As we start our 2nd semester at Apex High, it is important to stay safe when it comes to COVID-19. With the new Omicron variant being highly contagious, the school had some options on how to handle it. They could go back to virtual schooling, they could close down until cases get better, or they could stay in school and use all the precautions available to them to keep everyone safe. Wake County schools choose to keep in person learning. Nevertheless, Omicron cases have been rising and many students are starting off the semester at home, missing the start of their new classes and having to begin after the rest of their classmates. COVID-19 cases have caused concern for students, teachers, and parents. It’s difficult to miss the first crucial days of new courses where the students learn what their classes are like, and have the options to change them. Katie Murray, a sophomore at Apex High who missed the first week due to COVID, reported that she was “nervous to start back due to missing material and fear she couldn’t catch up.” Chloe Andrews, who missed the first two days of the semester, stated that she was “nervous about starting late and it felt weird to be missing” so many days. She also said how she was nervous about meeting the students in her classes after everyone already met. Nicolle Atencio, mentioned how she was nervous to miss the introduction to her classes and was lucky that the snow days made it so that she didn’t have to miss even more. She specifically mentioned how hard it was to catch up in math because her teacher had already started lessons and given out work. She even had to stay after school to try and catch up.

It is clear that missing days of school are not ideal , so what can Apex High do to keep everyone protected? Some ways to stay safe from COVID-19 is to wear your mask, wash your hands, and social distance. Some symptoms of COVID-19 include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, headache, fatigue, muscle or body aches, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is crucial that you stay home and quarantine so that we can contain the virus as best as possible.