covid – Page 2 – AHS NEWSPAPER

Mamma Mia: Post-COVID Production Running Smooth

November 19, 2021

By Ethan Zabar

STAFF WRITER

Andover High School’s 2021 theater production, Mamma Mia!, is going great in a post-COVID-19 year as the November 18 debut grows closer.

The cast and supporting crew of Mamma Mia! were more ready than ever to pick back up with shows as they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. Tessa Barcelo, a senior and lead role in the play explained that the acting crew had settled back into pre-COVID theatre well and was making notable progress towards a great production despite the setbacks last year.

“We’ve learned to roll with the punches,” Barcelo said, “[The production] has gone right back to the Collins Center stage, so we feel at home again.”

The production this year is not without its difficulties, and according to Barcelo, wearing masks during the performance has an impact on the cast’s ability to sing. However, she and other cast members have found workarounds for the potential issues of wearing masks on stage that still ensure COVID safety. “Disposable masks, because they’re more flexible, let you open your mouth more and sing better than the cloth masks,” Barcelo noted, “They’re better for projecting.”

GUEST PHOTO / Anat Briskin
Tech crew member Jillian Boyer painting tiles for the Mamma Mia set

This year there have been a few notable additions to the production staff that according to the Director of Arts at AHS, Susan Choquette, have helped boost the potential for the show. “Typically Mr. Desjardins is the musical director of the play, but he recently just had a baby,” Choquette said, “…so I invited a colleague of mine,…Thom Smoker. He’s a great musician and singer, he works well with young voices, and also he’s now teaching music…at Berklee School of Music and Endicott College, so he’s really fitting us in.”

Choquette also explained that Mamma Mia has a new choreographer, Stephanie Morris: the owner of the local dance studio Creative Arts Academy. “She’s working really hard because there’s a lot of dance in this show,” Choquette stated.

This year’s show has had a demanding regiment thus far, and according to Choquette, that was not likely to let up until the day of Mamma Mia’s debut. “Somebody’s rehearsing…six days a week, whether it’s me, or Thom, or Stephanie. Sometimes there are even two rehearsals in a day.” Choquette said, “We’re a busy group trying to get ready for this performance…it takes a village.”

Despite the strenuous schedule and minor COVID-related nuisances, Mamma Mia’s cast is keeping a positive mentality and has set the bar high for the production this year. Choquette described Mamma Mia as the perfect fit for production in a post-pandemic year: heartwarming, well known, and all-around fun.

“What I’ve learned is that we can do anything,” Choquette said. “Bring on a global pandemic, we’re still going to make theater.”

Another major cast member of Mamma Mia, Sadie Rooney, matched Choquette’s praise of the production’s progress thus far. “It’s been a long journey, but we have overcome a lot of the roadblocks put in our path by COVID… The sets and lighting this year are truly gorgeous and I’m so glad to be back on the stage.” Rooney said, “Because of the lack of theatre in many places last year, the cast is even bigger than ever and so excited to be performing once again.”

Rooney spoke for the entire cast when she described her excitement for this year’s production. “From what [the production staff] have said to me, they seem to be just as excited as we are. They all give up so much time and energy to this production and we are all so incredibly grateful.” Rooney continued, “ABBA is a fan favorite for many, so I think Mamma Mia is a perfect way to bring back theatre [to Andover].”

Barcelo, Choquette, Rooney, and the rest of Mamma Mia’s staff urge everyone available to check out the show and have exclaimed high expectations for this year’s production. “It’s such a fun show and not something you’ll want to miss!” Rooney concluded.

Tickets will be sold at the door or online at the Andover Theatre Arts website. Be sure to check out Mamma Mia’s debut at the AHS Collins Center:

Thursday, November 18 – 7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 19 – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 20 – 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 21 – 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 23 – 7:30 p.m.

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Snack Shack Closed Due to Staff Shortage

October 13, 2021

By Shravya Sathi

CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF

Many of the cafeteria staff have not returned to the school after AHS went remote in 2020. Due to this shortage of staff in the cafeteria, the Snack Shack is closed indefinitely.

