By Deseray McKinzy
Strenuous precaution measures have taken over society and our usual way of living especially for our youth due to the effects of Covid-19. The second half of the 2020-21 school year began January 4th for the elementary students of Edgewood Elementary in the midst of our pandemic. Principle Annette Neely spoke about the options of face to face learning versus virtual learning for the students.
Although the school has put in place new protocols for the safety of the students there’s still some risk for teachers and students. This week, two teachers return to the classroom along with 35 students after having to quarantine for 14 days out of those 35 students only one tested positive for the virus. Some protocols that Edgewood has put in place include following the guidelines of CDC, Arkansas Department of Health and the governor to keep the youth in a safe learning environment. Principle Neely spoke about the measures they’ve taken to keep the children safe during face to face learning.
In the classroom some of the changes include, desk covers and safe distance measures to ensure safe distance and protection for the students. Students have new water fountains, water bottles to avoid contact with one another, masks are enforced, and all of the school district buildings and buses are sanitized after hours to prevent potential flare ups.
Edgewood is one of the two elementary schools in the Watson Chapel School District. In the entire district they’ve kept their numbers low with only 10 official cases and 106 quarantine cases.
