Pep Week in a Pandemic

By Zach Lichter

      Novel coronaviruses call for novel solutions and, even in a pandemic, Wall High School’s pep week will go on. 
      Pep week 2020 kicks off with Mon., Oct. 26, and will be much different than recent years.
      “There will be two pep weeks: one in the fall and one in the spring,” said Wall assistant principal Mrs. Kristen Scott. “The main events will be moved to the spring, like the pep rally and powder puff.”
     The fall will still feature dress-up days and the naming of a homecoming king, queen and court. But COVID-19 has forced some creativity to come up with new events, chief among them a virtual painting night on Wed., Oct. 28. There will also be Wall High School and community trivia all week for prizes. This year’s theme is U.S. City Knights. 
     “Hall decorating will be moved to the spring and we might do floats if we’re not in some kind of normalcy,” Mrs. Scott said. “There will be a few backup plans that will be made if we’re still in the pandemic.”
Mrs. Scott met with the members of the student council and the class advisors to figure out how they would have pep week. The dates for the spring pep week haven’t been decided yet. But they are closely monitoring the pandemic based on what they planned for.
     Wall started back to school Sept. 16 on a hybrid schedule. Students were given designated days on when they would learn in-person and virtually. 
     In the first phase, students who are in Group 1 with last names from A-K went to school on Mondays and Thursdays and students in Group 2 (last names L-Z) on Tuesdays and Fridays. Students also had the option to do all virtual learning if they didn’t feel comfortable going to school. On Wednesdays, all students stayed home and attend virtual classes so the custodians can disinfect the hallways.
Wall moved into Phase 2, eliminating the virtual Wednesdays, the week of Oct. 19. 
     “I like some of the structure that the school provides. I used to look forward to seeing certain friends,” said Wall sophomore Joey Sambade. “But with group scheduling, I can’t. I do miss summer, but I do like being back in school.”
     Before the coronavirus lockdown, classes at the high school met every other day and were 84 minutes long. With the shortened school day, the blocks are now reduced to 60 minutes and there is currently no Unit Lunch. Students still have five minutes between blocks to go to their next class, but they must practice social distancing and remain six feet apart in the hallway.
     2020 has definitely been an interesting year and one year we will certainly remember, but Wall High School has managed to try to strike a balance between safety and a sense of routine.