Changes to Yearbook Club Amid COVID-19
Designing a yearbook for this year has had many challenges. Moanna Blaksteen and I are co-editors and so far it has been a fun journey.
Organizing an outline of the pages was the first step we took. The uncertainties of our school year allowed us to think a little more creatively this year, especially with the elective, club, and event pages. As in previous years, we began by making the senior pages. We sent out what we needed from seniors, such as photos, quotes, and the “most likely to” form. We also assigned our awesome yearbook club all the freshman, sophomore, and junior pages.
The yearbook will have a unique design element this year. We worked with the Art Club, run by junior Ellen Murray, to create a cover to fit our theme and make it more personal to Sturgis. We are excited to make the yearbook come to life and continue to make pages with all our school memories, even if they are a little different this year.
Yearbooks for this school year are still on sale! Order yours now here at http://jostensyearbooks.com?ref=A01059876. The pricing is as follows:
Nov 01 - Dec 31 $65.00/ Jan 01 - Jan 31 $70.00/ Feb 01 - May 31 $75.00
Adjusting to Hybrid Learning
COVID-19 has brought a great deal of changes to this school year. Students who have selected the hybrid learning model attend school in-person once a week on their assigned day, which is either Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday. They are expected to wear masks for the whole day, except during lunch and the optional mask break at the end of their second block. Students are permitted to enter the building starting at 8:00 a.m. There is a hand-washing station at the front entrance, and there are hand-sanitizing stations throughout the school.
A student’s day of in-person learning allows them to see their friends and meet with their teachers. It gives students a more interpersonal interaction than they would have if they were learning remotely at home. It also allows students to learn in a classroom setting, which I find helps me to focus better. Some teachers might have students do interactive activities with the other people learning in-person in your class. That being said, it’s not perfect. If a student’s teacher has them join the class Google Meet when they’re learning in-person, there are sometimes issues with the audio. The amount of interaction students have with their peers is limited because we all have to respect social distancing, and the things which students do in class while learning in-person are more or less the same as the things you would do in class while learning remotely. However, I feel that the pros outweigh the cons. I like the hybrid model, and I look forward to coming into school every week.
Virtual CAS Fair
I was a club leader for Yearbook, and I enjoyed seeing speaking with students about the club. It was interesting to see how Sturgis adapted the fair, which is usually held on Main Street, into a virtual format.
We encourage all students to continue learning more about the club offerings at Sturgis. It is not too late to join and become involved!
Upcoming STEM Opportunity for Girls
This year will be as exciting as ever. Although it is not in person as in past years, the LIVE virtual format will be packed with resources to learn about STEM careers as well as an inspiring keynote speaker. Attendees will hear from women who work in STEM, including a university professional who will give their tips on applying to college as a STEM major.
As an alumna of the program, I highly recommend the summit. I had the opportunity to learn about chromatography, mechanical engineering, coding, and so much more. I was moved by hearing the STEM professionals stories. As a young female student interested in STEM, I found the summit to be very inspiring.
Don’t wait to register because the summit fills up quickly. Through showcasing the many pathways of STEM fields, the program aims to inspire girls to pursue a STEM career and bridge the gender gap in these fields.
You can register at: juniortech.org/girls-stem-summit-live-2021.
Researching Colleges with Your Own Strategy
Seniors can plan their own personal strategy as they research and apply to colleges. Explore and be open to colleges that you may never have heard of before in addition to the ones you are familiar with or you consider your dream school. Remember to think about the factors you are looking for in a college for your own personal happiness and success.
First, think about the academics of the colleges or universities to which you are applying. What are the majors and minors available there? Is there freedom in the curriculum or is there a more structured core curriculum? What is the actual cost of attendance?
Next, be sure to consider the community and social aspects of each school. You can check out factors such as student body size, student groups, and diversity. Take advantage of the many virtual opportunities available to learn more about the institutions.
Also, many students consider the geographic location to be very important to them. How far is it from home? Is the campus urban or suburban? What is the weather like?
Once you have your list of schools, be sure to ask for help along the way. The college admissions process can seem overwhelming. However, with guidance, information, and organization it can be managed while keeping up with your school work. Although the pandemic has added considerable obstacles for seniors, they are learning to adjust to the challenges.
Pat yourself on the back for all you have accomplished so far and for all that is to come after high school. 2020 has been challenging, but there is nothing you can’t accomplish if you give it your all. Good luck! 2021 will be amazing!