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Principals Find Novel Ways to Honor Seniors During Shutdown Principals Find Novel Ways to Honor Seniors During Shutdown
(30 days later)
With school closed and graduation canceled, the principal of a high school in suburban Dallas set out on April 17 with his wife, a bag of Snickers bars and a mission: visiting each of the 612 seniors at their homes.With school closed and graduation canceled, the principal of a high school in suburban Dallas set out on April 17 with his wife, a bag of Snickers bars and a mission: visiting each of the 612 seniors at their homes.
Virdie Montgomery, the principal of Wylie High School in Wylie, Texas, said he thought it would take only a couple of days to see each student, deliver a note and a candy bar, and ask how they were doing. It ended up taking 79 hours across a dozen days, and about 800 miles traveled.Virdie Montgomery, the principal of Wylie High School in Wylie, Texas, said he thought it would take only a couple of days to see each student, deliver a note and a candy bar, and ask how they were doing. It ended up taking 79 hours across a dozen days, and about 800 miles traveled.
Wearing a mask covered in skulls and crossbones — a tribute to the school’s pirate mascot — Mr. Montgomery, 66, took a selfie with each student. He told them the school was a much less happy place in their absence, but that one day they would “look back on this and snicker.”Wearing a mask covered in skulls and crossbones — a tribute to the school’s pirate mascot — Mr. Montgomery, 66, took a selfie with each student. He told them the school was a much less happy place in their absence, but that one day they would “look back on this and snicker.”
Then he handed them a candy bar.Then he handed them a candy bar.
“I delivered the same lame joke more than 600 times,” Mr. Montgomery said. “I wanted to see them and make sure they were doing all right.”“I delivered the same lame joke more than 600 times,” Mr. Montgomery said. “I wanted to see them and make sure they were doing all right.”
Across the country, high school teachers and administrators are going out of their way to recognize their seniors as the coronavirus pandemic has closed schools and forced the cancellation of proms and graduation ceremonies.Across the country, high school teachers and administrators are going out of their way to recognize their seniors as the coronavirus pandemic has closed schools and forced the cancellation of proms and graduation ceremonies.
The staff at Chesterton High School in Chesterton, Ind., delivered “Class of 2020” yard signs. Dozens of teachers at West High School in Salt Lake City placed personalized yard signs outside the homes of graduating seniors. And the principal, teachers and administrators at Wellington High School in Wellington, Fla., donned masks and gloves to surprise the school’s 626 seniors with yard signs.The staff at Chesterton High School in Chesterton, Ind., delivered “Class of 2020” yard signs. Dozens of teachers at West High School in Salt Lake City placed personalized yard signs outside the homes of graduating seniors. And the principal, teachers and administrators at Wellington High School in Wellington, Fla., donned masks and gloves to surprise the school’s 626 seniors with yard signs.
In Texas, a statewide stay-at-home mandate went into effect on April 2. At first, Mr. Montgomery said, Wylie High School extended its spring break. But when the school was forced to close for the rest of the year, students’ attitudes changed, he said.In Texas, a statewide stay-at-home mandate went into effect on April 2. At first, Mr. Montgomery said, Wylie High School extended its spring break. But when the school was forced to close for the rest of the year, students’ attitudes changed, he said.
Prom, scholar banquets and other senior traditions were all canceled.Prom, scholar banquets and other senior traditions were all canceled.
“We are a tradition-laden school,” Mr. Montgomery said. “And golly, they were on the floor with their hearts.”“We are a tradition-laden school,” Mr. Montgomery said. “And golly, they were on the floor with their hearts.”
One of the seniors designed a class shirt, the school board delivered signs to every senior’s yard, and the school hosted a drive-by cap-and-gown pickup for a graduation ceremony that has yet to be rescheduled. But Mr. Montgomery said he didn’t think it was enough.One of the seniors designed a class shirt, the school board delivered signs to every senior’s yard, and the school hosted a drive-by cap-and-gown pickup for a graduation ceremony that has yet to be rescheduled. But Mr. Montgomery said he didn’t think it was enough.
“The absolute most important thing is that they know that they’re cared about,” he said. “And it has to be authentic. The most valuable gift that you can give to someone is time. I was basically telling them that I care about them.”“The absolute most important thing is that they know that they’re cared about,” he said. “And it has to be authentic. The most valuable gift that you can give to someone is time. I was basically telling them that I care about them.”
One day, Mr. Montgomery and his wife, Pam, traveled 127 miles and visited 14 students. Their record was 91 visits in one day, he said.One day, Mr. Montgomery and his wife, Pam, traveled 127 miles and visited 14 students. Their record was 91 visits in one day, he said.
“It didn’t really surprise me that much because that’s kind of his character,” said a senior, Brooke Ermias, 18. “But especially in this time, just seeing him at my house was a nice feeling, just knowing that someone would go to all that trouble just for you. And not just me, but my whole grade.”“It didn’t really surprise me that much because that’s kind of his character,” said a senior, Brooke Ermias, 18. “But especially in this time, just seeing him at my house was a nice feeling, just knowing that someone would go to all that trouble just for you. And not just me, but my whole grade.”
