Restaurants support Students hope for postponement community during pandemic over cancellation for graduation
The Collegian DELTACOLLEGIAN.NET
FEATURE, PAGE 3
Issue 10 • Friday, April 10, 2020 •
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LEARNING MOVES ALL ONLINE FOR DELTA BY ESPERANZA HERNANDEZ-MUNOZ Staff Writer
Following the lead of schools around the world, Delta College has moved all classes online indefinitely. An update posted to the college’s COVID-19 information page informed students of the change, which as of March 26 includes all lab-based courses. “The College will extend its stay at home and remote work practice for employees, with the exception of essential operations personnel,” the statement read. “All classes, including labs, have shifted online or to other remote access. At the same time, the College is exploring options to provide students with learning opportunities for hands-on skills acquisition and career education, including early responder programs and those with external accreditation requirements (such as Nursing and Police Academy).” The decision looks beyond the April 6 date stated initially and “extends that date indefinitely until the public health risk subsides.” Students are now adjusting. “I went from being on campus Monday-Friday, busy with my full time classes and being
An aerial shot of the nearly empty Delta College campus after announcement that all classes were moving online. PHOTO BY CRAIG SANDERS/FOR THE RECORD
Vice President of the Active Minds club to being home everyday, feeling like I am in a different world,” said student Katrina Springs. Students are left reorganizing themselves. “I have made a schedule for each day. To keep ahead on school assignments, I plan out my week on Sundays,” said Springs. Students are taking different approaches to remain motivated and organized.
“I do have a planner system that I update every couple of weeks. I write which days I’m focusing on which subject,” said student Kaelynn North. North said it’s harder to focus due to the lack of an inclass educational environment. “I’ve felt the work pile up on me more,” said North. Some students are not bothered by the change. “I personally think that it’s much easier having my classes
online simply because of my personal schedule,” said Signs noting the instruction change greet campus student Mer- visitors. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO line Ramirez. Only change now is that since With all the at home time students have I don’t have class, I have time had to invest more time in oth- to exercise,” said Springs. Students can stay informed er activities to pass the time. “To keep myself feeling by visiting the page on the Delnormal, I set my alarm for each ta College website dedicated to morning and do my morning updates about the pandemic at routine I am used to doing. deltacollege.edu/coronavirus.
Graduating high school seniors missing milestones during pandemic BY VIVIENNE AGUILAR Editor in Chief
High school seniors throughout the country aren’t celebrating long-awaited milestones this spring. Traditional events such as prom, senior trips and graduation have been canceled due to COVID-19. Prom, a coming-of-age staple of high school in America, is one of the most pressing concerns for today’s graduating class - and it won’t be happening for members of the Class of 2020. Venture Academy student Emily VanDam, 18, had been looking forward to her senior prom. The theme would have been “The Roaring 20s.” VanDam and her mother planned a day to shop for dresses, but had to cancel due to social distancing. VanDam and her friend “had been talking about what [they] wanted to do as far as pictures and dinner and stuff but ... never came to a decision. Now we are tying [sic] to figure something else to do once everything is all over,” she told The Collegian. Sarah Margaron, 17, who also attends Venture Academy, was nearly
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“Walking is a huge part. I feel like most seniors have been trying hard to get to this moment.” - Jacob Foster ready for her senior prom. “I was literally about to buy a dress - I had my card out and everything. I was taking one of my guy friends who hadn’t gone the year before and was super pumped about going,” she said. Jacob Foster, 17, a senior at Lincoln High School, said he’d already planned his outfit and date for prom. Venture Academy had planned two senior class trips. The first was to visit the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, followed by a bonfire. The class had already assigned students to bring food and supplies for the trip. A “grad bash” at Universal Studios
was to follow, according to VanDam. She placed a $200 down payment for this at the beginning of the school year. “They still haven’t said anything about getting the money back to us. They just said further payments were being put on hold,” said VanDam. According to Margaron, grad bash hasn’t been canceled yet. Lincoln High School planned on attending Disneyland’s Grad Nite. With schools canceling graduation ceremonies, students have expressed frustration over social media. Foster said many of his friends are doing this. VanDam said the possibility of not having a graduation ceremony is the hardest part for her and her family. Her father called crying at the thought of missing the milestone. His side of the family is in Michigan, so flying was an essential part of the celebration plans. VanDam wanted to show her family around her city and state. A graduation party in Michigan was also planned. Even with everything “up in the air,” she remains positive they will celebrate some way. “I just want to walk across the stage honestly,” said Margaron. The class of 2020 will have to transi-
tion without celebration. Foster plans on attending Delta College in fall to study nursing, then transfer. If the pandemic continues into the fall, his worry is online classes. He said they won’t give him the social skills he hopes to learn in college. Veronica Bautista, Foster’s mother, said Lincoln High was “definitely not prepared” to send out online work for their students. She’s mainly worried about unfinished school work and canceled activities for her senior. “If [the students] finish their work, the district should reschedule the senior events in the summer,” she said. Bautista is disappointed for this year’s graduating class. Foster has been with his same class since kindergarten, so senior year should have been what they “envision[ed] themselves doing.” She remembered how the last days of senior year are all about “just hanging out in the parking lot.” Both Venture Academy and Lincoln High School are finishing out the year online, a route recommended by California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond on March 31.
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