Congratulations, Nyack High School. We have officially made it through two months of the COVID school year and are now taking on our third! Besides adjusting to the temporary all-virtual instruction, we dealt with the tension of the election. It makes sense that our focus is divided among high school, politics, the virus, and more. Seniors have been anxiously cramming for their November first college deadline, while freshmen are still trying to adapt to a new school amidst a pandemic. It’s no secret we’re all stressed out.
But what can we do to alleviate some of the pressure? Going on walks, baking, cooking for your family, reading a book, starting a new TV show (or rewatching “Tiger King”), learning to play an instrument, or even picking up a new hobby like crocheting are all things we can do to spark joy (thank you, Marie Kondo).
However, it’s also important to make school the most enjoyable it can be. While students are going back and forth between hybrid learning and staying home, teachers are too. These are unprecedented times for everyone involved, and the best way to create a system that accommodates all of us is open discussion. When interviewing members of our student body, many said that they have difficulty learning at home due to constant distractions, or because teachers simply don’t have a strong method for teaching through a screen. Although it can be super uncomfortable to try to give teachers advice, you never know who else you could be helping through your suggestion; the teachers want feedback, and chances are, other kids are struggling in the same way.
If talking directly to your teacher doesn’t sound like fun, there are always other options. For example, the student body council has meetings with the board members every two weeks! If you have any suggestions, feel free to DM @nyackhighschool and we will direct your message to them, anonymously if you prefer. Finally, go RedHawks!