The well-being of students during remote learning
By Alexandra Vella
On March thirteenth, students were overjoyed to hear that school would be closed for two weeks due to the Coronavirus reaching Wellesley, not thinking about the repercussions and devastations of a worldwide pandemic. Students celebrated this as “vacation”, only seeing it as a break from school. However, the joy did not last long as Wellesley Public Schools continued to stay closed
for the rest of the year.
On March 23rd, schools began suggesting optional learning activities, but finally, on April thirteenth, Wellesley Public Schools Remote Learning Plan 2.0 began and moved Wellesley Public Schools formally online. This transition has been far from easy for parents, students, and administrators.
There is no doubt there has been definite benefits to this new online situation. To start, school is only from 9 am to 12 pm. Classes are roughly 25 minutes long, with teacher check-ins happening once a week, and the entire quarter is pass/fail. This means that as long as students participate and put effort into their work, they will pass the quarter. As a result, students have had more free time to do what they choose.
“I’ve been spending a lot more time with my family, talking to friends over Zoom or FaceTime, and crafts, baking, games, and walks/bike rides have been happening,” said Fiona Lloyd ’24.
Before the pandemic, middle school students were finishing final sport seasons and preparing to start new ones, were about to perform their end of year musical, were participating in service projects, and were going on class field trips for chorus and science. In losing these activities, students lost opportunities to directly connect with their friends and peers.
“I want to see my friends and do the projects I was supposed to do for my electives,” said Madison Prowda ’24.
Another significant impact for students is the impact on their mental health. The lack of social support, a consistent routine, and variety in everyday life has taken its toll on nearly everyone. For students whose parents are immunocompromised there is an added fear that in going out they are exposing them and putting them at risk. This is also true for students whose parents are
essential workers.
“Since my mum is a nurse, it is hard because she is not around as much as she usually is, so I see her less....when I do, not seeing her as much makes the times I do see her more special. I get worried because she is working with Covid patients but I know she loves helping them out,” said Saavedra Zwick ’26.
For other students, school is a safe place that supports them and allows them to socialize.
“I’m really worried about the kids who live in abusive homes, and them having no place to go and no way to get help. A lot of people are out of work and are afraid. There is more stress in families and for some, more violence, but there is nobody to check on the kids,” said Wellesley Middle School parent Karen Rasmussen.
Because online school is new for everyone, the kinks have not all been worked out. Students are struggling with handling their workload while transitioning online and teachers do not know how much work is appropriate in these circumstances.
“Teachers think we can accomplish more than we actually can in thirty minutes. [School] is very stressful and more work than I expected since everyone is going through a lot,” said Prowda.
Since everyone is at home, students cannot collaborate and work together as they would in school. Some have ideas for how to solve these problems, but there are limited ways to solve them due to the stay at home order.
“I would like to have optional calls where we could do breakout rooms and work with our classmates,” said Lloyd.
For eighth graders leaving the Wellesley Middle School this year, they have lost the opportunity to celebrate significant milestones. Moving to high school is a big transition for students. The traditions that every eighth grader experiences are cancelled with only a few moved online. With the year cut short, eight graders’ preparation for high school, in terms of performing arts, sports, and other extracurriculars, have come to a halt. The Coronavirus has deprived eighth graders’ from the three year middle school experience that would have shaped them from the coming years of high school.
“It is hard not being able to talk to any other students or teachers, and especially knowing that I
will never be in the same classes everyone ever again,” said Lloyd.
for the rest of the year.
On March 23rd, schools began suggesting optional learning activities, but finally, on April thirteenth, Wellesley Public Schools Remote Learning Plan 2.0 began and moved Wellesley Public Schools formally online. This transition has been far from easy for parents, students, and administrators.
There is no doubt there has been definite benefits to this new online situation. To start, school is only from 9 am to 12 pm. Classes are roughly 25 minutes long, with teacher check-ins happening once a week, and the entire quarter is pass/fail. This means that as long as students participate and put effort into their work, they will pass the quarter. As a result, students have had more free time to do what they choose.
“I’ve been spending a lot more time with my family, talking to friends over Zoom or FaceTime, and crafts, baking, games, and walks/bike rides have been happening,” said Fiona Lloyd ’24.
Before the pandemic, middle school students were finishing final sport seasons and preparing to start new ones, were about to perform their end of year musical, were participating in service projects, and were going on class field trips for chorus and science. In losing these activities, students lost opportunities to directly connect with their friends and peers.
“I want to see my friends and do the projects I was supposed to do for my electives,” said Madison Prowda ’24.
Another significant impact for students is the impact on their mental health. The lack of social support, a consistent routine, and variety in everyday life has taken its toll on nearly everyone. For students whose parents are immunocompromised there is an added fear that in going out they are exposing them and putting them at risk. This is also true for students whose parents are
essential workers.
“Since my mum is a nurse, it is hard because she is not around as much as she usually is, so I see her less....when I do, not seeing her as much makes the times I do see her more special. I get worried because she is working with Covid patients but I know she loves helping them out,” said Saavedra Zwick ’26.
For other students, school is a safe place that supports them and allows them to socialize.
“I’m really worried about the kids who live in abusive homes, and them having no place to go and no way to get help. A lot of people are out of work and are afraid. There is more stress in families and for some, more violence, but there is nobody to check on the kids,” said Wellesley Middle School parent Karen Rasmussen.
Because online school is new for everyone, the kinks have not all been worked out. Students are struggling with handling their workload while transitioning online and teachers do not know how much work is appropriate in these circumstances.
“Teachers think we can accomplish more than we actually can in thirty minutes. [School] is very stressful and more work than I expected since everyone is going through a lot,” said Prowda.
Since everyone is at home, students cannot collaborate and work together as they would in school. Some have ideas for how to solve these problems, but there are limited ways to solve them due to the stay at home order.
“I would like to have optional calls where we could do breakout rooms and work with our classmates,” said Lloyd.
For eighth graders leaving the Wellesley Middle School this year, they have lost the opportunity to celebrate significant milestones. Moving to high school is a big transition for students. The traditions that every eighth grader experiences are cancelled with only a few moved online. With the year cut short, eight graders’ preparation for high school, in terms of performing arts, sports, and other extracurriculars, have come to a halt. The Coronavirus has deprived eighth graders’ from the three year middle school experience that would have shaped them from the coming years of high school.
“It is hard not being able to talk to any other students or teachers, and especially knowing that I
will never be in the same classes everyone ever again,” said Lloyd.
Alexandra Vella is participant of the First to the Frontpage Summer of 2020 program.