7 minute read
Boys’ swimming competes at Sections
from Issue 3, March 22
by SLP Echo
MEET THE ATHLETE
Stayci Spates, sophomore
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basketball
How long have you been playing basketball for?
What do you like most about playing basketball?
Why did you decide to play basketball?
What is your favorite basketball memory?
I started playing on a team in kindergarten. I started playing on a rec league, and that was fun.
I like playing with other people. I like that it’s a team sport. I like making plays and seeing my teamates score. I love playing with other people that’s my favorite part.
My dad played in high school and was really good, and my mom played too. So I thought I would be good too. I kept playing and still am.
My favortie basketball memory is the rst game I was able to play a er I tore my ACL.
My mother she has been very helpful, and motivated me during the past ve years. I have wanted to quit multiple times because I have had two knee injuries, but my mom kept me going, because basketball is something I genuinely love to do.
What motivates you to keep going
How does your team support eachother?
Since were not at school and home sitting on computers all day the captains will make sure to send a text saying things like make sure you’re getting enough sleep and staying hydrated and things like to remind us to take care of ourselves.
What are your future visions with basketball?
I am hoping it can get me a scholarship. I don’t want to go to a big school. I want to go to a HBCU so I can play college ball and be able to study law. I don’t really want to go to the WNBA because I don’t think they get paid enough. I also think I can’t play basketball forever because of my ACL. Photo: Henry Harper
Boys’ basketball quarantined
COVID-19 cuts season short
Henry Harper & Talia Lissauer
henryharper@slpecho.com talialissauer@slpecho.com Photo: Henry Harper Layup: Sophomore Stefano Giovanelli goes for a layup in the game Feb. 5. Park lost to Benilde-St. Margaret’s 65-47. After a player tested positive for COVID-19, the boys’ basketball season ended.
Look up: Junior Cameron Delorme goes for a layup in the game Feb. 16. Park lost to Cooper 64-56.
Aer starting his rst year on varsity, junior Evan Donesky said he was upset the season was cut short before Sections.
“ ere was such a little amount of games le in the season. And I feel we were very close to making it through the o season. And also I wanted to play in our section again,” Donesky said.
When a boys’ basketball player tested positive for COVID-19, the boys’ junior varsity and varsity basketball teams’ seasons ended and players were asked to quarantine, according to athletic director Andy Ewald.
“ ey are supposed to quarantine (for 14 days) to keep themselves and everybody else safe and we encourage them to go get a test,” Ewald said.
In the preceding weeks, junior Gavin oe said the team followed COVID-19 guidelines as best as it could.
“It’s the smart decision to shut us down. Every time we practiced we all stayed safe with our masks up, socially distanced and cautious of each other,” oe said.
e beginning of the season was pushed back because of restrictions put into place by Gov. Tim Walz, so Ewald said players and families were just happy to have some type of a season.
“People have been disappointed, but they also get it and understand that ultimately our job rst and foremost is to keep everyone as safe as possible, and trying to have sports happen during a global pandemic is a tough go,” Ewald said. “Most people are just happy that, especially with (the) boys’ basketball team, (we) made it through (almost) the entire season without missing any games or being shut down.”
Park returned to hybrid Feb. 22, which Donesky said could have contributed to the season ending.
“I think we did an OK job as a team taking good precautions. It’s just the back-to-school thing. at’s all it was. We can’t just stop kids from learning. It’s just a tough situation,” Donesky said. oe said he’s excited to return to school a er the quarantine, so he can see his friends again.
“I’m really excited to come to school since they’re making us quarantine right now,” oe said. “It sucks we got our season ended, but I’m still happy I got to play at all since it wasn’t guaranteed.”
Gavin Thoe
junior
STAFF ED
Photo Abby Prestholdt Listening: Freshman Sarah Rappaport takes notes during her synchronous class time March 11. The School Board approved a plan to combine Cohorts A and B.
Adjusting schedule not necessary, adds screen time
All synchronous classes poses risks
With students returning to hybrid learning, some students, parents and staff have questioned the current schedule and whether it could be changed now that Park has returned to hybrid learning.
While the change could benefit the people in hybrid a little bit, it would likely be detrimental to the students in distance learning because of the extra screen time.
In addition, the asynchronous time is also beneficial to students in-person.
Park has had a mix of synchronous and asynchronous classes in its schedule. This asynchronous time has been critical in helping students to complete assignments, to ask questions and to interact with peers.
This allowed for a much needed break from screens for both students and staff in-person and online.
Making all classes synchronous will give students in distance learning too much screen time.
Doing three to four classes a day in a pandemic is already tiring enough.
Doing seven classes and homework, as well as any other activities, is far too much screen time.
This leads to fatigue, which could decrease productivity in students.
Additionally, an all synchronous schedule puts more stress on students since they no longer have the asynchronous periods to do work.
This would affect students especially in classes with a lot of homework who would now have to take more time out of their day to do assignments rather than getting them done during the school day.
There are some substantial benefits for the students in hybrid, however.
Since those in school are already there the entire day, it would be nice to have more in in-person class time to learn more material and have social interactions with teachers and other students.
Teachers could use synchronous time to do things other than lectures, while the distance students can get homework to complete during the class period.
This way, teachers are continuing to give built in work time.
The Echo Editorial Board believes students should voice their opinions regarding the schedule to the administrators and consult parents about the problems in the new schedule.
While changing the old schedule has its benefits, it would be more beneficial to use asynchronous times to work with students in-person and give students in distance learning a break from screens or extra work time.
WHAT’S THE POINT
Classroom connection reappears in hybrid learning
Aisha Hersi aishahersi@slpecho.com
Through the screen of my computer, I could see the bubbling excitement on my teachers’ faces as they welcomed students back to hybrid learning Feb. 22. eir enthusiastic moods radiated onto me, giving me a boost of energy in the morning to x my composure and start my day ready to learn.
Staying in distance learning was a decision I made to ensure the health and safety of both my family and myself.
Although this decision means I have to stay in Cohort C until the end of the year, I am OK with that because there are now more large group discussions, easier one-on-one meetings, and more lively classes. ere was a rise in large group discussions in my class because
What’s the more hybrid students were engaging in
POINT? the discussions. is
Hybrid better than really helped with my classes that have lectures as they were distance now engaging and learning bene cial. at small, yet drastic change, profoundly re ected on my learning. e rst few days of logging onto Zoom with the majority of the class in-person felt like an experiment. Even my teachers felt a bit hesitant to try out new learning methods.
But these days, I noticed a change. More of the class was participating in discussions, and we were getting through our lessons faster.
Even though a lot has changed, there is still a sense of normality within my learning. e only problems I’ve faced these past two weeks were mere tech issues, ones that have been resolved with a quick email.
Something that has not changed is the Oriole Study Nest. If I am ever struggling or just looking for a place to quietly work, I’ll always have the option to attend the Oriole Study Nest. On Wednesdays, students of Cohort C are allowed to come into school.
I have not attended the Study Nest so far, but will be looking out for it in the future. Overall, my experience in distance learning these past few weeks has been all but dull.