The Snack Shack was a reliable option for many students as it provided an alternative for lunch and snacks before and after school activities. However, it was not open during the 2020-2021 school year and has continued to remain shut down.

“It was really great, as school meals often weren’t enough to get me through the school day and cross country practice. Getting a yogurt parfait or a muffin really helped get me through the day and I miss it a lot,” said Brandon Zhao, a senior.

Many believed that the closure was due to the COVID restrictions. “The Snack Shack isn’t ‘necessary.’ It’s an add-on to lunch, so I think that the school wanted to limit crowding in large areas with food. And so, they decided to not open it these past two years,” said Carol Yu, a senior.

STAFF PHOTO / Shravya Sathi
The doorway to the Snack Shack in the cafeteria

However, Gail Koutroubas, the director of food services, revealed that she would be very happy to bring back the Snack Shack if she can find more staff. “All the staff is new, and the new staff that we have is limited because there are no applicants,” said Koutroubas.

She is hoping to get some more staff in order to put back the Snack Shack and made-to-order deli. “They just need to love kids. They don’t need a food service background to serve lunch. Parents could even come in and help us… we would hire them on a temporary basis!”

Even if she gets more staff, another complication is getting the food for the Snack Shack to the high school. There is a bigger supply chain problem going on past the school. On top of that, there are not many drivers, nationwide, to get the food from the warehouses to the schools.

“When the pandemic came, and everything shut down, there was a certain percentage of people that left the workforce. A certain amount of people left the food service,” Koutroubas said.

While the future of the Snack Shack is still in question, there is a consensus that it is a part of AHS that is very missed.

The Snack Shack was a place that had many options that the students liked, such as bagels, yogurt, smoothies, popcorn, coffee, muffins, and candy. Some students claimed to use the Snack Shack more than the regular lunch lines. If they were hungry, students would grab something quickly between classes. Teachers would even bring their classes down to the cafeteria so that their students could grab food from the Snack Shack.

“If you can get me some parent volunteers or something, I will open up that Snack Shack faster than you can say Snack Shack,” Koutroubas said.

Articles Community Opinion

Reasons for Lunch Complications

October 13, 2021

By Philippa Konow

STAFF WRITER

Everyone loves lunch. You get to sit with your friends after your classes, you get to socialize with them, and this year, you also get free lunch on top of that! Unfortunately for students, an issue has been arising, especially during fourth lunch.

For the past couple weeks, some students in fourth lunch have experienced the cafeteria running out of food to serve. Students going into the lunch line have come to the front only to be told, “Sorry, we are out of lunch.” I, myself, have experienced this issue. It was on one of my days where I’m at the school until 7 p.m. due to clubs so having lunch is very important. Some lunches are even locking the kitchen doors, refusing to allow students to get food ten minutes after lunch starts in order to combat students grabbing a second lunch.

“I’m a person who eats a lot and therefore needs seconds,” said junior Abby Spewock, “I know if I go to take seconds, someone in the fourth lunch will probably not get food. No student in the public school system should feel guilty for taking more food or being hungry.” This is a point that many people in the student body share as this is a very big issue. Another key fact that seems to be overlooked is the need for larger portion sizes, especially as many students are involved in afterschool activities that require a significant amount of fuel to give them energy. One piece of pizza and a small serving of salad might be enough for one person, but might be very little energy for someone else. Having more of a variety in serving sizes would help more students in feeling fueled up after lunch.

Many of the students who need more to eat either do sports or stay after school for clubs, hours after school has ended. Now imagine if they didn’t receive lunch during the school day. They would be famished by the time they came home, especially if they didn’t have breakfast. The students then take seconds during the school to accommodate for the fact that they are still hungry after one serving, which, as Spewock mentioned, risks taking another student’s lunch away during fourth lunch.

The reason for these troubles are pretty simple: COVID-19. This has caused many problems for everyone of all ages and professions. During the beginning of the pandemic, it was difficult for many individuals to keep their jobs, with the restaurant industry suffering heavily. When Andover schools closed, many of the kitchen staff left and never returned. Since schools continued to remain fully remote for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year, the kitchen staff had to leave to seek other employment elsewhere.

