Week 263: COVID Comes at Us Fast

We have been hearing from the news media that this winter is going to be a dark one. Every source known suggested staying home for Thanksgiving. Even the Center for Disease Control urged Americans to avoid traveling in order to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. Well, of course, we had those "Don't Tread on Me" American Patriots refuse to listen and drive their vacationy hineys down to the sunshine state. One of those American Patriots was me, Hell Yeah, 'Merica!

COVID hits ILHS. Since returning from Florida I have tested negative for COVID-19, but I had coworkers that were not as fortunate. A teacher began displaying symptoms, and confirmation of the illness came after 3 days in the classroom, with students. Not only had they spent 90 minutes a day with small classes, but they also shared space with other teachers. Here is where the real pickle starts. After a confirmed positive COVID diagnosis, now the teachers had to be tested and quarantined. Within 3 days, our administrators were scrambling to fill the classes of 5 teachers. This is not to mention the normal teacher absences not related to COVID-19. In short, the Thanksgiving reverie had more in store. 

Even our administrator was forced to quarantine after an act of charity led to the need to isolate. 

Virtual Capitulation. Indian Land High School held out as long as it could. We made it mid-way to December before we had to go virtual. As we progressed, I had been getting more and more students that were not attending face-to-face classes as they were either sick themselves or quarantined after an exposure. It has not so much been the students that have carried the virus throughout the school, but the turn-over of teachers that is the problem. Filling the classrooms with capable adults that are willing to risk acquiring a deadly virus and are qualified to assist an adolescent seems to be getting harder. 

Good On You, LCSD. I am proud of the work that our district has done, and how they have been responsive to this outbreak at our school. I believe their approach is different from other districts because it has been a school-by-school approach, and not a, what is good for this school must be good for them all. As I type, the elementary students remain face-to-face, 4 days a week. Socialization, interaction, collaboration are things that we dearly miss, and now that I am speaking at a computer and avatars for extended periods of time I crave it more than ever. 

The Sound of My Own Voice. Seriously, have you ever spoken for an hour, felt like you said nothing (because no one reacts), then had to log in and do it five more times? You get thirsty, your throat is hoarse, and you are bored out of your mind. Since you've said the same thing 5 times already, you forget what you said, sometimes mid-sentence, and who you've said it to, therefore you tell the same story over and over. This is the beauty of recorded online lectures!

'Merica! This COVID-19 came at us fast. Within 1 week we were wiped out, and this is just the beginning of the dark winter. Great patriots like myself are about to embark upon more family get-togethers and dinners, sharing meals and bathrooms and toothbrushes. Okay, maybe not toothbrushes, but I am selfish-I am going to visit my family. I tested negative, and I will quarantine until I see my 74-year-old parents. I follow the rules and regulations, and I will do my part to keep this outbreak minimal. 

I am ever so saddened for the 300,000+ families that will have family members missing from their dinner tables, and I will pray for them.