them an idea of how the ARC could benefit them specifically. I know you've also really tried to always have a tutor who could help my students with the studio graphic design classes; I've had students who utilized that, and it has always been so wonderful that I could offer it to them. Thank you for all that you do and going the extra mile!"

"Thank you for being there for our students. You are making a difference."

Jeff Elliott: "I just wanted all of the ARC team to know I appreciate what you do! I teach quite a few varying courses and I see my students taking advantage of your tutoring services in all of them. Keep up the great work; you are definitely making a big difference!"

Gena Britt: "Thank you, tutors, for all that you do. I have held office hours in the ARC before and seen you at work and you are amazing. I refer students to you on a regular basis--they are very lucky to have you!"

"Really appreciate your help to our students and making them comfortable with the concept!"

Marian Swift: "You guys are awesome! I am always happy to let students know that they can find help with you when I cannot help them myself. It's a comfort to know that they have some support for their learning outside of the limited amount of time that I can offer."

"ARC tutors are the best. Thanks for all you do to help our students succeed."

Mike Murphy: "The ARC provides excellent support to meet many of our students' needs and it seems you continue to offer more each semester. I know a number of students that use the ARC quite often and they ALL sing your praises. Thanks for all you do and keep up the good work!"

"Thank you guys for being so helpful! I'm quite glad I've got this service."

Taylor Moore: "Your feedback on my essay was so helpful and thorough! I appreciate so much the time you put into helping others. It is very beneficial and I am so grateful!"

"Thanks for all you do to support online Math 154 students! You play an important role in helping students feel part of the JTCC community."

Dr. Darlene Sauls-Bassfield: "Thank you so much for supporting our students in their academic journey! Your dedication and commitment has not been in vain. Thank you!"

Meredith Privott: "Thank you so much, ARC Tutors, for all you do! You all make such a lasting, positive impression on our students, and as a faculty member, I am routinely impressed by how you help and support my students. Thank you for supporting and caring for our students--you all rock!"

Encouragment for New and Returning Tyler Students

Welcome (back) to all of our new and returning Tyler students! Welcome to Fall 2020 at Tyler! As you all know, Covid-19 is still a thing we are all dealing with, and it is still effecting things at Tyler, meaning that a lot of us are still doing classes and coursework in some sort of virtual format. To welcome you back, some of the ARC tutors have written you some notes of encouragment to bring you into the new semester. Check them out below!

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Aubrey, STEM Tutor:

"Don't forget to breathe, and take it slow when you need a break."

Grishaw, Writing Tutor:

"I'm not going to lie and say college isn't a scary thing, or a big change from high school. There's some higher expectations, the classes move faster and are harder, and there's a lot more responsibility put on you as the student. This isn't a bad thing, though. You get more choice over your classes, there's more resources for you if you are struggling, and overall the responsibility is going to be nothing you can't handle.

"I recommend not approaching college by thinking about how it compares to high school, but by showing how it is its own new and unique thing. I've been at John Tyler a year now, and while it has been very different from high school, it is an experience I haven't had anywhere else. The instructors care about you, they want to talk to you and help you, and they want to help you not fall behind. The college works hard to help struggling students through resources like the ARC. The students themselves are some of the most friendly people I've met, and will help you when you ask and get to know them.

"Starting college can be a scary thing, but we are here to help you."

Mahasin, Lead Writing Tutor:

"Welcome to all new and returning students! What a wonderful time to attend college! This is undeniably a history making time and YOU will be the inaugural class that ushers in this type of learning experience in these unprecedented times. The next few weeks will be interesting, new, and absolutely memorable. But then aren't the first few weeks of college always like that? Enjoy."

Jordan, Lead STEM Tutor:

“To all the incoming students, do not be worried about finding the path for you. One of the biggest things I was afraid of when entering Tyler was not being able to find the career or education that I wanted. You can and will find what you are looking for if you put in the work and time. If you learn about something you are interested in, talk to your professor or a career advisor, they will give you more insight and will be happy to help. Have a great year and good luck!”