Month: November 2020

Clubs are now able to meet in-person

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Clubs are now able to meet in-person

By Noam Wasik ‘21

 

Covid-19 has pushed clubs to meet over Zoom, but after a month of students following precaution rules, clubs are now being allowed to meet in-person. For decades, clubs have been meeting in-person. Clubs form an essential part of Sem’s culture, as well as the afternoon schedule of students. 

Zarah Chittalia ’21 is one SOCA leader, Students of Color Association, and is excited to see clubs meeting in-person. She says, “I think that having meetings in-person makes students more excited to go…Zoom just isn’t the same.” Zoom doesn’t give the same comfort students have with being in-person. Online meetings lessen the ability to see body language and when to add to the conversation. Chitallia adds, “meetings over Zoom are naturally less energized and more awkward for discussions. The energy is just different in-person.” 

Zoom meetings also do not allow for as much communication. Julianna Saltz ’21 is a leader of the SEM Female Empowerment Movement (SEMFEM). SEMFEM is a club, and much like SOCA, that integrates affinity spaces into their meetings. Saltz is excited clubs get to meet in person. She says, “I think it’s great because there is a certain level of communication you can’t reach when you’re online, especially in cases like affinity groups. In-person is just easier in general.”

The club leadership meetings have also been online. “It really does help when it comes to leadership meetings to be in one room figuring out our next step for our meeting,” Julianna states. 

Artisan Club, led by Jessie Miller ’22, is a club that focuses on providing art projects for the community. In regards to the ability to meet in-person, Miller states, “In-person is a lot more engaging because it allows us to work on the art projects we have been asked to do in the community.” In-person meetings allow clubs to resume projects they were unable to continue on Zoom.

While most students are on campus, there are still many that are virtual. When club meetings are held on Zoom, students from around the world can join. With meetings back on campus, virtual kids are being left out. “One negative is that we are leaving the virtual kids out,” Miller states. Virtual students are not only being left out in class but now club meetings too. 

Saltz has another worry. “I think the only negative is having to limit the number of people who come to the meeting, but it is necessary,” She worries meetings will not allow for the large outreach clubs want but acknowledges it is the best thing right now,” she mentions.

A large number of students are excited to see their clubs in-person finally. Dr. Penland, class dean of ’21, says, “I think there are a lot of positives about club meetings in person with social distancing and masking: social interaction, ability to show videos more easily, more honest discussions. Still, I think the current Covid safety concerns are serious too, and we need to be careful not to ignore the risks.” This may be the first action to make this year seem as normal and as familiar as possible. 

GoodKnight Great Hall: Covid Concerns

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GoodKnight Great Hall: Covid Concerns

By Cole Rees ‘21

 

Wyoming Seminary held the #1 ranked wrestling team in the nation last year. This year, the school has yet to open its training facility, the Great Hall, to the boys’ team. This is due to the lack of Covid regulations needed by either the National Federation of High School Associations or the National Prep Wrestling League.

Boys’ team usually had practiced in the Great Hall (Photo by Beau Bartlett ‘20)

Being unable to use the wrestling room on campus has made it difficult for the team to get much-needed training time. However, the coaching staff was able to find an off-campus training site that the team is currently using. Having to travel off-campus for practice is less than ideal for the team’s mostly boarding population. It has been doable in good weather, but the trip could begin to cause issues with the weather getting colder. With boarders not allowed in vehicles and the Great Hall still closed, they must walk to and from practice in upcoming frigid temperatures, rain, and snow. 

The team has remained cheerful and considerate through this process. Current Sem wrestler and border, Dylan Zenion ’23, stated, “Although it makes life a little harder, as long as we can wrestle, I’m okay with it. Although I hope we can get in Great Hall before the winter hits.” Teammate Andrew Donahue ’22 stated similar thoughts when asked how the process has affected him, “It’d be nice to be in Great Hall, I miss it. I understand the school’s thought process, but what’s the difference if we’re training off-campus or on? I feel [bad] for the boarders who have to walk in bad weather conditions.” 

Health should come to the mind of the Sem Administration when making decisions about opening Great Hall in the near future. Wrestlers typically leave practice soaked from sweat and extremely tired. If winter hits and if Great Hall is still closed borders will have to walk over a mile back to campus in icy temperatures while wet, causing health concerns.

Regarding the school’s Covid Regulations and the responsibility the wrestling team has to follow, Head Coach Scott Green stated, “It is a big responsibility for teens to bear, but it is the situation we are in. This type of pressure is part of the package when you belong to the best high school wrestling program in the country.” Efforts to open Great Hall back up for the boys are still underway.

Sem Boys Wrestling Team 2019-2020
(Photo by Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)

Student Life During COVID-19

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Student Life During COVID-19

By Bridget Gabriel ‘21

Harry Shafer ‘00 looks somber after being captured by excited students two minutes prior to the end of the game (Photo courtesy of @/Semstudentlife on Instagram)

 

Wyoming Seminary’s Upper School began its 177th year without its boarding community that traditionally makes up around 40% of its population due to COVID-19. Students began moving into dorms the weekend of October 3, but residential life has looked unfamiliar. 

Day students have been told that they aren’t allowed to be on campus during weekends. Weekend activities, walks around campus, and socially distant gatherings aren’t permitted for day students, but they can attend weekend sporting events to support the Blue Knights. 

These restrictions hit the Upper School community hard. Ryder Kunin, senior and Carpenter RA, expresses the frustration these regulations bring, “From a dormer standpoint, we are restricted from a lot of things that day students are free to do. I can’t see day students on or off-campus, or venture farther than a mile away from campus, while day students are free to travel to other counties and states with seemingly no restrictions.”

Restrictions go even further within the dorms to keep students safe amidst the pandemic. Kunin continues, “It definitely hasn’t been as enjoyable of a year in comparison to others. We are unable to hang out in one another’s rooms, and that’s been a tough blow to everyone’s social lives. We are able to distantly lounge in common areas, and that’s helped keep connection(s) within the dorms. Of course, we realize why this has to be done, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating.” 

The frustration does not end with borders. Kate O’Brien ’21 is a day student whose friend group is heavily made up of her teammates of the wrestling team at Sem, the majority of whom are borders. She expresses the ways these restrictions have affected her team dynamic, saying, “This year I have to leave right after practices and don’t get to spend time with my team because they are all borders. I look forward to weekend activities because they give students a chance to hang out without all of the stress that surrounds us during the school day. Since day students are not allowed on campus on the weekends, time to hang out with those people has been hard to find.”

Behind the scenes of event planning, Director of Student Life Harry Shafer ’00 has been hard at work to unite the communities safely. This past weekend 100 students participated in a classic Sem event that was revived after four years. Capture the Faculty was the first event of the academic year to involve both communities. “Tonight is the big test,” Shafer said concerning the event, “If things run smoothly tonight, then we will likely continue with having specific on-campus activities where day students are welcome. If that goes well, then we can start to open up more.”

This hopefully provides hope to the Sem community for more on-campus social interaction for both borders and day students. Students are frustrated by the restrictions COVID-19 presented, but faculty are trying to create events that unite students while prioritizing safety.