Upper Schoolers Make Safe Return to Campus With Help, In Part, From the Safety Squad

Upper Schoolers Make Safe Return to Campus With Help, In Part, From the Safety Squad

Upper Schoolers officially returned to OES for Campus-Based Instruction this week, days shy of the first anniversary of remote learning last March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Students returned to a campus filled with new health-safety protocols including tents and hand sanitizing stations dotting campus, one-way arrows lining the halls and stairways, and a variety of other ways to keep students, faculty, and staff safe.

“It feels great to be back on campus,” said Alex C. ‘22. “There’s something about the drive [to campus] and the first steps back into our buildings that brings back so many good memories and always lifts my mood.”

Alex is one of four members of the Upper School’s Safety Squad. The Safety Squad emerged when Head of Upper School Asha Appel asked for student volunteers to help organize the return to Campus-Based Instruction and provide leadership for the health and safety of Upper School students. The squad’s goals are to ensure all students know, understand, and follow the requirements and protocols the school has established to prevent the spread of Covid-19. 

“We think the health protocols on campus are effective and easy to follow and appreciate the amount of effort and care that was put into creating and implementing them around the school,” said Safety Squad member Kole P. ‘22. “Personally, I'm feeling ecstatic to be back on campus and refreshed by all the people with whom I get to interact. We are all looking forward to finishing out the year in a fun and safe environment.”

For months, faculty and staff have prepared for students' return. And while the return to campus has come as a bit of a culture shock in some ways, the benefits of returning to school are already coming to light.

“The ability to check in with a teacher whenever you have a question and not worry about scheduling a one-on-one meeting, has been very refreshing,” said Safety Squad member Connor M. ‘22. “And, as I am sure many people would say, feeling that sense of community with your peers and the ‘we’re all in this together’ vibe is very reassuring. I don’t think that I ever fully appreciated the extent of the social isolation of time away from school until now.”

Upper Schoolers are split into two groups, green and blue, and share the week for on-campus school. All Upper School students learn from home on Wednesdays.

“My favorite part is having that face-to-face connection with my teachers,” Alex said. “I like to connect with my teachers, and over Zoom, it just wasn't the same. It has been a joy talking to teachers and getting feedback on topics they are really passionate about, and it really drives and helps my learning.”

Thank you to everyone who made the transition back to campus possible and for our community for hanging in there over the past year. And watch a fun video from the Safety Squad below: