Since the outbreak of COVID-19, life has been a little less than normal. To stay safe, individuals cannot go to restaurants, the movies or the mall. Even a bike ride with a couple of friends can be dangerous. Boredom has hit students so hard that they miss school and their teachers. So, to bring some light into this tough situation, here is an insight into what teachers have been doing to stay active and build community during this unusual time. 

1. Twitter: If you scroll through Twitter, you might see Principal Gregg Shoultz retweeting a chain of videos with teachers from different departments waving back to fellow teachers and students. It all started off with the science department, which challenged the English department, which challenged the math department, which then challenged the social studies department. Now it’s special ed’s turn. 
2. Zoom/Canvas: Multiple teachers have been utilizing Zoom and Canvas to converse with and provide resources to students. They are working hard in order to continue students’ learning outside of school. 
3. Recommendations: During this time, teachers have been able to catch up on books, movies and shows. Social studies teacher Dominic Iannone bought a stack of books during spring break and recommends “Brunelleschi’s Dome”  by Ross King and “The Forever War” by Joe Haldeman. Math teacher Karen Meyer recommends the movie “Just Mercy” after watching it with her family. French teacher Theresa Juhl recommends the Netflix series “Salt, Fat, Heat and Acid.” 
4. Games/Challenges: Some teachers have started up some games and challenges for their students to participate in. Art teachers are challenging students to design a t-shirt and social studies teacher Gary Neuzil is putting up weekly challenges on Canvas. One of his challenges embraces food, as students are encouraged to cook or bake up a snack and send over a picture. The best food wins and earns a “print-at-home certificate.” Language arts teacher John Cooper is also currently working on putting in place an online gaming space with science teacher Dominic Audia for students to interact on. 
5. Kids/Pets: Now that teachers have to spend most of their time at home, they get to spend more time with their kids and pets. Science teacher Jennifer Eustice has an eight and six year old doing art projects, math and reading. The kids are also participating in zoom gymnastics and dance classes. Eustice also brought home the class leopard gecko, Kai Kai. Science teacher Maureen Head gets to spend some time with her newborn baby while continuously changing his diaper and having him play with a Fisher-Price play mat. Neuzil has ten dogs at home that keep him forever busy. 
6. Activities: Although stuck at home, our teachers still strive to stay active. Math teacher Joye Walker walks around the neighborhood for an hour every morning and loves to garden. She also loves to cook and has tried her hand at baking some new recipes, adoring how her white whole wheat bread came out. Cooper also decided to try some recipes after he watched “The Great British Baking Show,” baking up brownies, cookies and cakes.  

A message from your teachers: