Inkwell ANNIE WRIGHT UPPER SCHOOL
MAY 2020
The
COVID-19 Issue
Letter from the editors We are living in unprecedented times. This pandemic is a battle full of suffering and tragedy, as well as uncertainty and misinformation, and seems to be without a foreseeable end. As it continues, we have tried to adapt and are learning to adjust to life within our homes and, for students, to a new learning format. For our team, reporting on this virus began back in February when our first article covering the COVID-19 pandemic was released and received recognition from “Best of SNO,” a national rolling submission contest for student journalism. Since then, Inkwell has published a variety of content on the impacts of the virus ranging from the speculation of a school closure to a healthcare perspective from the front lines of the pandemic. In this issue, you will find articles about how to stay active and entertained at home, how the environment has been impacted, and reflections on personal battles during the pandemic. While we publish some fresh content in this issue, many pieces were written during different stages of the pandemic. For those, we have indicated the date each article was first published online at anniewrightinkwell.org. This issue is not a light read, but it will serve as a record for years to come of what we have lived through and how we have stayed connected. We hope you are staying safe and healthy as you read through this publication.
Julia Henning Editor-in-Chief
ANNIE WRIGHT UPPER SCHOOL
Inkwell MAY 2020
827 North Tacoma Avenue Tacoma, WA 98403 inkwell@aw.org | 253-272-2216 Issue 4 | Volume 61 EDITOR IN CHIEF Julia Henning (2020-21) Abby Givens (2019-20) PRINT EDITOR Gabrielle Krieger (2020-21) YoungSeo Jo (2019-20) ONLINE EDITOR Parker Briggs (2020-21) Julia Henning (2020-21) SOCIAL & MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Sebastian Bush (2020-21) NEWS EDITOR Sofia Guerra (2020-21) Jade Cheatham (2019-20) STUDENT LIFE & SPORTS EDITOR Lauren Cook (2020-21) Kaitlin Tan (2019-20) REPORTERS Reagan Easter (2019-20) Emily Simons (2019-20)
Gabrielle Krieger Print Editor
Cover illustration by Molly Mesec
"The inspiration for my picture was how I felt when our President called COVID-19 ‘the Chinese virus.’ Because I’m Asian, it made me feel the next time I went out in public, people would think I had the virus and they would avoid me.” - Annie Wright freshman Molly Mesec
Inkwell aims to provide the Annie Wright community with dependable and engaging coverage of school, community and global topics. Inkwell publishes articles of all genres weekly at anniewrightinkwell.org as well as four themed magazines during the course of the school year. Submissions of articles and photographs, correction requests and signed letters to the editor are most welcome. Please email the editors at inkwell@aw.org. All published submissions will receive credits and bylines.
anniewrightinkwell.org
Contents
Inkwell's April art contest brought submissions from all grades at Annie Wright including this photo by fourth grader Norah Blake of signs in the Proctor district in Tacoma in the form of a mask. See more student art on pages 10-11.
Coronavirus impacts Annie Wright Local businesses hit hard Environmental effects of the pandemic Personal perspective of a front-liner Alums feel the impact as they return home A brief timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic
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Coronavirus impacts the Annie Wright Community by YoungSeo Jo and Sofia Guerra, originally published 2/28/20 Annie Wright Schools are impacted in numerous ways by the implications of the COVID-19 coronavirus. With 113 Upper School students living in the dorms, several of whom are international students from mainland China, the school is taking numerous precautionary measures, some of them controversial, to prioritize the community’s health and safety. The highly infectious coronavirus originated in Wuhan Province, China in early 2020. Since then, the coronavirus has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, inciting concern internationally. As of today, there are 84,174 people infected, concentrated mostly in China with 78,832 people infected.
Quarantine policies Currently, Annie Wright Schools will quarantine any community member who travels to a high risk area, for 14 days. Christian Sullivan, Annie Wright Head of Schools, also requests that people wishing to remain on campus do not come in close contact with anyone who traveled to a high risk area. “With students and adults living in such close proximity on the campus, we are unusually vulnerable to the spread of viruses in general, and safety is of course our priority,” he said in a letter sent out to the community on February 26. At the end of January, five senior Chinese students, none of whom are from Wuhan, traveled back to their hometowns in mainland China to celebrate Lunar New Year. Annie Wright Schools quarantined the five students for a week on January 23, prior to any recommendation for quarantine by the Pierce County Department of Health. The five students, who currently live in the dorms at the school, expressed disappointment with the lack of organization and financial support during this period. Helen Wei, one of the five students, said, “Even though this experience, particularly
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The CDC now recommends wearing masks in public places where keeping a social distance is difficult, such as in grocery stores. Photo by Sofia Guerra.
how the school decided to handle this problem, rendered us disappointed, we were glad that us being quarantined for a week was able to alleviate potential fear and panic in the community.” In light of this statement and students’ frustration, Sullivan expressed regret to the affected students and reimbursed them for their expenses during their time in quarantine. On February 12, a number of students traveled to Tokyo, Japan, as a part of the art after-school activity. At the time of the students’ return on February 18, Japan had 69 infected patients and one death. The returning students and teachers were not quarantined. In a letter sent out to the community on February 18, Sullivan explained his decision. “This is in line with the State Department advice on travel to Japan which remains at the lowest level… Japan has the second most cases of coronavirus world-wide [at the time], but the scale of the situation in Japan is very small compared to the situation in Hubei province, and China in general,” he said. Wei expressed frustration with this administrative decision and noted the difference in how students traveling from China and Japan were handled. In a letter sent out to the community on February 26, Sullivan acknowledged Wei’s frustrations. “I believe that these decisions were correct, but I acknowledge that it was very difficult for those five students, and I sincerely wish that I had a better solution for quarantining them away from campus,” he said.
