Yarmouth High School teachers get their COVID-19 Vaccines after Governor Mills makes announcement
Yarmouth High School teachers make adjustments to teaching during a pandemic and get their vaccines after Maine Governor adds them amongst the group of frontline workers
by Gabby Thibodeau
April 13, 2021
Yarmouth High School teachers are getting the COVID-19 vaccine after Governor Janet Mills announcement that Maine teachers are now eligible for the vaccine as of March 2nd. Mills’ announcement happened after President Biden stated that educators, due to close contact with students and colleagues, are amongst frontline workers and should be prioritized for the vaccine.
After booking an appointment to get a vaccine, teachers were able get their vaccines at local medical clinics. In Mills’ report, she talked about teachers being fully vaccinated within the next month.
“I was very excited to be put on the list for the vaccine finally,” said Catie Wooten, a science teacher at Yarmouth High School. “With other teachers in different states getting the vaccine, I was getting anxious.”
“I constantly imagine myself as an exception to every danger,” said John Russell, who teaches English. Still, teachers like Russell who do not feel personally at risk report being glad to have received the vaccine. “I still think that is important for teachers to be vaccinated,” said Russell.
Some teachers have been teaching from home during the pandemic due to health risks. “It was a challenge to navigate teaching remotely,” said Lorrie King, an academic support teacher at Yarmouth. “Giving directions, meeting with students in groups, and maintaining relationships was a challenge of mine from teaching remotely.”
With Mills’ recent announcement, teachers like King are now able to teach in person. “I was simply thrilled to make that adjustment of working in person with students again,” said King.
Schools have had to follow CDC guidelines throughout the 2020-21 school year. Students and teachers have been wearing masks, using hand-sanitizer, keeping six feet of distance, and wiping down desks.
Due to the changes, Amy Bongard, Yarmouth High School's vice principal, worked to make many adjustments needed for the school year. “Advisory was pushed to be later in the day so students can unmask and eat breakfast,” said Bongard, explaining that this allowed for the proper spacing among individuals.
Another schedule change at Yarmouth High School included a hybrid learning model. Students with the last name of A-L have been in person Monday and Thursday whileM-Z students have been in school on Tuesday and Friday.
On the days that students are not in school, they attend classes remotely. “Relationships with students and being divided are impacting the learning dynamics,” said John Russell.
Beth Doane, one of YHS’s two guidance counselors, commenting on how the pandemic has made it hard to meet with students, said, “Students used to swing by my office during breaks and class periods. Now, they have to schedule an appointment which is usually preferred to happen in person rather than over zoom calls.”
Due to teachers getting the vaccine, those who had medical issues can now return to teaching in person. “I am so relieved and have no issue coming back full time,” said King.
And now changes are happening again with Yarmouth High School going from a hybrid model to entirely in person for classes starting May 3rd.
“Schedule changes will need to be made again, like two separate lunch periods,” said Bongard. Bongard also stressed the continued importance of spacing amongst students and teachers.
COVID-19 vaccines are continuing to open up to younger age groups, and more of the population will be vaccinated in efforts to end the pandemic and integrate into everyday life again.
April 13, 2021
Yarmouth High School teachers are getting the COVID-19 vaccine after Governor Janet Mills announcement that Maine teachers are now eligible for the vaccine as of March 2nd. Mills’ announcement happened after President Biden stated that educators, due to close contact with students and colleagues, are amongst frontline workers and should be prioritized for the vaccine.
After booking an appointment to get a vaccine, teachers were able get their vaccines at local medical clinics. In Mills’ report, she talked about teachers being fully vaccinated within the next month.
“I was very excited to be put on the list for the vaccine finally,” said Catie Wooten, a science teacher at Yarmouth High School. “With other teachers in different states getting the vaccine, I was getting anxious.”
“I constantly imagine myself as an exception to every danger,” said John Russell, who teaches English. Still, teachers like Russell who do not feel personally at risk report being glad to have received the vaccine. “I still think that is important for teachers to be vaccinated,” said Russell.
Some teachers have been teaching from home during the pandemic due to health risks. “It was a challenge to navigate teaching remotely,” said Lorrie King, an academic support teacher at Yarmouth. “Giving directions, meeting with students in groups, and maintaining relationships was a challenge of mine from teaching remotely.”
With Mills’ recent announcement, teachers like King are now able to teach in person. “I was simply thrilled to make that adjustment of working in person with students again,” said King.
Schools have had to follow CDC guidelines throughout the 2020-21 school year. Students and teachers have been wearing masks, using hand-sanitizer, keeping six feet of distance, and wiping down desks.
Due to the changes, Amy Bongard, Yarmouth High School's vice principal, worked to make many adjustments needed for the school year. “Advisory was pushed to be later in the day so students can unmask and eat breakfast,” said Bongard, explaining that this allowed for the proper spacing among individuals.
Another schedule change at Yarmouth High School included a hybrid learning model. Students with the last name of A-L have been in person Monday and Thursday whileM-Z students have been in school on Tuesday and Friday.
On the days that students are not in school, they attend classes remotely. “Relationships with students and being divided are impacting the learning dynamics,” said John Russell.
Beth Doane, one of YHS’s two guidance counselors, commenting on how the pandemic has made it hard to meet with students, said, “Students used to swing by my office during breaks and class periods. Now, they have to schedule an appointment which is usually preferred to happen in person rather than over zoom calls.”
Due to teachers getting the vaccine, those who had medical issues can now return to teaching in person. “I am so relieved and have no issue coming back full time,” said King.
And now changes are happening again with Yarmouth High School going from a hybrid model to entirely in person for classes starting May 3rd.
“Schedule changes will need to be made again, like two separate lunch periods,” said Bongard. Bongard also stressed the continued importance of spacing amongst students and teachers.
COVID-19 vaccines are continuing to open up to younger age groups, and more of the population will be vaccinated in efforts to end the pandemic and integrate into everyday life again.