The seniors have returned for everyday instruction in the New Providence High School!

Some seniors, like Evelyn Voss, were originally in the “C group”. If a student was in the C group, that means they only attend school virtually. Other students were either in the A or B Group, like senior Priscilla Senger. The people in these two groups went to school in person every other day, and on the days they did not, they would attend virtually. It is important to note that some students are still in the C group.

Well, that has changed, for not just those two seniors, but many, as well as the juniors. It is important to give the seniors special attention, however, because this is their last year of high school.

There are good reasons to have everyone come in.

“I definitely think that in person learning is not only more engaging and efficient than online learning, but it also encourages us classmates to have more collaboration and social interactions in the classroom, which is very important,” Voss said.

However, there are some challenges.

“Due to the sheer sizes of the classes that I and many other seniors are in, I am not sure if it was the best idea to have everyone come in all at once,” Voss said. “My main concerns with the return to school are the safety risks it presents as well as the increased chances of mass quarantine. Students are unable to stay distanced from each other in classes, meaning that many more students will have to be quarantined.”

“I believe that we should have waited for vaccines to be available for our age group,” Senger said. “While we are a small school, there is always a risk when people are congregating in an environment like this.”

The risks of catching the virus can be reduced, however.

“On the other hand, there are some ways in which risks are being reduced: such as students being vaccinated, plastic dividers, and ventilation, which I applaud the administration for taking into account and putting it in action,” Voss said.

With all of this being said, there are some concerns, for lack of a better term, of the hybrid schedule,  where A and B groups went in person to school every other day, parallel to each other, coming back.

“I think it is possible for the hybrid eschedule to come back,” Voss said. “It may be necessary if there is a Covid-19 outbreak in the school. I sincerely hope there will not be so we can continue to come to school everyday as well as participate in extracurriculars and upcoming events.”

Not everyone is concerned about the hybrid schedule coming back.

“I do not believe that the hybrid schedule could be coming back,” Senger said. “The school is pleased with the results of the seniors’ transition back and there are only two months left in this year.”

It is important to note that these last two months will most likely be much warmer than the previous months. In warmer weather, infection rates of other viruses (like the flu or strep) seem to decrease, which could potentially balance out the new risk of catching Covid due to more people coming into school everyday.