The Quirks and Qualms of Quarantine

Had we known Thursday 19th March was to be the final day of ‘normal’, I wonder if we would have appreciated those last few weeks a little more. The unexpected gift of an early Easter break seemed too good to be true – but was it really?

I do not think any of us quite understood the enormity of what was to come. Remember the novelty of the first few weeks on Teams? Lounging through lessons in PJs, tinkering with tropical backgrounds and giggling at the extreme facial distortions of teachers contorted by Snapchat. Those initial days of figuring it all out were challenging, and I am certain, at some point, we have all failed to switch off our mics – exposing the daily hullabaloo of our various homes. Lack of awareness and volume control are clearly not restricted to teenagers! Mom belting out ‘who didn’t flush the toilet?’ in the middle of a class discussion is just one of many hilarious interruptions that made every day exciting, different and some would even say enjoyable.

However, as it became more apparent that this was not a temporary situation, this fresh take on school learning quickly wore off. Yes, there was still the luxury of rolling out of bed just minutes before class, and yes, we continued to have weekly competitions about who sat through lessons in the wackiest locations. But, there was real work to be done now: prep and deadlines still very much a reality. With exams and predicted grades just around the corner, finding focus was more challenging than ever.

Away from the school timetable, where once we would scurry to the V&A or sit in house talking about nothing in particular, we now find that during our “free time” we are knee deep in chores and other jobs around the house. Parents, giddy to have another pair of helping hands, find pleasure in delegating the endless list of chores that have remained untouched since Christmas. And then of course, the weekend when finally, no lessons, no assemblies and no meetings – just a little time to catch your breath. For some reason, parents decide this is the perfect opportunity to make elaborate suggestions as to how best we should be using the time. “Forget Netflix – write your own screen play!” “How about you turn off that Grime garbage and pick up the clarinet!” “Put that phone away and crack on with that stellar novel I know is in you!” And for the lucky few who have managed to escape this sort of interrogation thus far… there’s still time!

As I write this, Speech Day is exactly one week away, and I know we will all miss being in the Big Top together. The event itself is incredible, but more specifically, Summer Term at Wellington is the best. It is the little things – losing track of time while playing football on turf, popping down to the pool after lessons, grabbing an ice cream from Grubbies – which epitomise the summer days at school. Girls dig out their frilly blouses, while boys eagerly stuff their blazers back into the closet to be mothballed until September.

Quarantine has its quirks and it certainly has its qualms. I know many of us are missing school and each other more than ever now, even if we struggle to admit it. But we must remember we are all in this together and we will definitely have some good stories to share when we finally meet again.

Colette Staadecker, W, L6 th