STAFF PHOTO / Philippa Konow
View from the cafeteria stairs during breakfast on Tuesday October 5, 2021.

Many truck drivers working for food shipment delivery services also lost their jobs. According to Gail Koutroubas, the APS Nutrition Director, “There is a huge nationwide shortage of truck drivers. An example is, I ordered fresh produce… I ordered 25 cases of snack pack carrots. I didn’t get any of them in shipment. I ordered 25 cases of sliced apples. I didn’t get any.” This issue with the shortage of drivers is causing individuals, like Koutroubas and her kitchen staff, to struggle to find ways to make ends meet. This isn’t an issue about not ordering enough food for all the students, this is an issue with there being no one to deliver the ordered food to the schools.

For parents, graduated siblings, etc., who are looking for some work, APS schools are hiring in the kitchen. “We pay $15.97 an hour to start, and we need people even if it’s just for 4 hours,” stated Koutroubas. Just those four hours alone can help bring back the fully functioning cafeteria for the ease of the students and the staff as well!

As suggested by Koutroubas, there is a possibility for student assistants during H-block class so students can help serve food for those who missed breakfast! This will give all students the opportunity to have some breakfast in their stomach so they can get through the day. this would be able to bring together the students to achieve a common goal; avoiding hunger in the student body during the day.

There are steps being taken to help this situation get resolved. We all love lunch and miss the beloved Snack Shack, but if we all work together as a community, we will be able to get to a very much normal as close as we can. We just need some good old team work to help! If you think that one lunch won’t be enough for you, bring one from home until this is sorted out. If you see someone without food and they are hungry, if you have something that you are too full to eat, offer it to them!

If anyone is interested for a staffing position in the APS kitchens, please visit this link: https://www.aps1.net/401/Employment-Opportunities.

Information:

Pays $15.97/hr
Flexible Hours

Requirements:

Friendliness to kids of all ages
Ability to work with others
Training will be provided

Articles Community

Students’ Opinions on COVID Restrictions, 7+H Schedule

October 13, 2021

By Jacqueline Zhu

STAFF WRITER

The return to the 8-day schedule and the lifting of social distancing restrictions this year have prompted a variety of responses from students.

Concerns over safety have arisen over the removal of social distancing restrictions, such as one-way hallways and spaced seating in classrooms. Some students feel that the lifting of these restrictions has made them feel more unsafe.

“Lifting the social distancing [restrictions] and one-way hallways is definitely more convenient for students but not necessarily the safest thing,” said sophomore William Tutwiler. “I understand Andover’s vaccination percentage is very high, but I believe it is safest to continue social distancing especially with the new Delta Variant.”

Jack Klock, a junior, feels the same way. He said it’s definitely going to impact safety at the school, and acknowledged that although most people at AHS are vaccinated, it’s important to stay cautious.

Others feel that the removal of some restrictions won’t have much of an effect on safety. “I think as more people get vaccinated and COVID-19 rates start to decline, lifting some restrictions will be okay,” stated junior Elisabeth Shin, “as long as people still maintain some hygiene and make sure to get vaccinated, [it] shouldn’t impact the safety of most students.”

The return to the 8-day schedule is another of the many changes to AHS this year. The 8-day schedule has long been a contentious topic, and many are divided on whether its reinstatement has been beneficial or detrimental.

Senior Janice Lee is among those who do not prefer the 8-day schedule. “During the 4 block schedule we had during the hybrid model, it was easier to manage my work because the classes would be every other day. So if I had class one day I would have at least the day I had class and the next day to work on [homework].”

Others, such as Shin, enjoy the 8-day schedule. Shin likes the 8-day schedule because it allows her to sign up for teachers for H-blocks and helps keep the days interesting. “While there is no predictable pattern, I think it kind of symbolizes how life is not set in stone,” she said.

Despite these mixed opinions, students are overall happy that they can be in-person. “I think it’s just a blessing to be back in school learning in classrooms rather than behind a screen and I am looking forward to a really great school year,” said Tutwiler.

