CVHS opens for in-person school after over a year of lockdown

CVHS reopens for in-person school on April 12 for the first time in over a year, and students are split in their decisions to return. In the initial survey sent out to families, 63 percent of students stated that they would come back to campus, and the rest chose to remain in distance learning. 

Many factors go into influencing the students’ decisions — for some, it’s safety, for others, it’s mental health or favorite classes. 

“I’m going back mainly for the sake of choir,” said junior Abby Chiu. “Virtual choir does not do justice for in-person choir. I miss being able to sing together with my classmates, and being intimate with the pieces that I sing.” 

Chiu added, “I also want to get back into the groove of living ‘normally.’ Hopefully going back in-person will help me stay active and engaged in school.” 

The students who return will be split between two cohorts, A and B, which will be on campus on different days of the week. Cohort A will attend school on Monday and Tuesday, and Cohort B on Thursday and Friday. The students who choose to remain in distance learning, labeled Cohort C, will join vitrual meetings as they have been for the rest of the year. Wednesdays will remain asynchronous for everyone.  

Campus will look completely different than it did a year ago, before the shutdown. Desks will be spaced far enough apart to maintain safe distancing, and arrows on the floors of hallways will direct traffic. Masks are mandatory. 

Much thought and effort has gone into a safe reopening, but some students still remain wary.

“Unfortunately I don’t feel very safe going back to school,” stated junior Brooke Kasl-Godley. “I just don’t really trust all 3,000 CVHS students to make safe choices outside of school, and that will end up impacting everyone when we’re at school.”

Many teachers who wanted the COVID vaccine have been able to get access to it, which helped to put them at ease about returning to in-person learning, but most students have not yet gotten the opportunity to be vaccinated. A lucky few have. The majority of freshmen and sophomores will not be eligible for the vaccine because they are under age 16.  

For this year’s freshmen and seniors, there is extra incentive to come back; it will be the seniors’ last chance to be at CVHS, and the freshmen’s first opportunity to be on campus.

“I am returning to school since it’s my senior year and it would be nice to go back and be at school physically before we graduate,” said senior Shyla Lala. 

“Since I wasn’t able to experience most of my freshman year [in-person], I want to go back to campus in order to make the most of it, even if it’s only for one quarter,” said Ava Alburo, a freshman.