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Awareness and impacts on community Several international students impacted by the epidemic said that they hope for the rest of the community to become better informed on the coronavirus. “I feel like people really need to get educated on the issue, how it spreads and some protective measures that people can take,” Wei said. She highlighted the importance of empathy in challenging times. In mid February, around the time students and faculties traveled back from Japan, the community observed a significant number of Chinese students wearing germ protective masks. According to Wei, a faculty member asked a number of Chinese students to take off their masks. “Some Chinese students who wear masks to protect themselves from the virus were asked by a particular faculty member to take off their masks, claiming that wearing masks creates fear in the community,” she said. Multiple students clarified that they were wearing masks due to personal and familial concern about health. “First of all my parents asked me to do so…wearing a mask can protect yourself and others from getting ill,” senior Maisy Yang said. The alarm raised about mask-wearing at school was attributed to the cultural differences between Asia and the United States. In Asia, it is normal to wear masks during flu season, while this practice is hardly observed in the United States. In response to this faculty behavior, conversations about inter-cultural understanding within Annie Wright Schools arose. “There should be more compassion in trying to listen to other cultures and trying to learn about the fact and the issues instead of being enclosed in
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insights of their own,” senior Tiffany Wang said. “They were treated differently. That is true. That doesn’t mean there’s no intercultural understanding,” said Sullivan in an interview. Referencing diversity, equity and inclusion education, he said, “You know, the training that teachers go through is profound.” In response to a student’s request, Sullivan sent a summary of the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion training to the community. In a letter sent on February 26, Sullivan clarified the policies regarding masks: “Students and adults are certainly allowed to wear face masks at school if they feel it enhances their safety,” he said.
Support during spring break Annie Wright Schools dorms will be open without additional cost during spring break to international students who are not able to travel home. According to Sullivan, the school will be spending thousands of dollars to keep the option open for international students. Sullivan said that he encourages international students to not travel. “Just stay here,” he said. “Don’t go out of the country. Stay here. We’ll keep you safe. But if you choose to go, you have to selfquarantine.” The dorm faculty said they are determined to make the two-week-long break a good experience for students despite the difficulty of the situation. “Generally, we’re going to treat it like a weekend,” says advisor Courtney Stowe. “We’ll offer the [activities] we know they like…they’ll get 24 hour WiFi, which they don’t normally have, and there won’t be lights out. Hopefully, we can keep their morale up.”
The school is also preparing for the possibility that international students cannot travel home for summer break.
Disrupted travel plans Two of the Upper School’s upcoming trips were indefinitely postponed due to the outbreak. The Upper School for Boys’ trip to Italy, Germany, and Switzerland, initially planned for this spring, has been pushed back due to Italy’s recent CDC classification as a level 3 area and the potential for a rise in cases in the other countries. For similar reasons, the Upper School for Girls’ trip to London in April is also to be reorganized. “If the situation did change while the trips were in country, and the participants had to be quarantined before their return to AWS, there would be very serious organizational and academic consequences, as well as possible, albeit slim, health risks,” Sullivan said. “I traveled to San Francisco for a German visa…it’s only valid March 16 to March 25…It’s kind of frustrating, but I know it [the postponement of the trip] is the right choice,” said junior Daniel Wang, a Chinese national who was planning to be a part of the Upper School for Boys’ trip.
Measures to prepare for long term impact In his letter sent out on February 28, Sullivan outlined priorities on a long term plan regarding a potential health pandemic. Some of these include “enhanced and specific safety protocols in school” such as purchasing hand sanitizers and face masks, deep cleaning and training to enhance hygienic conditions. There are also preparations for online education. *Note: this article was published prior to school closure.
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Local small businesses step up to support their community by Abby Givens, originally published 3/26/20 Visit stores.ttownapparel.com/alignsupport/ shop/home to buy this tote or t-shirt.
Earlier this month, two Tacoma businesses, Align Business Catalyst and T Town apparel, started a campaign to raise money for small businesses in the Seattle-Tacoma area impacted by closures and quarantine measures. Align, run by Annie Wright parent Kristina Maritczak and Courtney Farmer, helps make the resources needed to start and grow a business more accessible. In early March, Align’s restaurant clients in Seattle were suffering losses in sales. “The Amazon headquarters closed their facility, so all their employees weren’t coming in,” Farmer said. Amazon employees normally generate lots of foot traffic for nearby restaurants. “They went from having a really good January and February to not even being able to pay some of their bills in March,” Farmer said.
"The campaign... would provide financial assistance to businesses impacted by closures and quarantine measures." Align knew that as COVID-19 spread, small businesses in Tacoma would face the same challenges. Align wanted to help their clients and small businesses in the area confront the hit to
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their revenue by providing external funding. Marticzak reached out to Gail Ringrose at T Town Apparel to raise money through selling t-shirts and bags, T Town’s main products. The campaign launched on social media on March 18. Proceeds from shirts, tote bags and mugs sold on their website would provide financial assistance to businesses impacted by closures and quarantine measures. Starting on March 24, sales had to be refunded due to T Town’s halted production in adherence to Governor Jay Inslee’s March 23 order that all nonessential business must close for at least the next two weeks. The companies are working on other ways to support businesses.
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UrbanXchange relies on their storefront because it "provides for 90% of our monthly sales...as a result of this loss of income we have had to lay off our staff temporarily."
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, local “non-essential” businesses in Tacoma have significantly changed their procedures or temporarily closed their shops entirely. Conversely, essential businesses have been allowed to stay open. Yet they have still faced considerable challenges. Such businesses are ones categorized as providing necessary services like food and healthcare. Corina Bakery, one of these essential businesses, which sells food and baked goods near Tacoma’s Stadium district, has been able to stay open despite the pandemic. The virus, however, has still negatively impacted the bakery. Molly Ott, owner of Corina Bakery, reported a “75% decrease in walk in business and cancellation of all major events, including weddings.” Corina Bakery has also implemented more extensive preventative measures in light of the virus. According to Ott, “We are sanitizing more frequently all surfaces and practicing safe distance procedures.”
Businesses that are considered "non-essential" had to close their shops on March 15 under the order of Gov. Jay Inslee. Illustration by Gabrielle Krieger.
COVID-19 harms Tacoma business by Gabrielle Krieger, originally published 4/16/20
Non-essential businesses on the other hand are facing an even more significant impact. UrbanXchange, for instance, a vintage clothing store located in downtown Tacoma, has had to temporarily close down their physical store. As stated by the owner of the business, Brooke Casanova, UrbanXchange relies on their storefront because it “provides for 90% of our monthly sales.” According to Casanova, as a result of this loss of income, “we have had to lay off our staff temporarily.” Their online store, however, is still running. Until cases of COVID-19 decrease and shops are allowed to run as normal, the future for small businesses such as UrbanXchange and Corina Bakery remains uncertain.