Buses and Start Times

October 13, 2021

With the beginning of the school year, there have been many issues and complaints in association with bus transportation whether it be from parents or students, even teachers. Due to the shortage of drivers, the routes have been switching up and buses have been coming in late. This is due to many of the original bus drivers leaving during the 2019-2020 school year (the year when COVID initially hit and closed down the schools). This situation has caused many students to arrive ten to thirty minutes late to school in multiple classrooms.

The school was cooperative the first couple of days with announcements telling teachers to hold attendance until 9 o’clock, or until all the buses arrive before then. However, this has been discontinued in the past couple weeks and many students who are still arriving late to school due to buses are facing consequences.

While we know no one is to blame, we suggest that teachers wait to take attendance. This will allow bus students to not stress more about getting to school on time. This will decrease the stress present in a student’s morning as well as the teachers who don’t have to worry about submitting attendance every 5 minutes when more students arrive to class from the buses.

Another solution would be to have a mark on the attendance sheet that indicates if the student takes the bus or not, in order to differentiate from students who are actually late. If students had the bus-indication mark, if they are late from the bus, it will be an excused tardy. However, if a student arrives late and doesn’t take the bus, then they will be marked absent as it is in their control to come to class on time.

It is not the student’s fault if they are late due to the bus, therefore they should not face consequences from the teacher. A temporary solution is to become more lenient to those students who are on the buses.

A new policy is being put in place through administration in order to begin school closer to 8:15. The doors will lock at 8:20 and tardy passes will be given out to late students. Teachers are being told that attendance will be taken at this time. Students coming late from the bus will be given a yellow pass to enter class.

Articles

Relationships During the Time of COVID-19 Changes

May 26, 2021

By Olivia Janasik & Naomi Bloom

STAFF WRITER

With the pandemic, maintaining and creating relationships throughout the past year has been a tough experience for all of us. Whether it was with our classmates, friends, or even close relatives, COVID has torn apart many close and long-lasting relationships.

However, the majority of AHS students have managed to stay connected, and even had new relationships blossom over the course of the year. With fun, engaging, and most importantly safe, and COVID-friendly activities such as these, students were able to spend time with one another while staying safe and healthy.

Outdoor Ideas

With warmer weather on the horizon, outdoor activities are more popular than ever. When it was colder out, some students would have campfires outside their house. This can also be a great idea this spring, with s’mores and other yummy treats. Senior Ben Entner is all in for going to the beach. He and his girlfriend like to go watch the sunset together, since at night there aren’t as many people around, making it safer than when it’s super crowded during the day.

Alex Grenon told ANDOVERVIEW that she enjoys having socially-distanced picnics with her family and friends– enjoying the food and each other’s company.

“I love spending time outside with my friends, especially when we go on hikes and have a picnic at the top, it feels really rewarding,” she said.

Socially-distanced movie nights by using a projector has also been a nice way to get together for Alex McNally and his friends outdoors. A few other ideas students reported were going hiking, playing sports, or even just walking around downtown Andover. Even better, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has deemed it safe to not use masks outside for people who are vaccinated or if you’re not in a crowd.

Indoor Ideas

For those who are more indoorsy types, there are still plenty of fun activities to do with the social-distancing guidelines. Whether this be at work or after school activities, any human interaction out of school is nice at this point. Sophomore Diya Ganesh said that since she does work at Kumon, she gets to interact with the little kids, and she also meets with her Destination ImaginationI team on some Sundays.

Going to restaurants or getting coffee with friends? It’s still important to wear your masks indoors if you’re not at home. Senior Lizzie Jones told ANDOVERVIEW that “it’s really fun to rent a movie theater so that you can go with a group of friends, but still be able to socially distance very well.”

At-Home Ideas

With new technology and specific apps created during the pandemic, students have found a multitude of ways to interact with each other from their own homes.

Among Us is not really popular anymore, but it really showed how much people could connect with each other from home, aside from video calls. Many students have resorted to Tik Tok, Instagram, Snapchat, and even iMessage games to interact with games or just simple conversations with each other. iMessage games are also a great way to enjoy your friends’ presence; Crazy Eights for larger groups, or simply a 1-on-1 game of pool. Playing Minecraft or other multiplayer games with friends is another great idea for safely spending time together.

