How principals are handling COVID-19

All the Wimberley Schools, Wimberley High School, Danforth Junior High, Jacob’s Well Elementary and Blue Hole Elementary are all in session with students having returned to face-to-face instruction. Each school, though, has their own unique way of handling the COVID-19 pandemic and student learning.

Starting with WHS, physical changes have happened at the school.

“Hallways are one way, except by the library. Where you keep right in a single file,” WHS Principal Jason Valentine said. “It’s not as crowded…There’s dividers in the cafeteria, and at twelve foot tables, only four students are allowed. At a six foot table, two students. And there’s no hanging around in the halls. Sit down or go to your classroom… More picnic tables were added outside.

“It changes the way the school looks like… the kids are following protocol and social distancing is followed at all times.”

The most difficult part is students are learning in three different ways: Faceto–face, synchronous, and asynchronous. Face–toface is in person and in the classroom. Synchronous is keeping up with the class in real time through the use of technology, such as Zoom, Google Classroom or other such live technology. Asynchronous is learning by paper hand out packets or viewing a recorded lesson at a later time.

“I’m proud of the students, all three (types of learning). We’re doing the best we can. The parents have been patient… We’re having to make adjustments all the time. Most parents and students are keeping up with the changes.”

At Danforth Junior High, things are going well, although there is always a little anxiety about going into an unknown situation. “We started making plans in June… The plans have worked really well. There were about 25 folks on the committee. There have been a few tweaks here and there… Things are so good, thanks to the teachers, parents and of course our students too,” Principal Greg Howard said.

“We have 75% of the kids back, 461 out of 620. Most cooperate. They wear the mask and social distance, but they’re young teenagers. You have to remind kids once in a while. Just like the cell phone, a reminder like ‘we don’t do things like that here.’ About 95% or so cooperate.”

As a principal, looking at the future is part of the job. “You think scenarios. What could go wrong? You have to anticipate. Then there’s relief when things don’t happen,” he said.

There are some physical changes to the building. “Fifty to sixty picnic tables have been placed outside, and they’re separated out. There’s a one-way walk area. There’s no lockers. It’s a much smoother walk down the hall… The bell rings and you go in one direction.” Howard continued.

“There’s a new wing, the 300 wing with history classes. We’ll not be on top of each other. There are two hallways, plus added extra elbow room in the new hall.”

With everything changing and going on in the pandemic situation, the level of anxiety is not as bad as in bigger schools. “We have great parents, great teachers, and they send us great kids. We’ve got it good, without the usual middle school problems. We’re not perfect but we’re doing well.”

Jacob’s Well Elementary has a different type of difficulty. Some kids are required to wear masks, and younger kids are not. “The 5th grade, 10 and 11 year olds, have to wear masks, the 3rd grade no masks, while the 4th of 9 and 10 year olds are mixed,” Principal SueAnna Thomas said. This is due to the state requirement that masks be worn indoors by those 10 years or older.

Students stay in small groups and small group tables. “We have break away lanyards, with masks on the lanyard so they do not forget they have them… Masks are required in the hallway. Once in the classroom, they can take them off… They get a squirt of sanitizer when they arrive and are given masks if they don’t have one.”

They are also encouraged to have their own water bottles, as it is at all WISD schools.

“(At first), there were 300 students at school with 245 at home, now 405 up to 410, with the number growing. “It’s a hard decision to leave it up to a child. What’s best for your family? Every family has to make its own decision. We do the best we can virtually, but the fact is kids learn best with teachers and peers,” Thomas said. She continued.

“Some parents take a paper packet, that’s mailed or picked and returned, because of the WIFI situation in Wimberley... Teachers and staff are amazing. They have adapted. They didn’t get trained for (this situation), but do it because they love children and teaching.”

Blue Hole Elementary, is the school for Pre-K, kindergarten and 1st and 2nd grade. “The kids travel in pods, with masks and shields at the table, and at three to five year olds it is hard to social distance,” Blue Hole Principal Dara Richardson said.

“There’s more coming back all the time, with now 595 total of all students…121 kids online with 80% here back at school.” She continued.

“Cafeteria tables are set so that the students are facing the same direction and spread out. Recess is staggered with the pod so the entire class is not exposed… parents are happy with the students back in school with no COVID and they are bringing the kids back,” Richardson said.

There are a lot of changes for school this year to try and prevent the spread of COVID-19. There have been 12 total cases in WISD since in-person class returned. Five are students and seven are staff.