COVID-19 Protocols at Peninsula
On Aug. 25, Peninsula students returned to in-person school after over a year online. To prepare for the large influx of students, the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health issued many protocols to prevent the coronavirus (COVID-19) from spreading in schools. These precautions include wearing a mask at all times, except when eating, and staying at least three feet apart in classrooms. Before entering school, students and faculty are required to complete a COVID-19 screener to further ensure that they have no symptoms of the virus. In addition, hand-washing stations and sanitizer dispensers are placed throughout campuses.
The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) believes these safety measures will provide a layer of protection against COVID-19 for students and staff, regardless of vaccination status. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who are fully vaccinated are still able to contract COVID-19 and its other variants through contact with infected objects or individuals. Some vaccinated students like junior Irene Oh appreciate the district’s precautions because they could reduce the risk of someone on campus getting infected with the virus.
“These protocols [are] rather necessary because I was worried about [the risks involved with] going back to school,” Oh said. “Even though I [am] vaccinated, there [is] always that 1 percent chance that [I could contract the virus].”
These precautions set by the district to prevent COVID-19 have influenced the current teaching methods of Peninsula teachers. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, students had little social interaction during quarantine, which led to feelings of isolation. Thus, they may be closed off to other students and instructors, making it more difficult for teachers to engage their students (Cable News Network). Under these circumstances, instructors have been trying to communicate with students to ensure their success in the classroom. English 1, 1H and 3 teacher Tracey Bly feels there are many challenges associated with teaching during this school year.
“As an English teacher, I like to do lots of small-group interactions, and it is really hard to do that when I do not want [my students] to interact [with anyone] other than the people they are sitting around,” Bly said. “[As a result,] I have to come up with new ways for [students] to collaborate. It is a very big difference to teach [while following these protocols]. It is like being a brand-new teacher all over again.”
Schools are not only places for learning, but also places for social interaction and developing a sense of self. When attending online school, students would experience long periods of time without going outside or talking to people outside their family. Attending classes in-person allows students to walk around campus and socialize with other students, improving their social lives and mental health (New York Times). Junior Jessica Wiemels believes that despite the unfamiliar protocols, students will eventually adapt to learning in their new environment. “[Returning to in-person school] is weird, but it [feels] normal even though we [are] wearing masks and [have] to stay socially distant,” Wiemels said. “Being on campus feels like the most [normalcy] we have had in the last two years.”