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25 Things to Do While Social Distancing by Julia Henning, originally published 3/25/20
During the COVID-19 outbreak, it can be difficult to stay occupied while distancing yourself from others. Here are 25 ideas to keep the time at home interesting:
Read: There is nothing better than
a good book to pass the time. Consider re-reading one from a while back that you’ve forgotten about or download a new one to your phone if you’ve gone through all of your current collection.
Sing: Singing releases endorphins
which will reduce stress and increase your happiness levels. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the shower or while you’re dancing around your kitchen; your mind and body will thank you.
Dance: You don’t have to be
a professional or a TikTok star to experience the joy that dancing can bring. Choose style of dance, any genre of song, by yourself or with your family. You could even teach yourself a new skill such as the splits or a cartwheel.
Self care: This can take any form.
Being alone is a good time to check in with your body and think about what it needs during this break. This can include just 10 minutes of being mindful and checking in everyday or recording and journaling it.
Meditate: This goes hand in
hand with self care because it is another opportunity to be mindful. It doesn’t have to be all breathing practices, eyes closed, and trying to clear your mind. Try the apps Headspace and Calm on your phone for new and innovative ideas.
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Redecorate: Now is the time to
change up your room or other living space. You don’t have to leave your house either; rearranging or hanging up some new decorations you’ve stored away can give a space a totally new feel. The same goes for cleaning!
Try new music or create a new playlist: Hop on Spotify or Apple Music and put together a new “social distancing” playlist to enjoy. Or ask for recommendations from friends and family to add in. Check out Inkwell on Spotify while you’re over there too!
Play an instrument: Is your Exercise: Working out releases instrument still sitting in the corner just waiting to be played? Now’s the chance to pick it up and give it some love!
Create a piece of art:
Even if you’re unsure about your artistic abilities, this is a good chance to pick up a sketchbook and pencil and try something new! Look up and follow a fun and easy YouTube video to get started. Or expand into the world of origami, calligraphy or painting.
Cook/bake: Have you always
wanted a day to just try out a new recipe? Now you have that opportunity! Choose any level of difficulty and any type of food and get started. Just make sure you wash your hands for 20 seconds before.
endorphins that keep you happy. You don’t need a gym to have a successful session. Cardio, strength training, or a yoga flow can happen right in your living room. You can try classes on YouTube as well as free yoga classes through Source Yoga in Tacoma through Zoom.
Learn a new skill: Have
you always wanted to learn to juggle, whistle with your fingers, or be able to moonwalk? Choose the skill and start with a tutorial on YouTube. Or even better, have a sibling or family member teach it to you.
Get some work done: It
may be the last thing you want to do with some free time, but keeping your brain refreshed with content from classes will “We die. That mayback betothe help you come school stronger. ACT or SAT postponed? Study up for that meaning of life. But we do for when language. Thatit does maycome be around. the
Start learning a new language: Any and all! Try Duolingo or Busuu to begin.
measure of our lives.”
Have a spa day! Face masks,
bubble baths, and painting your nails enjoy a day of just treating yourself in the comfort of your own home. Or try some new makeup products, hairstyles, and outfits to get creative with it!
Play board games: At home
with other people? Pull out a game and - Toni Morrison foster some healthy competition! You can even have a whole game night or come up with a new game together.
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Keeping your mind and body active while stuck at home will in turn boost your happiness due to the endorphins released into your body. Drawing by Gabrielle Krieger.
Head to your favorite streaming service: For many
that is probably Netflix, but Hulu, Disney +, HBO, and Amazon Prime are also great choices for places to start a new show or have a movie marathon. Add the Netflix Party extension to your laptop to share a movie with your friends.
Play with your pets: Pets
can sense stress in these times; they can also release your stress with cuddles and play time. They also need their exercise too, so make sure you’re taking them out consistently.
Try some mind puzzles:
Keep your mind sharp by trying out some brain games such as sudoku or cross words. There are also apps for this such as Lumosity or Word Cookies.
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Do a virtual tour of new places: Museums all across the world have offered up tours online of their galleries. You can get realistic tours of The Anne Frank House, The Guggenheim Museum, and The Louvre.
FaceTime a friend: Social
distancing unfortunately means staying away from many people you care a lot about. We are fortunate to have technology such as FaceTime and Zoom to keep us connected to the friends and family outside of our own homes. Give those people a call this week.
Find a virtual concert or live stream from your favorite celebrity: Your favorite singer or actor is probably stuck at home just like you and wanting to connect. Many celebrities have been going on Instagram or other social media platforms to spend time live with fans. Look out for those announcements from
the people you follow.
Get outside: It is still safe to get
out and enjoy the sunshine on a walk or hike just as long as you’re keeping your distance from other people. Getting out, whether it be in your neighborhood or on a local hiking trail, is a great way to clear your mind and enjoy some fresh air. Try listening to that new playlist or an audiobook while you’re at it!
Volunteer: Offer to buy groceries
for the elderly people in your life, donate some groceries to food banks, offer virtual tutoring lessons to people who need help with school work, or call up a local hospital or fire station and offer to drop off food to the people that are working around the clock.
Develop a bucket list:
Form a list of goals you want to achieve. When you write your goals down, you’re more likely to follow through with them. Think both short term and long term and get creative with it!
