Masks, Hallways, and Football?
How Lyman has handled COVID-19
The coronavirus has introduced plenty of new challenges for schools to tackle. From walking around campus to athletics, Lyman has been working to keep students and staff healthy.
Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) has allowed multiple methods of learning this year: face-to-face, seminole connect, seminole county virtual school and hybrid. Everyone on campus must follow several safety protocols. For example: wearing a mask at all times.
In addition to masks, Lyman developed a new one-way hallway system. The majority of hallways have been designated as one-way walking areas. To make up for longer travel times between classes, an additional two minutes have been added between class periods.
“I think that Lyman has done all they can to create a safe space for all of the students,” senior Noah Goldberg said. “The hallway regulations are a bit of an overstep, but I see why they took the precaution to ensure the safety of all the students.”
In addition to these safety precautions, students and employees who experience any COVID-19 symptoms cannot attend school. Students who develop symptoms while at school will be sent to isolate in the COVID clinic and then quarantined for two weeks at home.
Even with these precautions, Lyman is still allowing fall sports to take place.
The football Fridays still included appearances from the Lyman Diamonds, marching band and cheerleaders. There was a capacity limit of 35%, put in place to help maintain social distancing guidelines. Despite the smaller crowds in the stands, the varsity cheerleaders were helping animate the crowd during games.
“I’m really glad that the games are still happening,” cheerleader and sophomore Kendall Dearth said. “I am glad that we are able to continue the season and keep everyone safe.”
Although, the usual halftime show performance from band, dance and color guard was cancelled this year. Instead, the Lyman Diamond executed a couple routines to entertain the crowd while the senior pep band provided music during the games.
“My favorite part about football games is when the game ends and all the players, dancers and students sing the alma mater,” Lyman Diamond and junior Jordy Fiorica said. “Win or lose, we love our boys!”
After three years in the journalism program, seventeen year old Kate Schieffelin is spending her senior year as editor-in-chief of the Greyhound Growl....
Hi Kate, I thought this article was great. I enjoyed reading about how Lyman took precautions and safety measures on covid. Also, I liked reading about what other students had to say about those safety measures. I’ve gone to a few football games and seen some of the precautions they have made. Overall great article!
It’s a shame that we couldn’t have a normal marching band/dance/cheerleading/football season but we all know it’s probably for the best. This is a great article and really captures the student’s opinion and standpoint on the rules and regulations SCPS has made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I feel like about the mask part there shouldn’t be mask on the dancers because of the lack of oxygen after every performance and the lack dancing.
After reading this article I would say it was pretty well explained because of recent changes things like football games, hallways, and half time shows like you had mentioned are very different now . With these new precautions you can no longer do certain things anymore like pep rally’s etc. As a cheerleader on varsity I am very happy as well that the games were till going on.
I really like your article. It’s a shame that we can no longer have our Lyman Diamonds and band preform at halftime. Hopefully next year COVID will ease up so our football games go back to normal. Wearing masks and isolating has definitely taken the school spirit out, but at least keeping us healthy.
I love this article because it’s great knowing what and how my school is helping stop this deadly disease. It gives readers very good insight and great summaries about how Lyman is putting the right safety measures into place. Overall great information and a great quick update!
This article is very helpful and informative. As it mentions safety guidelines and limitations due to Covid. Online and face to face students can feel safer attending these events. Comments from cheerleaders, dancers, and students which add support and feedback to this very different and highly stressful year. I love that this article has comments and assures us that Lyman has thought out all of these things in order to keep things pushing forward with this pandemic.
This is really good. It was written very well and I like the way you closed out with a quote. It ended with optimism and getting the students opinions on is a good strategy.
This article was really informative! I wasn’t on campus for the first half of the year, so this was very helpful.
Reading this at the end of the school year is so interesting because we now know how everything worked out. Whereas in the beginning of the year we were all nervous and wanting some semblance of normal.