By NANCY ZEMAN nzeman@prairiepress.net
Paris High School students are not only happy to be back in school following a 2½ month remote learning experience last school year, they are making a concerted effort to keep the school open, the Paris High School board learned during its September meeting Monday, Sept. 14
PHS principal Mark Cox and assistant principal Denise Young reported on the opening of school as well as what students are doing to ensure in-person learning.
“The students want to be here,” Cox said. “They missed being in school not only for the educational aspect but for the social-emotional support they receive from fellow students and teachers.”
No one is having a problem wearing a mask, Cox said.
“We don’t have to constantly remind them to get their masks on,” he noted, adding students are also cognizant of social distancing and are using the hand sanitizer stations throughout the building.
The students, faculty and staff commitment to keeping the school open paid off in the last couple of weeks when a P.E. teacher at the school tested positive for COVID-19, Cox said. The teacher had 70 students in class and that could have been a problem with how PHS students move from class to class and interact.
A video of the P.E. classes revealed the class activities did not require students to be in close proximity for 15 minutes and everyone was wearing their masks. The result was only one other person — an adult — was contact traced and all 70 students were cleared to continue in-person learning.
Out of an abundance of caution,
Cox said the parents of all 70 students were contacted to let them know about the teacher and the virus.
“We received emails and calls from parents who appreciated the communication,” the principal said.
Young, who joined the PHS team just as school was starting in August, praised the students and teachers for working to keep the school open.
“We’re considering rewards for the students as we navigate this challenge,” Young explained.
Among the ideas is a grab and go on the third Wednesday of every month when school is dismissed at 11:30 a.m. for teacher meetings and in-service. A word of encouragement is also being added to bananas and is popular, she said.
The PHS Sunshine Committee provided the teachers with an apple nacho bar featuring apples, caramel and other goodies as well as a pretzel bar Wednesday.
Cox emphasized the community has offered to help in any way possible to support students and faculty.
Cox acknowledged the students are missing regular activities like football, marching band, and volleyball that were canceled this fall but rescheduled for the spring. The football and volleyball teams have been getting together outside — with masks — as is currently allowed during contact days by the IHSA. As board members and those attending Monday’s meeting were arriving, they were greeted by the sight of the volleyball team working on skills under the direction of Coach Christy Pinkston with players socially distanced and wearing masks.
Class officers were recently elected as well as at-large members of the student council and that group will begin meeting. Young said the students are anxious to put together appropriate activities for students. Roger Thomas is the new student council sponsor.
“They won’t be planning dances and the usual stuff, but I think they are ready for the challenge,” Cox noted.
Cox also announced the 2020 virtual May Fete video will soon be distributed.
“We realize it’s not the same as the traditional event and pictures of the seniors doesn’t replace the experience,” he said. He offered his thanks to sponsor Jessica Blair and her husband Brian for their work in completing the video.
PHS class officers and student council members for the 2020-2021 school year are:
Seniors — Payton Block, president; Richard Lin, vice-president; Garret King, secretary; Olivia Theirl, treasurer; and Shayleigh Cline and Whitney Todd, at-large members.
Juniors — Kendall Mathews, president; Drew Pinkston, vice-president; Rebekah Alexander, secretary; Kendyll Lewis, treasurer; and Marissa Lawson and Cooper Kuglin, at-large members.
Sophomores — Ethan Vice, president; Caradan Hoffman, vice-president; Sage Gladding, secretary; Abigail Grubb, treasurer; and Greta Hall and Zoe Sanders, at-large members.
Freshman — Vivian Moore, president; Brennan Hemrich, vice-president; Aubrey Wilson, secretary; Kalvin Rigdon, treasurer; and Aubrey Leader and Will Moody, at-large members.
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September 21, 2020 at 10:59PM
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PHS making school work - prairiepress.net
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