For example, senior Mila Mejia has enjoyed playing Crazy Eights on her phone with her friends, adding that “Crazy Eights is one of my favorite games to play while I’m at home and bored.”

Discord is another popular and common, group-chatting platform. “I don’t really FaceTime or video call people a lot,” Ganesh said. “To be honest, the way I interact with my closest friends is by sending them half my Instagram feed through DMs.”

While quarantine hasn’t been easy, it’s great to see how people have come together and found new ways to keep in touch with each other. Even though things are still changing with COVID, it will hopefully continue to become safer with the increase in vaccinations around the world, and more locally in Andover. Although things surrounding the pandemic have been getting progressively better, it’s still important for us to stay safe without endangering ourselves and others during this time.

AHS Reflects On COVID-Anniversary

March 12, 2021

By Philippa Konow

STAFF WRITER

March 13th, 2021, will officially mark the one-year anniversary of Andover Public Schools shutting down as a result of COVID-19 in the U.S. This last year has caused a lot of sadness and loss of hope for many, but some positives have come out of this roller coaster as well.

People have tackled this year in many different ways. Some have been taking this time to do a lot of self-care to better themselves. Others have taken on new hobbies or made new friends online. There are so many possibilities for what everyone can do to make this time a bit more enjoyable and this article could help inspire others who are stuck for what to do or just want to try something new.

Some have learned more about themselves, changed their perspective on life, started new hobbies they have fallen in love with, or grown attachments to people. “Personally for me, it has allowed my family to get a lot closer. I feel like it has definitely made our connection and our bond stronger,” said junior Mishaal Khan. Family bonding is a great idea during this long period of quarantine.

Many have also started preparing for college and the up and coming sports season. Senior Matthew Rigazio has been focusing on these specific topics, reflecting that he “got physically stronger, was named a captain for the Andover football team, and was accepted into some of [his] top schools for college.”

During this past year, many have been taking part in the act of self-reflection. This can be done by looking back at how you have behaved, what you have achieved, or how you have changed so far in your life. Some simple questions to activate self-reflection might include:

How has my personality changed?
What are some of my new strengths?
What have I learned about myself?
How has my behavior towards others grown?

Sophomore Avanthika Suryadevara has looked through the lens of self-reflection a lot this year.

“I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself, like that I’m not as much of an introvert as I thought,” she said. “I really do miss interacting with friends and classmates.”

This period is a great time to learn more about yourself and who you really are. Rigazio stated that his self-reflection “was really just focusing on minding [his] own business more and to think how [he] can help [his] community during these tough months.”

Self-improvement is another great thing to do during this time. This can be anything from working out to allowing yourself more free time for self-care and relaxation. Annika Christensen, a freshman, has valued this extra time.

“I get 30 minutes back in my day when I don’t have to take the bus to and from school,” she said, adding that “I’m able to free up my weekends and take time to even plan ahead and look at myself in a better light. I feel much happier now than before quarantine.”

Taking on new activities are great ways of getting through this time as well. It can help you distract yourself from the chaos outside and to actually enjoy this time we have at home. Christensen is in show choir, a cappella, and takes piano lessons from Mondays to Thursdays. These are great activities to take part in as music can be very calming and opening to many different kinds of people. It can bring a sense of community in this time of social distancing.

“Some activities I have done to keep me occupied are working out and watching a lot of TV with my mom,” Suryadevara said. These are both great because working out is great for your health, and TV with family is great for bonding. Khan has also taken part in music, much like Christensen. “I’ve been learning to play the keyboard and I can honestly say it has turned into something I do every day!” Khan told ANDOVERVIEW.

Now that we are at one year of quarantine and have many vaccines being distributed each day, the light at the end of this tunnel is coming into view. Even though it will take time and safety is still at top priority, many have started to hope for a bright conclusion to this school year. Many are imagining what it will be like to come out of this pandemic with new eyes. “I am looking forward to walking the hallways of the school with my friends, with no masks,” Suryadevara said.

The Class of 2021 is beginning to get excited for the conclusions of the year activities.

“I’m most looking forward to senior activities at the end of the year,” Rigazio said. “If the vaccine is distributed to the general public by then, I hope the school can put together a true, one last ‘hoorah’ for the class of 21’ that has already gone through so much.”