Madelene Do, 17, the senior class president, said Mr. Montgomery’s visit lifted her spirits and gave her hope.Madelene Do, 17, the senior class president, said Mr. Montgomery’s visit lifted her spirits and gave her hope.
“It made me feel like I wasn’t alone in this crisis,” she said. “The senior class is suffering. Every senior across the nation is suffering, but our support system is unique.”“It made me feel like I wasn’t alone in this crisis,” she said. “The senior class is suffering. Every senior across the nation is suffering, but our support system is unique.”
Mr. Montgomery tried to keep six feet from the students, though he said it was hard not to hug some of them.Mr. Montgomery tried to keep six feet from the students, though he said it was hard not to hug some of them.
“I’m finishing 43 years in the business, and I’ve never had anything happen like this,” Mr. Montgomery said.“I’m finishing 43 years in the business, and I’ve never had anything happen like this,” Mr. Montgomery said.
Michael Godbey, the principal of Lincoln County High School in Stanford, Ky., said teachers delivered yard signs on April 21 to each of the school’s 275 graduating seniors.Michael Godbey, the principal of Lincoln County High School in Stanford, Ky., said teachers delivered yard signs on April 21 to each of the school’s 275 graduating seniors.
Mr. Godbey said he spent more than 12 hours that day delivering about 45 signs. Some of the students and their families came out to wave but kept an appropriate distance.Mr. Godbey said he spent more than 12 hours that day delivering about 45 signs. Some of the students and their families came out to wave but kept an appropriate distance.
“We miss our kids,” Mr. Godbey said. “We’ve been out for seven weeks now, and it’s normally a busy time with graduation plans and making memories.”“We miss our kids,” Mr. Godbey said. “We’ve been out for seven weeks now, and it’s normally a busy time with graduation plans and making memories.”
Mr. Godbey said that the school still planned to hold a virtual graduation ceremony over five days later this month. Each senior will come to the school, one at a time, to walk across the stage. Each walk will be recorded and then compiled professionally into a video that might be screened at a drive-in theater, he said.Mr. Godbey said that the school still planned to hold a virtual graduation ceremony over five days later this month. Each senior will come to the school, one at a time, to walk across the stage. Each walk will be recorded and then compiled professionally into a video that might be screened at a drive-in theater, he said.
“We’ve been struggling with how to make this year special for our seniors and how to commemorate them,” Mr. Godbey said. “For some of our kids, this graduation will be the one big time that they get to be celebrated.”“We’ve been struggling with how to make this year special for our seniors and how to commemorate them,” Mr. Godbey said. “For some of our kids, this graduation will be the one big time that they get to be celebrated.”
Updated June 1, 2020
Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
More than 40 million people — the equivalent of 1 in 4 U.S. workers — have filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic took hold. One in five who were working in February reported losing a job or being furloughed in March or the beginning of April, data from a Federal Reserve survey released on May 14 showed, and that pain was highly concentrated among low earners. Fully 39 percent of former workers living in a household earning $40,000 or less lost work, compared with 13 percent in those making more than $100,000, a Fed official said.
Yes, but make sure you keep six feet of distance between you and people who don’t live in your home. Even if you just hang out in a park, rather than go for a jog or a walk, getting some fresh air, and hopefully sunshine, is a good idea.
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
Charity Navigator, which evaluates charities using a numbers-based system, has a running list of nonprofits working in communities affected by the outbreak. You can give blood through the American Red Cross, and World Central Kitchen has stepped in to distribute meals in major cities.
In Vanceboro, N.C., Tabari Wallace, the principal of West Craven High School, and about 70 teachers and administrators delivered personalized yard signs to the school’s 220 seniors on April 27.In Vanceboro, N.C., Tabari Wallace, the principal of West Craven High School, and about 70 teachers and administrators delivered personalized yard signs to the school’s 220 seniors on April 27.
They were joined by the members of three law enforcement departments, a fire department and members of the school board. They split into 13 caravans, each with a fire truck in front.They were joined by the members of three law enforcement departments, a fire department and members of the school board. They split into 13 caravans, each with a fire truck in front.
“It was extremely emotional,” Mr. Wallace said. “When they saw their face on their sign, some broke down, some ran over. The kids were running off the porch trying to get to us, just crying. The sheriff had to tell a few of them to back up.”“It was extremely emotional,” Mr. Wallace said. “When they saw their face on their sign, some broke down, some ran over. The kids were running off the porch trying to get to us, just crying. The sheriff had to tell a few of them to back up.”
As he delivered the signs, Mr. Wallace said he also had news: The school was not canceling graduation or prom, but instead was delaying both until a day in either August or December, with graduation to be held in the morning and prom in the evening.As he delivered the signs, Mr. Wallace said he also had news: The school was not canceling graduation or prom, but instead was delaying both until a day in either August or December, with graduation to be held in the morning and prom in the evening.
That news brought many to tears, he said.That news brought many to tears, he said.
“I told them to take the sign as a token and as a bridge until I can get them across that stage,” Mr. Wallace said. “I wanted them to know that we are with them, we support them and we love them.”“I told them to take the sign as a token and as a bridge until I can get them across that stage,” Mr. Wallace said. “I wanted them to know that we are with them, we support them and we love them.”