How Will Covid Affect School Events
Olivia Skadahl
Published April 8, 2022
Published April 8, 2022
While Reagan students are back in the school building, the current pandemic has changed schooling significantly. Mask-wearing, social distancing, and new forms of learning have been added to the daily struggle for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors alike. However, as we try to move back to normal, the question stands, “How will school events play out in the upcoming months?”
Dances and other indoor events, where students are stuffed into a sweaty gym, crowded together, and snacking on overpriced nachos, must inevitably change to follow COVID protocol. Will we get rid of dances altogether? What does this mean for festivals and fairs? Prom? Luisangel Sanches-Calderon, a sophomore on the student council, and Ms. Jaimeson, the teacher supervising the student council, provided their insider knowledge on how these events will play out.
When asked how events will be changed, Luisangel stated, “We’ve modified them by moving them outside and created new events to make up for the ones that we couldn’t still have.” He continued, “We did the fall festival to make up for the fall dance since we couldn’t have so many people inside.” The fall dance, one of many dances usually held, was switched out for a festival located on the blacktop behind the school. The pep rally continued this trend, taking place outside rather than where it was commonly held in the auditorium.
Ms. Jaimeson provided information on how the student council has worked to adapt to the changing COVID protocol. She stated, “We usually have a Winter dance but we can’t do that; we’re keeping Prom but it will have to be modified a lot.” She continued to say that other events, such as pep rallies and the teacher versus staff games, are currently up in the air as any event would have to be able to have students socially distance themselves and wear masks. With infection numbers rising and a possible school closure forever on the horizon, many are wondering, “What about prom?”
Ms. Jaimeson had some answers to the worried wonderings of the student body. When asked if there will be a limit on students, Ms. Jamieson replied that the limit will be 500 students, more than enough for those planning to attend. Taking place in the Milwaukee Public Museum, food will be set up in stations throughout the building with a menu comprised of more than twenty options. Vegan and vegetarian-friendly dishes will be included. When asked how they will address social distancing and Covid protocol, she replied, “Consistent with current MPS guidelines, we will ask attendees to wear a face covering. We are also asking that all attendees either show proof of a COVID vaccine or a negative COVID test taken before attending.” Finally, Ms. Jamieson confirmed that prom will be April 30.
Dances and other indoor events, where students are stuffed into a sweaty gym, crowded together, and snacking on overpriced nachos, must inevitably change to follow COVID protocol. Will we get rid of dances altogether? What does this mean for festivals and fairs? Prom? Luisangel Sanches-Calderon, a sophomore on the student council, and Ms. Jaimeson, the teacher supervising the student council, provided their insider knowledge on how these events will play out.
When asked how events will be changed, Luisangel stated, “We’ve modified them by moving them outside and created new events to make up for the ones that we couldn’t still have.” He continued, “We did the fall festival to make up for the fall dance since we couldn’t have so many people inside.” The fall dance, one of many dances usually held, was switched out for a festival located on the blacktop behind the school. The pep rally continued this trend, taking place outside rather than where it was commonly held in the auditorium.
Ms. Jaimeson provided information on how the student council has worked to adapt to the changing COVID protocol. She stated, “We usually have a Winter dance but we can’t do that; we’re keeping Prom but it will have to be modified a lot.” She continued to say that other events, such as pep rallies and the teacher versus staff games, are currently up in the air as any event would have to be able to have students socially distance themselves and wear masks. With infection numbers rising and a possible school closure forever on the horizon, many are wondering, “What about prom?”
Ms. Jaimeson had some answers to the worried wonderings of the student body. When asked if there will be a limit on students, Ms. Jamieson replied that the limit will be 500 students, more than enough for those planning to attend. Taking place in the Milwaukee Public Museum, food will be set up in stations throughout the building with a menu comprised of more than twenty options. Vegan and vegetarian-friendly dishes will be included. When asked how they will address social distancing and Covid protocol, she replied, “Consistent with current MPS guidelines, we will ask attendees to wear a face covering. We are also asking that all attendees either show proof of a COVID vaccine or a negative COVID test taken before attending.” Finally, Ms. Jamieson confirmed that prom will be April 30.