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Environmental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic article and photo by Parker Briggs, originally published 4/15/20
Carbon emission measurements are showing that there can be a bright side even to something as serious as the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdown policies have kept nearly 3 billion people at home for work and school, significantly reducing pollution resulting from commuting traffic and industrial activity. Atmospheric carbon and nitrogen dioxide levels in China, the world’s largest producer of air pollution, were recently measured to be 25% lower than they were in March of last year, while pollution levels in Northern Italy have declined upwards of 40%. This is good news for global warming, but the effects are expected to last only as long as the lockdowns. Air quality is not the only environmental effect of stay-at-home policies. Empty city streets provide an inviting new territory for wildlife, with silk deer taking over a subway station in Nara, Japan, and a puma spotted in downtown Santiago, Chile. Despite the decrease in carbon emissions, there are some new threats to the environment. The International Energy Agency, an intergovernmental organization focused on energy security and related environmental protection, has predicted an increase in global methane emissions, also due to lockdown policies. Oil companies experiencing revenue drops resulting from decreased gasoline sales are less likely to attend to leaky gas pipes, and may possibly increase flaring of unwanted gas. Methane in the atmosphere is difficult to accurately measure, but its effects can be devastating: it is 80 times more powerful of a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. As governments have their hands full fighting the spread of the pandemic, they will likely be unable to crack down on methane emissions.
Air quality in urban areas has improved worldwide as a result of lockdown policies enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carbon emission measurements are showing that there can be a bright side even to something as serious as the COVID-19 pandemic. Shoppers forced to stay home have increasingly turned to online shopping to meet their needs, meaning an increase in consumption of packaging materials as goods are delivered by mail. And as the use of disposable plastic gloves and masks has become mainstream for the public, the by Parker Briggs resulting litter has become a common sight along city streets.
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The quantity of masks and gloves used for medical purposes during the pandemic is likely to be no less substantial. A single doctor testing just 50 patients per day for COVID-19, changing gloves each visit, will in one month have disposed of nearly 3,000 individual gloves. Between these various sources of pollution, the pandemic is likely to leave an almost unfathomable amount of plastics in the environment.
My mom, coronavirus & me by Emily Simons, originally published 4/16/20 Senior Emily Simons with her mother
COVID-19 sucks; there is no other way to say it. The school year was cut short, and now seniors most likely won’t get a traditional graduation, which we have been looking forward to since the first day we all came together freshman year. Senior year has not turned out the way that we were expecting it to go, and on top of this I live with someone with a compromised immune system. If I were to ask you who has been the biggest positive influence in your life, who would you choose? My answer has and always will be my mother. I grew up with a near perfect life. My mom was always there, and we had an ideal mother daughter relationship. My father has always worked very hard to provide everything for us, and I have always been very grateful.
Before the stay-at-home orders, it was so easy to slip away from reality, but now I’m faced with it from when I wake up to when I go to sleep. Seven years ago, my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, which ended up metastasizing to her brain. The cancer never scared me, because my mom never acted like it was a big deal. She would get chemotherapy every other week and was on loads of medicine, but none of that ever dampened her attitude or spirit. Over the past year, the little bubble I was living in popped and everything was thrown upside down. After having a seventh brain surgery, my mom contracted spinal meningitis, leading to many near death experiences and a two month stay at the University of Washington hospital in Seattle. Finally, after recovering, my mom began to regain her energy and lovely spirit.
In December, she was put on a new drug to combat her inoperable tumors, but that scrambled her brain. One day my grandma asked her who I was and she responded with “I don’t know” and a giggle. I have been living with the ghost of who my mom was before. Yes, her body is here, but that personality and compassion that could brighten my day by just looking at her are gone. Every day I look at her and hope that she isn’t trapped somewhere inside of herself and struggling to come out of the fog she is in. I am currently living out my biggest fear while also trying to finish my senior year and experience things that are supposed to be amazing like getting into college and graduating high school. Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic, things have gotten a bit more stressful. Yes, it sucks that your trip got canceled and school is canceled, both of which are valid, but that isn’t top of mind for me right now. I am scared that if I come in contact with COVID-19, I could give it to my mom, which would speed up her decay. The ability to stay home and reduce the chances of being exposed or contracting COVID-19 have been a total stress reliever in my household. But a loss has been the ability to get away from the house for a while and go have fun with friends. Before the stay-at-home orders, it was so easy to slip away from reality, but now I’m faced with it from when I wake up to when I go to sleep. I think it is very important that as someone who might not be heavily affected by the coronavirus symptoms, that you still are aware of the people around you and what they are going through. Make sure that you are washing your hands and trying to minimize the effects of this pandemic by staying home and making trips out as limited as possible. It is not fun, and I understand that, but it will be over sooner if you do your part and support your community. It is hard on everyone, in different ways.
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Art submissions from Inkwell’s spring break challenge Over spring break, students from all divisions of Annie Wright submitted artwork in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 and their experiences with social distancing. Their works, originally published online on 4/9/20, range greatly in their mediums, from paintings to digital illustrations. While some chose to directly portray and discuss COVID-19, others used this challenge to inspire strength in this lonely and difficult time.
Clockwise from top left: Natalie Blake, 7th grade; Maxine Pendras, 10th grade; Isabel Rozendaal, 5th grade; Skuya Elkins, Preschool 4-5; Tyler Weston, 4th grade. Visit anniewrightinkwell.org to see their artist statements.
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Clockwise from top left: Eliza Hall, 7th grade; Vala Borgelt, 6th grade; Ren Henry-Mitchell, 9th grade; Sofia Verbovski, 3rd grade; Addison Stairs, 2nd grade; Alexandra Bessler, 12th grade
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Medical personnel often wear scrubs, or white coats, to prevent outside pathogens from being introduced to hospitals and also to serve as a means of identifying medical workers.
