By Ava DeSimone
Now that most Mashpee Middle High School students have returned to in person learning for the remainder of the 2021 school year, it has been a big change. Although there is excitement about seeing friends and being able to learn somewhat normal in a classroom, there is also some anxiety for students. The six feet distance that was followed during hybrid learning, has now become three feet. With more students in the classroom and less distance between, is this something that should cause worrying?
District Covid-19 Health Coordinator Stacey Schakel has had a prominent role throughout the return to school full time and since the start of the pandemic. She is in charge of tracing close contacts along with keep track of many of the Covid regulations the schools must follow. With the thought of mostly everyone being back in school full time in over a year, I could sense the anxiety that would come along with it, which is the main reason that I reached out to our health coordinator.
Now that most Mashpee Middle High School students have returned to in person learning for the remainder of the 2021 school year, it has been a big change. Although there is excitement about seeing friends and being able to learn somewhat normal in a classroom, there is also some anxiety for students. The six feet distance that was followed during hybrid learning, has now become three feet. With more students in the classroom and less distance between, is this something that should cause worrying?
District Covid-19 Health Coordinator Stacey Schakel has had a prominent role throughout the return to school full time and since the start of the pandemic. She is in charge of tracing close contacts along with keep track of many of the Covid regulations the schools must follow. With the thought of mostly everyone being back in school full time in over a year, I could sense the anxiety that would come along with it, which is the main reason that I reached out to our health coordinator.
One thing for Mashpee is that there has not been a single transmission of the coronavirus in the classroom, according to sources from the school. While everyone should be responsible and keep their masks on throughout the day, it is especially important now that there is less distance between desks. Another aspect to consider is when substitutes are present in our classrooms. They may not know where everyone is supposed to be sitting, but it is implied that students stay in their assigned seat and not sit wherever they want to.
On that note, there are occasional times when masks go below noses, and with being three feet apart, it is clear that it could cause more of an issue. After reading Nurse Stacey’s insight on returning to school full time, there are hopes that she provides some clarity and reassurance about the situation.
Before April vacation, MMHS witnessed 30 close contacts in one COVID case. This was anxiety-provoking for some; wondering why there was such a high number within the first week of coming back full time. Many were wondering if this was going to be a reoccurring situation throughout Mashpee schools, where there were several close contacts for one positive case.
I asked Nurse Stacey Schakel about her thoughts about the return of most students to school full time and the new three feet rule. Here’s what she had to say.
THE FALCONER: What are your thoughts on coming back to school and having students be 3 feet away from each other?
MS. SCHAKEL: Given the multiple safety and mitigating measures we have in place and the fact that we have not seen in-school classroom transmission I believe we will be able to continue having safe in-person learning. We must remain vigilant and continue to follow the protocols for mask wearing, hand hygiene, physical distancing, ventilation, staying home when sick or anyone in your household is sick or awaiting test results, pooled testing, and real time communication.
THE FALCONER: What’s your message to students who aren’t serious about masks/maintaining social distancing?
MS. SCHAKEL: We must remain vigilant and continue to follow the protocols for mask wearing, hand hygiene, physical distancing, ventilation, staying home when sick or anyone in your household is sick or awaiting test results, pooled testing and real time communication. We all need to do our part to continue to keep everyone safe. It is out of respect for each other that students should continue wearing their masks and remaining socially distant. If we all work together, more opportunities will return, and we will be able to participate more fully in the activities that enrich our lives.
THE FALCONER: What should students do if there is a substitute and the rules aren’t being followed?
MS. SCHAKEL: All substitutes are aware of the rules and expectations. Students should reach out to an administrator or a teacher in a neighboring classroom if they are feeling unsafe or concerned in a learning environment because other students are not following our expected protocols. We all have to work together, and administrators cannot address or correct a situation if they are not made aware.
THE FALCONER: Is there any part of the school day that has you most concerned in terms of health and safety?
MS. SCHAKEL: As long as the established safety measures noted above are followed I am not concerned about any specific part of the school day.
THE FALCONER: What would you say to someone who is concerned with being 3 feet with masks off at lunch? For 15 minutes or more?
MS. SCHAKEL: Masks are only allowed to be off at lunch with everyone being six feet apart and facing the same direction. Masks must be worn at all times inside and outside of the school whether at 3 or 6 feet unless during a mask break or snack time.
THE FALCONER: Can you explain why there was that situation with one positive case and 30 close contacts? Is that likely to happen again?
MS. SCHAKEL: This situation occurred when desks were 3 feet apart in the classroom and when guidance was still identifying close contacts as those closer than 6 feet needing to quarantine. Given the newest guidance (4/20/21) we should see less individuals identified as classroom close contacts needing to quarantine.
However, given that the definition for close contacts remains being closer than 6 feet for 15 min or more, individuals who are not within the 3 foot distance but are within 6 feet distance from an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 will still be notified and advised to test; however, these individuals will not be required to quarantine unless they become symptomatic. We have not had any in-classroom spread of the COVID-19 virus so far in the school year.
THE FALCONER: Can you explain why we shouldn’t be worried that there are so many students back in the classroom?
MS. SCHAKEL: While we can’t take away the anxiety that a student may be experiencing, we hope to lessen it by being vigilant about everyone following our safety protocols--wearing masks appropriately (with the nose covered), frequently washing/sanitizing hands, remaining at least 3 feet apart from each other, avoiding risky behaviors or activities that would put our school community at greater risk, and keeping our cleaning/disinfecting practices in place, we should be able to keep everyone healthy and safe. We cannot control what students and families do outside of the school day. We continue to provide guidance and support to our families in order to keep our school environment safe.