In the blink of an eye our whole world was flipped upside down and inside out. We went from hanging out with our friends and going to school to wearing masks, quarantining, and attending school on a hybrid schedule. Everyone has adjusted in their own way. Here is how administrators, teachers, and students have adjusted to our “new normal.”

Principal Justin Newell said, “We are adjusting well to the ‘new normal.’ It is so wonderful to see the staff and students back in the building. We feel as though things are moving forward in a positive direction. Students are doing an excellent job with the new guidelines and procedures. We don’t want to return to normal, but instead, it is our goal to return to better. It’s our time to try new innovative methods of instruction. I encourage students to continue working hard and follow health guidelines so that we can all be safe.”

Guidance counselor Anita Steinmann said the guidance office has had to figure out new ways to reach students. “With students on remote, in-person, and in quarantine, it is a struggle to provide services to everyone. We network with a national and local group of school counselors to keep up with ‘best practices’ and fun ideas to cope with our current situation. We also do a lot more reading these days to stay on top of the ever-changing post-high school requirements. This pandemic has really changed the way testing and the college admission process works and it has become a full-time job keeping up with those changes.”

Counselor Emily Kisro agreed. “I feel like our department has been creative in the way we are providing services to our students in these unknown, ever-changing times.

Athletic director Todd Hannaford said he is hopeful things can return to normal soon. “I try my best to refer to the current state of school, athletics and life as a‘temporary normal’ as opposed to a ‘new normal’ where I try to believe that at some point soon we all will be able to resume what we have always considered to be ‘normal lives.’ I reflect upon this almost daily as I am thankful for the progress we have made in our community and in our school where we get to be in person with the teachers and students at least if it is only for a couple days per week. Although it’s not perfect or what we are traditionally used to, it is a great step forward.Athletically, as we had to cancel so many events last spring, and while so many of our summer activities were disrupted and or cancelled, having the opportunity to watch students participate in golf, tennis and cross country has been such a huge plus for our school community and for the student athletes who participate in those sports. I remain optimistically hopeful that as we head toward the winter sports, that they too will be able to take place as scheduled.”

Assistant principal Shelby Norris said she is also trying to stay optimistic. “I am adjusting to the new normal by keeping an open mind and a positive attitude about the situation. It has helped seeing the students back in school and handling it all so well. This pandemic has been challenging, but I feel that CMHS has done a great job with the situation.”

English teacher Brianne Jakes said she is misses the energy of having students in the building full time. “While I am staying positive and trying to take things in stride, I do feel a bit heartbroken that my students have to experience high school this way. I miss the crowded halls and smiles! I am trying to remain energized and hopeful so that my students can feel the same way!

Family and consumer sciences teacher Charlie Brown said flexibility as a teacher is key during these times. “I’m adjusting fairly well to the new changes, mostly by being as flexible as I can…and taking things one day at a time. There is no perfect scenario, but I’m very thankful to get to be in front of my students again.”

Choir director Matthew Juergemeier, who is conducting many choir sessions outside, is also adjusting. “I am adjusting by allowing more time for things like spraying chairs and converting material to an online format. We are only covering the most essential things in the music. We are reducing warmups. I am keepinga positive attitude and not allowing fear to keep me from delivering the best instruction possible.”

Students, of course, have also had to adjust.

Junior Gannon Meyer said he likes the new hybrid schedule. “I am becoming quite fond of this hybrid system. I get this sense of relief when I go home from school on Tuesday or Thursday and remember I don’t have to wake up early to go to school.”

But Sophomore Melody Nicola does not like a hybrid program. “Personally, I’m not a big fan. The hybrid schedule can be confusing, and I’d rather go to school full time or be fully remote.”

Junior Hailey Chappell feels the same say. “I really dislike the way things are and would rather be full remote or fully in person, but I do understand why things have to be the way that they are.”

Sophomore Alivia Roark said it’s been an adjustment. “At first, it was super confusing as to which days I went and how classes were set up. The whole only going with some people on certain days is a great thing, at least for our school since the hallways are so small. But now that we are a few weeks in, it has been a lot less confusing, especially with less people there and since the teachers are more laid back this year.”

Freshman Samuel Frey agreed. “I mean, we are still getting used to it, but I think we are adjusting to it pretty well.”

Fellow freshman Ethan Bruhn said students are adapting well. “It’s been a challenge, but I think that we have adapted pretty well to the new dynamic of things.”