As of now, there are over 1,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pierce County. Hundreds of medical professionals work tirelessly on the front line while risking exposure each day in their endeavors to mitigate this crisis. Among these front-liners is Miles Ching, a nocturnist, or night shift hospitalist, working for Franciscan Health at St. Joseph’s hospital in Tacoma. On a daily basis, Ching sees around four-seven patients of varying degrees of COVID-19 risk. “When I see a patient who is not suspected of having COVID-19, I will always have a surgical mask, an eye shield, then an N95 underneath my surgical mask, and rubber gloves as well,” Ching stated. An N95 mask is a type of respiratory protection equipment that is designed to fit the face of its wearer and acts as an effective filter, blocking 95% of 0.3 micron test particles. It is recommended by the CDC as a sufficient protective measure against COVID-19. “These are generally considered adequate for these patients.” In addition to low-risk cases, Ching also sees patients suspected of COVID-19 and those who have already tested positive. When he sees these patients, Ching wears a disposable gown and a CAPR. A CAPR is a type of face
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Personal perspective of a front-liner during the COVID-19 pandemic
article and photo by Sofia Guerra, originally published 4/24/20
shield made of plastic that covers the face, creating a seal. It also includes a helmet that creates positive air pressure, pushing air out of the system and preventing particles from entering. “It limits any droplets from coming in contact with my face, and it also limits any droplets from entering in the openings, which significantly reduces any chance of exposure or contracting COVID-19,” he said. As a nocturnist, Ching’s shift lasts from 8:30 pm to 8:30 am. “During my shift, I’ll see probably four-five [newly admitted] patients, plus check up on an additional one-two already admitted patients, looking at symptoms, like a drop in blood pressure, shortness of breath… Throughout my twelve-hour shift, I will probably spend four or so hours at the bedside with a patient, communicating with the nurse,” Ching reported. During these hours spent in the hospital, Ching and other front liners are at a constant risk of exposure. In addition to the hours spent in the hospital, Ching also works for eight or so hours in his office. “Actually, most of my time is spent documenting and writing orders for these patients, answering phone calls about the patients, from the office,” he said. However, even while in a large and relatively safer space, Ching must always wear personal protective equipment like a surgical mask and maintain a distance of at least six feet between himself and all other colleagues. Working as a front-liner has resulted in the integration of near-extreme sanitary measures into Ching’s everyday life. “When I arrive at the hospital, there is just one entrance that we use," he said. They will always screen us for temperatures and symptoms, and hand us a mask to use.” Throughout the day, Ching washes his hands frequently and
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sanitizes the boot and scooter he uses due to a healing foot fracture. The sanitation process Ching undergoes returning home is even more elaborate. “It’s quite an ordeal, leaving the hospital,” he said. “When I get to the car, I sanitize everything again. When I arrive home, the first thing I do is leave the shoes and the boot I wear in the hospital outside of the house, then I take off all the dirty clothes and throw them in the wash. From there, I shower straight away. I don’t come in contact with my family till after.” These practices have become essential in keeping Ching and his family as safe as possible.
"It was difficult in the beginning when we still didn't have the equipment to treat the patients. The only downside there was to helping was when we simply didn't have the equipment to help." Recently, Ching has been ordered to selfisolate as a result of potential exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case. Because the patient was not initially suspected of COVID-19, Ching had only the lesser level of personal protective equipment, excluding a gown and CAPR. “The patient came in with an unusual presentation. She didn’t have any cough, no shortness of breath; she just had bleeding. But on review of the history, three weeks prior she was exposed to COVID-19 and did have symptoms at the time.”
There are three levels of exposure that are taken into consideration when someone is advised to self-isolate. The first is low risk, which is usually described as a situation in which only some small protective measures are not taken. Medium risk can be characterized by the lack of a major protective measure, such as an eye shield or mask for a patient or doctor, with an extended exposure time. A high risk exposure occurs when no personal protective measures are taken. Ching’s exposure is considered low risk. His self-isolation requires that he wear a mask when outdoors and closely monitor for any fevers, coughing, sore throat, or other symptoms for 14 days following his exposure. “I am still able to work at the office, but must be careful to limit contact with patients,” he said. Despite the gravity of his situation and role in the pandemic, Ching keeps his morale up by devoting himself to his work. “The good thing about going to work and seeing patients that need your help is knowing that you really do have a purpose,” Ching explained. “It helps for me not to stay home the whole time, to go out and do something about this.” “It was difficult in the beginning when we still didn’t have the equipment to treat the patients," he continued. "The only downside there was to helping was when we simply didn’t have enough equipment to help with. But it really has gotten a lot better, and the community is a big help.” Ching expressed gratitude for the community’s action in providing resources for hospitals. As an example, his own daughter helps by hand sewing masks from cotton shirts. “We do what we can,” Ching stated. “It may be frightening and difficult, but we do what we can.”
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Tacoma students react to COVID-19 school closures by Lauren Cook, originally published 5/1/20
It’s been over a month since Annie Wright transitioned to online school. This new learning format is challenging for many, and people have different opinions about the new Microsoft Teams classes. Many other Tacoma students adapted to new learning formats as well. Inkwell reached out to six students from AWS and neighboring Tacoma schools to see how they are adapting to this change. Annie Wright Schools
Annie Wright Upper School for Girls sophomore Tara Hutchinson appreciates the flexibility of her day due to online classes. “I am able to still get my work done but I can spread out my workday as I please and do other independent projects or activities more easily [as opposed to being at school all day],” she said. Hutchinson said that, although her general workload is the same as before due to AWS’s asynchronous work time, she misses the social interaction that only comes from in-person classes. Charles Stringfellow, a freshman in the Upper School for Boys, reflected similar experiences with AWS's new learning format. Unlike Hutchinson, he said that he had much less work than he used to, usually around two to three hours a day. “However, that work isn’t divided evenly among my classes,” he noted. “One benefit of virtual school is that I've had lots and lots of time to spend doing what I want to do,” Stringfellow, a dedicated musician, said. "After breakfast I take two and a half hours to practice piano, finishing at around 11 at which point I start my school work… [synchronous classes] finishing up at 5:40. Between 5:40 and 7 I practice organ for a few hours, and after that I’ll do whatever until around 11 when I try to go to bed,” he said of his daily schedule. (Annie Wright Upper Schools have synchronous classes later in the day to accommodate students in different time zones.) Both Stringfellow and Hutchinson agreed that, while the extra free time is a plus, they miss seeing friends and being able to go out on the weekends.
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Bellarmine Preparatory School
Bellarmine Prep junior Emily Smith noted that online school creates more work overall due to the amount of daily assignments and lack of lectures. “It’s a lot more difficult for most people to self motivate rather than being in a classroom environment, so a lot of the time it feels like a lot more work than it actually is.” she said. Smith observed that despite the amount of school work, one benefit to the new format was the ability to sleep longer and schedule the day to fit your own needs. Smith said she generally wakes up at 9:00 am and has hour long classes until 2:30 in the afternoon. “For most classes we use Zoom for most of the time and then a teacher gives us an assignment to do as class work or homework… I typically do about three hours of homework every day,” she said.
