Middle Schools

07 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. week prior to thanksgiving, Cape isn’t the only one North Middle School teacher who is glad to be rid teacher didn’t know how of the lockers. Social studies students would react. But teacher Brian Dues shares then she saw them in action. this sentiment.

“I was so proud that the “We haven’t had lockers, kids took it upon themselves and I think that’s helped to be on with us. We had the kids be more prepared great attendance, because for class,” Dues said. He our kids were also said that expected to despite the be on each growing pains class period, he believes his they had to students have follow their all become schedule, and better people our kids were because of this. on there and W h i l e wanting to “Our students have students may learn,” English become much more self be becoming teacher reliant, they’re much more better people. Jessica Cape motivated. It has been Covid is said. “I mean a growing experience an alarming 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. their learning. Brian Dues With emotions And that’s running high, what we can hope for.” Cape advises people to be Cape has been teaching 7th patient. and 8th grade English for “You have to give grace. 20 years, and this year has You have to be patient. caused her to make some During this time, changes. I think you have to be

“I’ve had to use more understanding. It’s no technology. I’ve had to be longer black and white; more organized as far as there has to be some gray making sure everything is areas,” she said. “And I being placed where kids can think you have to be flexible access it whether they’re in and willing to listen to what the classroom or at home, your kids are saying, you learning,” Cape said. While know, like my honors kids some changes are strange they were saying ‘we’re so and disappointing, one that overwhelmed we’re getting Cape would keep is not it in every angle.’ Just having lockers. listening to their emotions

“I don’t have kids and what they’re feeling and coming in late, they’re not adjusting to helps them be losing things or I forgot that successful.” sort of thing. We have one-