Stay at home to help others Sadie Fugate Co-Editor-in-Chief
Submitted photo
Jan Watterson, Rachael Mount (9), Dr. Shannon Mount and Ginny Watterson pose for a selfie with masks on when the Wattersons arrived home.
Recent events and developments in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are causing health and government officials to call for the most social and technologically connected generation to back away from social gatherings and stay home for the sake of their health and others. The stay-at-home orders have caused some in younger generations to feel angry and gives a feeling of injustice. Although not likely to die from the virus itself, many young people are still susceptible to contracting the virus and carrying it to those they surround themselves with without knowing it. This is extremely concerning for those who are older, receiving medical treatment or are immunocompromised. As someone who is immunocompromised themselves, I urge
you to please stay in your homes and social distance as much as you possibly can. While the virus may not be life-threatening to you, someone with a compromised immune system due to medical treatment or due to age can face serious complications if the virus is contracted. By still gathering in groups of people and not participating in the social distancing guidelines, you are putting yourself and your loved ones at risk. Someone like myself, who has a weakened immune system, can easily catch the virus from you and the effects can be detrimental to our health. Moreover, the quicker we all follow guidelines administered by our local, state, and federal governments, the quicker this virus will be able to diminish and life can resume as normal. Without following proper guidelines, little advancement can be made in overcoming this pandemic.
Scott Co. couple placed in Corona cruise quarantine Students adapt to eLearning Rachael Mount Contributing Writer
One Scottsburg couple’s 15-night paradisaical voyage to the Hawaiian islands turned into an unexpected month-long stay as their cruise ship became an early hotspot in the United States for the Coronavirus (COVID-19). On Feb. 21, Jan and Ginny Watterson, the grandparents of Scottsburg High School freshman Rachael Mount and parents of SHS staff member Dr. Shannon Mount, were aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship as the ship set sail from San Francisco, Calif. It was destined to sail to the Hawaiian islands and stop in Mexico for a small excursion; however, a cruise ship passenger acquired an unexpected illness that turned it into an isolated, elongated journey. The Wattersons arrived in the Hawaiian islands on Feb. 26, after five days out at sea, and they explored the beautiful nature of Maui, Honolulu, Kauai, and Hawaii. They departed Hawaii and experienced “real rough seas” with level eight waves. The next day, cruise officials announced that the ship passengers were in quarantine because 26 people on the ship had fallen ill with COVID-19.
To quarantine, the passengers stayed in their cabins and had room service available to replace public dining. The Wattersons’ room was similar to any ordinary cruise ship room, meaning the room was designed for sleeping not as an apartment. They had a small bathroom, hallway, and a room with a king-size bed. Luckily, the couple had a balcony, and they spent most of their time outside watching the helicopters and naval boats bring resources to the ship. They felt blessed with their balcony on the boat. “The hardest thing was worrying and wondering about those passengers who were trapped in those inner rooms. At least we could see outside from our balcony and walk around a bit.” Ginny Watterson said. The cruise staff would knock on the door, and they would have to put on their masks to open the door. Their meals would be sitting outside their door on a tray with nobody there. They saw nobody outside the room for six days. If they needed clean towels or bedding, they would put it outside the door. Later, they would hear a knock and fetch the laundry without seeing anyone. While under quarantine, the Wattersons Continue reading ‘Cruise’ on page 10.
Abby Doriot Staff Writer
Each morning of her eLearning classes, Kenley Comer (10) wakes up at 9 a.m. to start her classwork. She works until about noon, and she takes a break for lunch. After lunch, she goes right back to work, finishing up any work she has left. “It’s going pretty well. Most teachers are doing a great job providing new assignments that aren’t super long but are still challenging,” Comer said. “However, I don’t like it because I am a hands-on learner. It is harder to do work when it’s all on a computer.” While some might think eLearning has more complications and difficulty than being in the school building, others find eLearning more freeing and better because they can work at their own pace. Johnny Perkinson (10) enjoys being able to work on different subjects at different times of the day and prioritizing his school work. “It is going pretty well for me. I am get-
ting my stuff done, which is good. And, surprisingly, my internet is holding on to let me do my work,” Perkinson said. Shaye Ritchison (11) finds she enjoys eLearning more than learning in a classroom setting. “[eLearning] is going really well, and I honestly love it. I work so much better when I have control over my environment and my pace. I feel like I’m understanding the material better because I can spend more time on the stuff I don’t get right away. I prefer this style of work,” Ritchison said. For some, eLearning has some downsides. While Rachael Mount (9) likes working from home and the freedom that comes from it, she finds some challenges in eLearning. “The only part I do not like is the fact that sometimes the work that the teachers give exceeds the 20-minute limit, and I end up working on schoolwork for far longer than I should have to,” Mount said. Overall, students work to make the best out of a bad situation and adapt to eLearning’s new style of learning. In-depth
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