Tacoma School of the Arts
Celia Nimura-Parmenter, a freshman at School of the Arts, noted that without teachers and classmates, the workload feels heavier. “I’d say I have more homework than normal just because I procrastinate... I’m learning less but still learning,” she said. Nimura-Parmenter mentioned that she feels very disconnected from her teachers and classmates, especially because many of her classes focus on performance and expression. “I think everyone’s having a hard time right now with anxiety, depression, lack of motivation, and while it’s important to keep learning I think this is something else we as a society should keep in mind,” she added.
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Bellarmine student Emily Smith uses the platforms Moodle and Zoom for her remote learning. Photo courtesy of Emily Smith.
Charles Wright Academy Wilson High School
Tacoma’s public schools were hit harder by the school closures. Because their students come from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, planning for online school was challenging. Wilson High School sophomore Charles Ganu has one video call every day for his AP Euro class. Ganu mentioned that although his other classes give him review work, the lack of in-person connection means less learning overall. “A disadvantage is it’s not very organized and not helpful in pushing students to learn since our grades aren’t affected at all. Unless you were failing the classes you can’t really improve your grades or lower your grades unless certain teachers go against school policy of not making the work count towards your grade,” he said. Although this policy may seem ideal for students at first, Ganu noted that it contributes to a lack of motivation and engagement because there are no repercussions for not doing the work.
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“Our Zoom classes begin at 9:00 am every day and we have classes until 11:45 and we do homework anytime after that and we have office hours for an hour. I wake up at 8 and go to bed pretty late sometimes.” said Lia Kilcup, an 8th grader at Charles Wright. “I feel like it’s nice to be able to have just one speaker on Zoom or be able to talk without any interruptions, but it’s very difficult to sit in front of a screen for 5-7 hours a day and focus properly," she said. "A lot of my peers and I think that the workload has been a little overwhelming… we often tell teachers and advisors about [the stress it adds] and how it feels like more than what we would have had normally.”
Although the new learning formats vary between schools, all these students agreed that online school is nice because there is more flexibility in their daily routines, but that it is more difficult overall than in-person learning because of the lack of student engagement and social interaction.
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For "the greater good," churches close during pandemic article and photo by Parker Briggs, originally published 5/18/20 St. Luke's Memorial Episcopal Church canceled all services in early March.
For many Tacoma residents, places of worship are more than just locations for religious gathering. Places like St. Luke’s Memorial Episcopal Church, built in 1882 by Charles Barstow Wright, provide for the social, spiritual and even economic needs of an entire community of Tacomans. In early March, St. Luke’s canceled both Sunday and Wednesday religious services, in addition to Sunday School meetings, and closed the church preschool and nursery care center. According to Beth Sherrill, office manager of St. Luke’s, many parishioners “have expressed how much they miss their church community,” and long for “the ability to meet, worship together, and give back to the community.” Church members have been affected in different ways. A baptism was postponed. One family has had to delay placing a loved one’s ashes in the church columbarium. After installing a wifi router, the church transitioned to worshiping online via Zoom, with one Sunday service and a nightly evening service. However, it has proved to be an imperfect arrangement. Many elderly parishioners do not have internet, or struggle to navigate the technology necessary to attend online worship. Consequently, Sherrill noted, they have felt isolated and cut-off from the community. “The (spiritual) impact
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cannot be put into words,” she wrote. “The impact of worshiping together and receiving communion cannot be replicated.” To offer assistance to Tacoma residents feeling the economic impact of the pandemic, St. Luke’s converted its “little library” in front of the church into a “little pantry” containing food items for those in need. The church donated unused paper and plastic tableware to the Tacoma Rescue Mission. To keep their doors open, churches rely on weekly or monthly financial contributions from their parishioners, many of whom may be affected economically by the COVID-19 pandemic and rendered unable to donate. In addition, more substantial yearly sums pledged by parishioners may be impacted due to a loss in income. Sherrill expressed concern that “the impacts of this will be felt more as the year goes on.” So far, the closure has affected both the staff and the church building itself. For the preschool teachers, the school closure may have an effect on their pay, especially as the families of students may be unable to pay tuition. Because there is no one on site each day, standard building maintenance has become impracticable. Once, an instance of water
damage remained undiscovered for days, and necessary repair work was delayed.
"We trust in God, but are called to use our reason and intellect." Marlene Jacobs, Reverend of St. Luke’s, expressed her concerns about the choice of some churches to remain open during the pandemic and hold services, such as to celebrate Easter. “Protecting those who are vulnerable to a severe case of this virus becomes a priority,” she wrote. “Not doing that seems self centered and self serving.” “Those churches that stay open may say something like ‘we trust in God to protect us,’' she said. "We also trust in God at St Luke's, but we are called to use our reason and intellect, to adhere to the best information and science available, and to be law abiding. It is a significant hardship for us not to hold services in our beautiful sanctuary, and even postpone funerals and weddings. However, it is the greater good to protect our members and all those that they may have contact with. We look forward with longing to the day we can gather again, and we will appreciate this gift more than ever.”
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Alums feel the impact as they return home article and graphic by Julia Henning, originally published 5/13/20 College students had to return home or stay in off-campus housing as universities shut down in March.
When the COVID-19 pandemic caused many institutions to close down across the United States, university students were no longer allowed to stay in their dorms or on their study abroad programs. Many had to move home or stay in their off-campus housing. Here are four unique stories from Annie Wright alums that shared this experience and how they are planning for their futures amidst a pandemic.
Lexy Sullivan – Barnard College Lexy Sullivan (‘17) started her virtual learning experience fairly early in March after there was a suspected case of COVID-19 within the Columbia community. The school transitioned to online learning for two days to make a plan the week before spring break, but ultimately made the decision to continue with online class through the rest of the year. Sullivan was planning to stay in her New York apartment, but while New York was quickly shutting down, she made the decision to come home on March 18. Because she stayed through spring break, she was able to take most of her belongings back home with her, though she ended up donating a lot as well. She described the atmosphere on campus once everyone was told to go home. “It felt like they were fleeing. There were suitcases and random dorm items just scattered throughout the sidewalks and such with people just dumping their stuff, because in New York you can kind of just leave stuff on the
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sidewalk and someone will take it,” she said. Because she is a senior, instead of a credit, she got a refund for the housing and meal plan that she didn’t use. In the fall, Sullivan will head to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore to start her master’s in Public Health. “I really hope it is in person, but there is no guarantee,” she said.
