Has your school delayed its start, moved back to remote learning or canceled classes this week?
In a matter of weeks, the highly contagious Omicron variant has driven coronavirus case counts to record levels in the United States, upending air travel, canceling sporting events, reversing return-to-office plans and more. And now, as students and staff return from winter break, it is disrupting schools across the country. Has your school delayed its start, moved back to remote learning or canceled classes this week? Have you, your family or anyone else you know been affected by the Omicron surge in other ways? A new coronavirus variant has sent case counts soaring across the United States. Has it disrupted your life? How is your school handling the Omicron surge? Has it canceled classes or returned to remote learning? Has it implemented coronavirus testing policies, mask mandates, virtual learning options or vaccine requirements?
Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, described the return to schools as “chaos.” What is one word you would use to describe this moment based on your own experience? Why? In his Morning Newsletter for Jan. 4, David Leonhardt wrote about the toll the pandemic has taken on students: Young people have fallen behind academically, they are experiencing mental health problems, behavior problems have increased, and many schools have not returned to normal, worsening social isolation. Have you noticed any of these issues or others among the students in your school? How has pandemic schooling affected you? How is your mental health as you’re returning to school virtually or in person at this stage of the pandemic? Do you feel hopeful, exhausted, overwhelmed or something else? Why? How has Omicron affected your family, teachers and community? What worries and concerns do you have about the pandemic at this point and its impact on you and the people around you?
Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, described the return to schools as “chaos.” What is one word you would use to describe this moment based on your own experience? Why? In his Morning Newsletter for Jan. 4, David Leonhardt wrote about the toll the pandemic has taken on students: Young people have fallen behind academically, they are experiencing mental health problems, behavior problems have increased, and many schools have not returned to normal, worsening social isolation. Have you noticed any of these issues or others among the students in your school? How has pandemic schooling affected you? How is your mental health as you’re returning to school virtually or in person at this stage of the pandemic? Do you feel hopeful, exhausted, overwhelmed or something else? Why? How has Omicron affected your family, teachers and community? What worries and concerns do you have about the pandemic at this point and its impact on you and the people around you?
