First days of hybrid: students’ reactions
Laura Anderson, Managing Editor
After beginning the school year on September 16 with remote learning, most students started hybrid learning and returned to the school building for the first time since March on October 6 and 7. Harbinger reporters asked students and faculty about their opinions on the first day.
Social Distancing procedures were practiced during all interviews and masks were worn inside at all times and only removed if outside and at least 10 feet apart.
Compiled by: Ben Schanzer, Riya Mahanta, Katherine Wu, Jula Utzschneider, Tony Bianchi, Billy Smith, Sharada Vishwanath, Ava Aymie, Jeffrey Dratch, Zoe Manousos, Jessie Lambert, Henry Antino, Jenny Lambert, Joe Dolmolky, Sofia Abdullina, Yahya Ibrahimi, Kaitlin Bardsley, Annemargaret Furgal
Sophomore Adrien Moulin
Were you worried about anything coming into today? “I thought it was going to be unorganized, but it turned out to be good.”
Freshman Allison Moore
Do you think the hybrid model will be better or worse than remote? Why? “I think it will be better because we actually get to see our friends and see and talk to everyone in person.”
Sophomore Bitsy Reynolds
Do you think the hybrid schedule will be better or worse than remote, and why? “I think it will be better because we will learn more and like we will actually understand what we’re learning, and be able to talk to our teachers more.”
Math teacher Ellen Marieni
Do you think the hybrid schedule will be better or worse than remote, and why? “Better. It is much more effective to teach students in person”
Foreign Language teacher Emily Squires
Were you worried about anything coming into today? “No I’m not worried, because we have a lot of things in place to keep the students and teachers safe.”
Applied Arts teacher George Clark
Were you worried about anything coming into today? “Yeah, I live in the world and I see the news. I know there are a lot of people getting very sick and I’ve been trying very hard to stay away from people for the last six months or so, and now I’m in close proximity to way more people than I’m used to being around, so I am anxious about that.”
Senior Jimmy Clifford
How do you think the first day of hybrid went? Why? “It went pretty well. It was a little tricky getting used to all the arrows on the floor but overall pretty good.”
Freshman McKenzie Wood
Do you think the Hybrid schedule will be better or worse than remote? Why? “Definitely better. It’s so much easier just being in person with other people; it’s also less awkward and more people will actually answer questions.”
Principal Sean Bevan
How do you think the first day of hybrid is going? Why? “I think it is going really well. It has been really enjoyable to see and meet kids again.”
Senior Victoria Witkowski
How do you think the first day of hybrid went? Why? “It actually went pretty good. I had so much fun going outside to eat lunch and walk to classes.” “It’s fun to be back and see everybody in a good mood”
Senior William Saulnier
How do you think the first day of hybrid went? Why? “It was a little messy in the hallways and stairwells, but overall it went well.”
Senior Wraven Watanabe
How do you think the first day of hybrid is going/went? Why? “The classes themselves went well and it was much easier to focus on the material. Getting from class to class was a nightmare. The halls were really crowded and it was very congested.”
Senior Yasmin Lee
Do you think the hybrid schedule will be better or worse than remote, and why? "I like hybrid a lot better and hope we can keep it like this. I like how now the remote days (besides Monday) you can control your own schedule and not have to constantly look at a Zoom. I also like how it switches off so it’s a good balance between in person and at home."
Junior Bobby Kebartas
How do you think the first day of hybrid is going? Why? “Hybrid is going well the only issue is the hallways are very confusing and there are some changes that might need to be made to that system”
Sophomore Adam Khreim
Were you worried about anything coming into today? “No, I was kind of worried about people not wearing there mask, but everybody was wearing it and the desks in the classes were six feet apart”
Science teacher Christina Connolly
Do you think the hybrid schedule will be better or worse than remote, and why? “Better, because you get to see the kids. We can do remote, never see you and send out work, but I feel like as a student you’re going to be so disconnected from your teacher and your classmates, and that’s part of the magic of high school. Here, the joking, the comradery- that’s all fun. Just being with ot...
Senior Chris Bleck
Were you worried about anything coming into today? “No, not really. The precautions around Algonquin are very good and it just seems like a solid set-up that I don’t have to worry about.”
Junior Joe Scangas
Do you think the hybrid schedule will be better or worse than remote, and why? “So much better because we go to school twice a week in person and the schedule is balanced out better. Balancing it out definitely helps me improve my grades and motivates me to do better in school.”
Senior Emma Stott (Stand-Alone Remote learner)
How do you feel about doing stand-alone remote while most students head back to the building for in-person learning? “While I do miss going to school during normal times, I think remote is the best choice for me and my family during this abnormal period. I hope that later in the year the situation will improve and we can go back to school as we did before all of this.” Are you optimistic ab...
Junior Jack Stevenson
Were you worried about anything coming into today? “I wasn’t really worried about it, but my parents were hesitant to send me back.”
Senior Aaron Chysna
How do you think the first day of hybrid went? Why? “I enjoyed it. I think it was good that they came up with ideas that would benefit us, like walking outside and being able to eat lunch outside.”
Freshman Elizabeth Connolly
Do you think the hybrid schedule will be better or worse than remote, and why? “I think it’ll be better, because [with] remote you’re on a computer for six hours a day, and you’re not interacting with people in-person. Whereas in-person you get to actually sit in front of a teacher, and the teacher is right there telling you everything.”
Junior Anna Haven
Were you worried about anything coming into today? “Finding my way around with the new hallway rules.”
Freshman Bella King
What were you worried about? “Getting lost in the school because it’s huge and there are a lot of older grades.”
Freshman Bryn Domolky
How do you think the first day of hybrid is going? “It’s going good. Definitely better than I expected.”
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