Courtney Cureton University of San Diego Courtney Cureton’s (‘17) school, USD, was one of the last colleges in the area to move to virtual classes. The students were all unsure of when it would happen, but it meant they all saw the school closure coming. She left San Diego in March to return to her mom’s apartment, but after a short time there, she realized it wasn’t the best learning environment for her to be able to engage well enough in her classes and maintain her grades. She moved back in with her friends in her apartment in San Diego shortly after. Cureton was also one of very few students to receive the stimulus checks from the government during this time. As a student athlete on the USD crew team, the quarantine has also shifted her training as she moves into her senior year. “Training right now consists of Zoom meetings every Sunday going over mobility and US rowing coaches’ tips,” said Cureton. “And then we have a weekly schedule sent out that’s optional because of NCAA regulation on coaches working during COVID-19.”
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Safa Saeed – University of Wisconsin, Madison
about trying to find a different job for after college if the economy starts failing, because the place she is interning hires most of their interns.
Safa Saeed (‘17) was studying abroad in Berlin, Germany this semester before she got the call that her university had canceled study abroad programs only a few hours before President Trump also banned travel from Europe. In the middle of the night in Berlin, she found out that she would need to pack in only a few short hours and move out to get out.
Ameya Susarla – Washington State University
Flight prices shot up in those few hours, and there were few options left. “I think the flight back was the biggest expense,” Saeed said. “I remember in the middle of the night when everyone’s parents were calling them, flights were disappearing. You would have a flight you were ready to book and it just got booked by someone else. It was really chaotic.” She had to leave a few things behind because there was little space left in her bags. Upon arriving home, she stayed distanced from her family in case she was contagious. She also found out that her long-planned internship for the summer had moved to being virtual. Depending on how the internship goes this summer, Saeed said she hopes she won’t have to worry
Ameya Susarla (‘16) found out as she headed into spring break that she would not be coming back to school, so she had to go back to Pullman after spring break to pick up the rest of her belongings. Her classes moved onto Zoom, but she isn’t required to turn on her camera. She recognized how hard it is to keep herself accountable to pay attention and listen in when the teacher doesn’t know. She also finds studying at home challenging, because she appreciated the spaces on campus such as the library where she could have her own quiet space. She is still paying rent for her house in Pullman even though she is living at home now; she also currently works at a Safeway near her home. “It’s intense,” said Susarla. “I wear gloves all the time. We sanitize every hour, and masks are required if you want to work.”
Video conferencing platforms reviewed by Sebastian Bush, originally published 5/1/20
In these days of campus closures, there are many options. Some schools chose to completely close, and some chose to go online. With many video conference platforms available, which is the best? Inkwell reviews Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Hangouts. With all the video conferencing software out there, which is the right one for you? Illustration by Sofia Guerra.
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Pricing Probably one of the most important pieces of information for most schools is pricing. Because schools can have upwards of thousands of students, pricing can be very important. Zoom is interesting in this matter. Your basic plan comes with unlimited meetings. However, these meetings have a 40 minute limit, something that can be very restrictive. In addition, this plan is only for one host. On the other hand, schools with upwards of 100 teachers would require the most expensive plan, which could amount to $2,000 per month. Microsoft Teams is also expensive, but Microsoft is now allowing schools to have Office 365 for free. Microsoft Teams is included in that bundle, so Teams is free. This can be a huge selling point for schools that may not have the resources to pay $2,000 per month for a service. Finally, Google Hangouts. Although Google Hangouts is free, Google charges for storage, so 30GB of storage costs $5. Although this may not seem important, for schools looking into moving all online classrooms onto Google, storage is key. And storage prices only rise from there. In this category, my winner is Microsoft Teams.
Security Recently Zoom has been under backlash for security reasons. Some of those have to do with “Zoom Hackers.” Zoom hackers will enter the Zoom network and steal hundreds of passcodes each time. Estimates have shown that hackers have stolen over 500,000 student accounts.
Hackers have also been known to enter “private” Zoom meetings and sit in on whatever is happening. According to one New York Post article, a New Jersey school district has stopped using Zoom for distance learning after a hacker entered a meeting and streamed adult content into the classroom. Microsoft Teams on the other hand is quite the opposite. The only bug they seem to have met is a bug which relates to GIFs. These GIFs will allow hackers entrance to someone’s account, and they can later enter the account via temporary access codes. However, according to other sources the bug, if not fixed already, is being worked on. Otherwise, Microsoft Teams is part of the Microsoft Suite, a very common tool used in everyday work, one which has not faced very many security concerns recently. Google Hangouts has faced some long term security backlash. According to security sources, Google Hangouts uses in-transit encryption. This means that when you send something, or while your call happens, it is being encrypted while it transmits. While this is a good type of encryption, it isn’t the best, as it offers a short window for hackers to enter. The most secure common form of encryption is end to end, which involves encryption while the message is being sent, while it is sending, and while it is being received.
Overall View Finally, the last category, the overall view of the platform. Zoom offers a strong platform, with many superior features. Zoom gives the added bonus of being able to see multiple people.
During a Zoom call, the attendants can view up to 49 people on the same screen. Other than that, Zoom offers many base features including a chat, the ability to share your screen, and viewing participants. Microsoft Teams falls a bit short in this category. Although it shares some of the same base features, it lacks on the faces category. During a Microsoft Teams call, you can only view up to four people at one time. Although Microsoft has made it clear it plans to upgrade that to nine people, the date for that release is still unclear, and these claims have been going on for years. Otherwise, one part in which Teams prevail, is look and feel. Hangouts and Zoom offer somewhat professional looks, and Teams offers the best one by far, with a slick and excellent presentation. Finally, Hangouts offers, once again, a somewhat sub-par experience. Although you can access a chat, and share your screen, unlike Zoom and Teams, there are no background options, and advanced features are non-existent. During a call, you can see up to ten people, but as I said, there is not much else you can do. note: Since this article was published, Teams did increase the view to nine people, along with other upgrades.