Writers note:

I know this year has been difficult for many. People have lost loved ones, jobs, and multiple other important things. This year has been a roller coaster of emotions. Mental health has gone down. Stress has gone up. Hope has dwindled. This country has suffered a lot of tragedy, but a reminder; the light is at the end of the tunnel, and it is coming. If you are struggling, find someone to talk to. If you know someone who is struggling, remind them that you are there for them. It may not seem like it now, and I know personally this year is a huge challenge, but it will get better. Just reach out and someone will grab your hand and pull you to safety. We can get through this, and we will all get through this.

Andover Counts on COVID-19 Vaccine

January 2, 2021

By Naomi Bloom

STAFF WRITER

A COVID-19 vaccine has been produced and recently put to use. While today’s technology, science, and people uniting because of the global pandemic has helped to get the vaccine out in just under a year, there are some who are more worried about the safety of it than they are excited by its benefits.

According to the Pew Research Center last month, 62 percent of adults in the U.S said they would not be comfortable being in one of the first groups to receive the vaccine and 39 percent of adults in the U.S. say they would not get the vaccine. One of the study’s main factors that played a role in the participants’ opinions was their trust in the safety of the vaccine and whether the “research and development process will yield a safe and effective vaccine.”

Despite these statistics, everyone interviewed by ANDOVERVIEW thought the vaccine was safe. According to NBC News, there are more than 4,000 deaths from COVID-19 every day in the U.S., so it’s more important than ever to find a solution. Sophomore Yash Kalwani said the vaccine being produced so quickly is great because we don’t have to “live in this depressing pandemic anymore.”

Senior Lina Dicovitsky said she “would have wanted at least a few months more just to be sure [the vaccine is] perfected,” but that since it will save millions of lives, she is “all for it.”

While the vaccine was produced far faster than those in the past, that doesn’t mean that it’s any less safe.

“The speed of its development doesn’t concern me,” said Alan Kalf, an AHS biology and chemistry teacher. “The amount of technology and the number of hours put into this development are incredible, and I don’t think it would have been possible 10 or 20 years ago. Don’t equate ‘fast’ with ‘haphazard.’”

As well as better technology speeding up the development of the vaccine, another factor that helped a lot was the large amount of funding and worldwide collaboration. According to the World Health Organization, by April 18, more than $125 million were raised to fund the development of the vaccine. The first COVID-19 vaccines are also being used under Emergency Use Authorizations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since the vaccine is “one of the many important tools to help us stop the pandemic,” according to a statement from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

On top of this, the CDC and FDA are monitoring reports of allergic reactions to the vaccine and people who receive the vaccine are monitored on site for 15 to 30 minutes to make sure the recipient doesn’t have a negative reaction to it, which is an important thing. Some common reactions and side effects that have been noted by the CDC are fever, chills, tiredness, and headaches, and the area on the arm where you get the shot may hurt later or have a bit of swelling.

Rita Casper, the Director of Nursing Services in Andover, said she already received her first dose of the vaccine and didn’t experience any significant side effects. She also noted many of her colleagues who received it didn’t experience any significant side effects either.

“No medication or vaccine is provided without some risk,” she told ANDOVERVIEW. “There is still much we don’t know about this one, however, if it can provide some protection from the virus, it has the potential to be extremely valuable… I think it’s worth it when you weigh the medical risks of not having the vaccine.”

Sophomore Shannon Chu agrees: “I think it’s safe enough that people should take it if they can, and I would too… By the time the vaccine gets to us, many people will already have taken it and we will see if there are any other effects that weren’t seen during testing… I don’t think the side effects will be worse than getting COVID.”

As of now, the vaccine is being administered in phases: Those in Phase 1a, the first to receive it, were healthcare personnel and those in long-term care facilities. Phase 1b went out to frontline essential workers and those over 75 years old. After that, Phase 1c is for those who are 65 to 74 years old, those over 16 with underlying medical conditions, and other essential workers. The CDC stated that as the availability of the vaccine increases, more people in other groups will be able to get vaccinated.