With students currently learning remotely, Newtown High School seniors Jillian Clure and Rushil Jerfy reported during the Board of Education’s December 1 virtual meeting on how students are handling the change from the hybrid school model.

Jillian and Rushil are serving as NHS student representatives to the Board of Education this school year. They typically share insights at each Board of Education meeting.

“As you know, we recently switched to fully online school,” Rushil shared at the start of the report, “and the transition, I would say, has been pretty smooth. Teachers have had lesson plans, and they have had all the work planned out so that there’s not too much confusion And they have made themselves very available for extra help, so students can schedule times to meet with them online.”

NHS clubs are making plans around remote learning, according to Rushil.

Jillian shared a review of what the day-to-day schedule for students is like in the remote learning model.

“Starting off, we get more sleep. You don’t have to get your stuff packed, put on your shoes, take the bus,” Jillian observed. “You just wake up, get dressed, and walk over to your desk, wherever that may be.”

She suggested waking up at least 30 minutes before the start of the day makes it easier than waking up moments before it. Jillian then outlined that the first period of the day is 80 minutes, then there is a five-minute break, and more. Jillian said she likes to use the five minute breaks between periods to sign in to the next class’s Google Meet to talk to the teacher and ask them the typical questions that would be shared if she arrived early to a classroom, like how they are doing.

Having time for lunch, Jillian said, is an extra cushion of time “that is definitely nice.” She also likes to plan to talk with friends during the lunch break, like she would have if having lunch in person.

Staying seated in front of a computer screen for distance learning can be difficult, Jillian observed. While it is unavoidable until “face-to-face contact” can be allowed again, Jillian said she suggests students should try to minimize their “screen time” when the school day is over or that teachers could encourage standing up for a break during classes.

The NHS Athletic Department, according to Jillian, has partnered with Social Services to collect gift cards for local grocery stores to help local families this holiday season.

“It’s completely student led and they have contactless drop off,” Jillian shared.

Jillian later said that NHS seniors are starting to hear back from colleges if they applied early action or early decision.

“It’s kind of just kicking in that we are actually leaving next year,” said Jillian.