Final thoughts Overall, my winner is Microsoft Teams. It offers affordable, professional, and reliable software. Although it may be lacking in some categories, it more than makes up for it in others. Although Hangouts is an option, the next best thing is Zoom.
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Getting on each other's and graphic nerves? article by Kaitlin Tan Before the time of quarantine, families spent their time scattered in different places throughout the day. Children were at school for eight hours a day, five days a week, with other outside activities occupying their time. Most parents were at work, leaving the home virtually empty during the day. Now during the months of quarantine when families are forced to stay home, many find that their patience is growing low and find themselves getting on other family members’ nerves. These feelings stem from a lack of normal routine, spending too much time together, financial and health stress, and anxiety about the future, according to Upper School Counselor Jenna Aynes. She offered some tips for how to get along with family and what to do when conflict arises.
With the effects of quarantine adding to everyone's stress, family conflict is inevitable.
Aynes suggests these tips... ...to better get along with your family: 1. Make schedules, as this will allow for more routine and enables you to incorporate more alone time. 2. Focus on the positives instead of what other family members are doing wrong. 3. Make time for family activities such as working out together, game nights, or cooking together. ...and if conflict does arise: 1. Give your family members space to process. 2. Give yourself time to deescalate and process your emotions. 3. Use calm communication and “I� statements.
International students and the COVID pandemic After school closed in March, Inkwell radio interviewed international students who had just returned to their home countries of China, Vietnam, Korea and Germany. They discuss their journeys, life in quarantine and their countries' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Scan the QR code to listen to the podcast on Spotify.
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A brief timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic by Lauren Cook
December 31, 2019 January 11, 2020 January 20, 2020 February 29, 2020 March 11, 2020 March 12, 2020
March 16, 2020
March 23, 2020 April 6, 2020 April 23, 2020 INKWELL | MAY 2020
Chinese officials confirm dozens of pneumonia cases due to unknown causes. A 61-year-old Wuhan resident is the first person to die of the coronavirus. Coronavirus cases are confirmed in Japan, Thailand, and South Korea, the first confirmed cases outside of China. A man in his 50s dies at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington. This death came over a month after the United States had its first case of coronavirus, just outside of Seattle. The World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Annie Wright Schools, in accordance with Governor Jay Inslee’s school closure rules, has its last day of in-person classes for the 2019-2020 school year. A 43-year-old woman was the first subject of an experimental coronavirus vaccine, administered at Seattle’s Kaiser Permanente Washington Research Institute. The test was entirely experimental, with top scientists agreeing that a vaccine would not be available to the public for another 12-18 months. Washington Governor Jay Inslee announces a “stay-at-home” order, to be in effect for at least two weeks. Inslee’s order requires all Washington state citizens to remain in their homes unless pursuing an “essential activity.” He later extends the order until May 31. Total coronavirus-related deaths in the United States pass 10,000. New filings for first-time unemployment claims bring the U.S. total to 26 million.
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Music to get you through Social distancing and sheltering in place can be challenging, especially when it comes to keeping boredom at bay and staying motivated. Here, Inkwell has compiled four playlists to help you pass your time. article & graphic by Sofia Guerra, originally published 4/16/20
Calm
Here is a list of songs to listen to when you just want to relax. From Cage the Elephant’s guitarcentered love letter, Cigarette Daydreams, to Will Conolly’s quietly reassuring Europe, Inkwell’s Calm playlist is perfect to play in the background.
• La Noche Eterna, El mató a un policía • • • • • • • • • •
motorizado Cigarette Daydreams, Cage the Elephant This Town, Kygo feat. Sasha Sloan Sunrise - Grand Canyon Suite, Ferde Grofé Europe, Will Conolly Hometown Glory, Adele Don't Dream It's Over, Crowded House Lava, Still Woozy comethru, Jeremy Zucker Stolen Dance, Milky Chance No Stars, Tommy Wallach
Sad
When you’re feeling blue, sometimes all you really need is music to match. Inkwell’s Sad playlist features just the songs you need to hear when life is getting you down. With selections like Lorde’s hauntingly nostalgic Ribs and Labrinth’s slow, soulful ballad Jealous, this collection is the embodiment of sadness itself.
• • • • • • • • • • • •
Ribs, Lorde Numb, Carlos Vara Let Me Down Slowly, Alec Benjamin Landslide, Fleetwood Mac Idle Town, Conan Gray Hard to Say I'm Sorry, Chicago Chasing Cars, Snow Patrol Jealous, Labrinth Going Home, Kenny G Medicine, Daughter Happiness is a butterfly, Lana Del Rey Flowers, Anaïs Mitchell
Exercise
This playlist is great to put on when you’re in need of motivation while exercising. With songs like the explosive MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix), Muse’s electrifying take on rock, Starlight, and the boy band pop anthem Midnight Memories, this playlist is guaranteed to get you up and active.
• I Like Me Better, Lauv • Graffiti, CHVRCHES • MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix), BTS, • • • • • • • • •
Desiigner, Steve Aoki Pretty Girl, Clairo Sick Muse, Metric Starlight, Muse What Does it Take, Jr Walker and the Allstars Drop the Game, Flume and Nick Murphy I Wanna Get Better, Bleachers Midnight Memories, One Direction Simplify, Young the Giant Harlem, New Politics
Upbeat
If you ever need a pick-me-up, or just want some music to fit your happy mood, Inkwell has you covered. This Upbeat playlist features selections like the contagiously lively Build Me Up Buttercup and LAUNDRY DAY’s reminiscent, richly-instrumented FRIENDS that will keep you smiling.
• • • • • • • • • •
FRIENDS, LAUNDRY DAY Shotgun, George Ezra I Want You Back, The Jackson 5 Bennie And The Jets, Elton John If You Want To, beabadoobee Build Me Up Buttercup, The Foundations This Life, Vampire Weekend Littlest Things, Lily Allen Hooked on a Feeling, Blue Swede Red Prairie Dawn, Garry Harrison and the Mule Team • Kiss That Grrrl, Kate Nash
