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The last few weeks since returning to school have been tough enough as teachers are eager to make up for lost time last year. We’re all just tipping away at our work and bit by bit we’re getting chapters ticked off the list.
Masks haven’t been as big of a nuisance as I had assumed they would be and with the added mask breaks between classes, it really isn’t very difficult. At the start of the year it was a different story. I couldn’t wait to get out of class and tear it off, but I think it’s become part of the routine of going into class. Get in the door, take out your books, wear your mask.
I’ve had to get used to making my own lunch as the school canteen has had to close
I imagine there will come a day where I’ve missed the bus or forgotten books or not done my homework and suddenly I’ll have the urge to rip off the mask and never put it back on, but until that day, it’s bearable.
I’ve had to get used to making my own lunch as the school canteen has had to close and I can’t rely on my mother to be making lunches for me at the age of 16, especially since I already chanced her and she told me to cop off (but in a less polite way).
I skipped transition year, this has left me in an awkward position as a majority of my friends are in fifth year and so are in a different building
The most difficult thing about being at school for me is the segregation between year groups. As a sixth year, I cannot socialise with anyone other than sixth years and considering I skipped transition year, this has left me in an awkward position as a majority of my friends are in fifth year and so are in a different building. They are restricted to a different area of the school during break and lunch.
Hearing that the exams have been changed by adding more choices is a relief
The school recently decided to mix the year groups again or “pods” as they’re called. This is because third and sixth years haven’t had access to any practical rooms, for example, the construction class can’t go to the woodwork room as it is in the fifth year’s pod.
Hearing that the exams have been changed by adding more choices is a relief. For example, there is an extra poet on the English paper to allow for more choice for fear your school hasn’t studied all of them. The ag science and biology courses have also been adapted with the same method; more choices on the exam papers, which I believe will be a massive weight off our shoulders to know that even if we don’t cover all topics, we’re more or less in the clear.
Lockers
Not all schools are facing this issue but mine is; we don’t have access to lockers, so we were afraid that we would be restricted in our learning to an extent as we can’t have every book for every class. However, I’ve found that classes are running smoothly and everyone has found ways to adapt, such as having one big notes copy for every subject.
I suppose overall things could be worse
Since we are not allowed to share anything, it’s our own responsibility to come prepared and make decisions on what books are essential and what can be left behind on any given day.
I suppose overall things could be worse and the atmosphere among the sixth years is positive for the most part. Realistically, I think everyone was expecting a tough year, COVID-19 restrictions or not.
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