January 15, 2021 rustlernews.com
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Teachers hold out hope DURING COVID by Isabel Foley, Staff Writer
Saved by the bell North Middle School students leave school on Dec. 17 2020. Students were excited to be back in school after the period of remote learning before Thanksgiving. Photo by Isabel Foley.
Principal reflects on strange year by Isabel Foley, Staff Writer Being a principal can be difficult in the best of times, but this year has been more difficult than usual for one middle school principal. Tara Rosipal, principal of North Middle School, said the 2020-2021 school year has turned her into more of a manager of a school than a principal. “I am making sure directives and compliance is followed, supporting the staff with new challenges such as technology and teaching remote, and being a support for parents and students,” Rosipal said. Although school administrators complete similar tasks every year, Rosipal said the time and feeling is different this year. “I would say 60 percent of my time is spent on something COVID-related,” she said. “That means I am working at home in the evening and weekends on all the regular principal stuff. I am not reading about best practices and innovative education. I am reading about how many cases of COVID and how other districts across the U.S. are working with the same concerns.” Despite all the challenges, she said that she still enjoys her job and is proud of her students and staff. “I am proud of how well the teachers and students were able to plan and implement remote learning with success, [and] I am proud of the parent support we have for doing everything we can to keep students safe and educate them.”
When Great Falls Public way traffic, which is really schools went online the nice,’ she said. Cape isn’t the only week prior to thanksgiving, one North Middle School teacher who is glad to be rid of the lockers. Social studies teacher didn’t know how teacher Brian Dues shares students would react. But then she saw them in action. this sentiment. “I was so proud that the “We haven’t had lockers, and I think that’s helped kids took it upon themselves to be on with us. We had the kids be more prepared for class,” Dues said. He great attendance, because also said that our kids were expected to despite the growing pains be on each he believes his class period, students have they had to all become follow their better people schedule, and because of this. our kids were W h i l e on there and students have students may wanting to “Our becoming learn,” English become much more self be t e a c h e r reliant, they’re much more better people. Covid is Jessica Cape motivated. It has been alarming said. “I mean a growing experience an you’re looking and it has been growing, thing and many at 12 and 13 growing pains because are scared of year-olds 14 of that but I think we all getting it, or year-olds that have grown to be better of their family are owning people because of it.” getting it. With emotions their learning. Brian Dues running high, And that’s what we can hope for.” Cape advises people to be Cape has been teaching 7th patient. “You have to give grace. and 8th grade English for You have to be patient. 20 years, and this year has During this time, caused her to make some I think you have to be changes. “I’ve had to use more understanding. It’s no technology. I’ve had to be longer black and white; there has to be some gray more organized as far as areas,” she said. “And I making sure everything is think you have to be flexible being placed where kids can and willing to listen to what access it whether they’re in the classroom or at home, your kids are saying, you learning,” Cape said. While know, like my honors kids they were saying ‘we’re so some changes are strange overwhelmed we’re getting and disappointing, one that it in every angle.’ Just Cape would keep is not having lockers. listening to their emotions and what they’re feeling and “I don’t have kids adjusting to helps them be coming in late, they’re not losing things or I forgot that successful.” sort of thing. We have one-
