By Grahm Reynolds
BHS is almost three months into the new school year, and it has been, at the very least, abnormal for both teachers and students. During the Covid-19 pandemic, only one thing is certain – uncertainty. As expected in a time such as this, BHS has evaluated its standard learning model of in person school, five days a week.
BHS is currently using a hybrid model, part in-person and part remote. Students are split up into two cohorts, blue and orange, and they come to school in person Monday/Tuesday, or Thursday/Friday respectively. Wednesday is set aside for both cohorts to partake in online learning, along with the two other days they are not actually in the school.
Under the current model, there are limited options for a student at BHS to go to in person school for all five days in the school week. However, in order to better fit each individual student, BHS offers the full remote option for students wanting to stay home for the whole school week.
In recent weeks, more students have opted to go full-remote at Branford High School for a variety of reasons. At the time of writing this article, 512 students are in the all virtual option of school, according to School Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez. School officials did not provide The Buzz information about how many students started the school year in the all virtual option.
There have been 58 Covid-19 cases in the entire school district, according to the latest figures, and school officials are monitoring the health situation to take appropriate action.
“If the public health department determines the virus is being transmitted in school, all appropriate measures, up to and including school closure, will be instituted,” Hernandez wrote in a message posted last month to the district website.
As the number of students choosing full-remote has grown, students – and parents – have their own reasons for committing to this option (or not) and opinions on it are varied.
Junior Louis Brodsky selected to be part of the full remote option back in September.
“It’s good, not extremely organized, but good nonetheless. I chose to do it over being in person because my chances of getting covid at school are higher than me [getting covid at home.] I also personally like being home rather than being at school,” he said.
A common reason for choosing the all virtual option is the comfort of being in one’s own home.
“It’s much more convenient, much more relaxed,” said Junior Aditya Rajpurohit. Students at home get their schoolwork done through Google Classroom, and are expected to join Google Meets during class time, to get somewhat of a class experience. The joy of being able to go to school from one’s own bed seems quite appealing to many students.
Some students see the all virtual option as safer. While under the hybrid model himself, junior Cheng Wu says the full online has “less chance of catching the virus.”
“I would rather be all online because I am not at risk to be quarantined,” said junior Lily Stockwell. If a student comes into close contact with a person who tests positive for Covid-19 while at school, they have to be quarantined for 14 days from last contact.
Despite the appeal that the all virtual option has for many students, there are others who prefer the current hybrid model.
“I would rather do in person school because I don’t like being on the computer all day,” said junior Alex Sweeney.
Senior Patrico Banegas also prefers being in the building.
“ I feel like I am involved in the class [at school.].” Banegas said. “While at home I get distracted.”
Many other students agree with this, saying that while learning at home, it is much easier to be distracted than in person.
For the time being, it seems that BHS will stick with the hybrid model until further notice, with the full virtual option available to those who want it.
