In March of 2020, Pennridge High School closed and did not reopen until the next year due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. When the school reopened in August of 2020, the students had two options for their schooling. They could take their classes fully remotely with a hybrid schedule. The second option offered in person classes two days a week. As of February 22, 2021, that will no longer be an option for the students. They can either return to classes five days a week on a modified schedule or attend fully remote classes. This change has caused many mixed emotions throughout the student body. 

Pennridge has made the educated decision to bring large groups of students back to class due to the seemingly stable number of Covid cases and the growing numbers of community vaccinations. The daily schedule will be modified to exclude the lunch period, which could have been a super-spreading event. The classes will be 45 minutes long and will end at 1 pm with a grab-and-go lunch being offered to those who would like it. 

Some students are excited to return daily, some are dreading going back to normal. Senior Ella Molyneux is excited to go back to school fully saying the return to in person classes is “way overdue,”. She stated that she “hasn’t been learning and it’s hard to keep up; going back fully will help me a lot academically.” She does have some concerns about the scheduling of the day stating that, “I disagree most with having no lunch and I think I will need a break during the day.” Aside from that she is happy to go back and see her friends and peers; many other students feel the same way. 

Disagreeing with her is senior Kayla Archibascio, who has chosen to stay fully virtual with her education. Kayla is concerned about the Covid cases rising and students being exposed more. On the topic of school work, Kayla says, “I am concerned about the workload increasing, but I am glad that I can stay fully online.” Kayla and a lot of other students don’t want to wear a mask for long periods of time or risk their safety by attending school. 

The emotions surrounding the change are mixed, but only time will tell how it will go. Ready or not, we are back to school five days a week. Hopefully we can get a sense of normalcy back while staying safe and healthy!