By Isabela Packer and Kaylee Renfro

As Arundel High School’s students and teachers have been going back to in-person school, they have encountered plenty of changes to the way school is being conducted and the environment. Some of the changes include mandated masks at all times, free lunches, and quarantining for ten days if sick or exposed to covid.

Samantha Murphy, a junior, said coming back to school for her has been “tiring, exhausting and a little bit fun.” She says the past year has been weird for her, but she says, “wearing the masks all day has been fine.” Paige Spriggs, a sophomore, said, “High school is a lot different than middle school. I get a lot more freedom and a lot more homework.¨ She is excited to participate in all the theatre opportunities that Arundel High School holds. ¨I’m hoping to do the Spring Musical, or just get more involved with theatre. I actually want to direct the Fall One Acts. Directing them seems pretty fun,¨ she said.

Some classes have been operating differently, like Mrs. Little’s classroom.  During a recent Monday afternoon, 3rd period, Mrs Little was in the courtyard working on community building with her Honors English class in the courtyard. Brook Kline, a sophomore, explained that they were doing a team building activity to learn each other’s names. Another one of the students, Shannelle Mitchel, also a sophomore, said, “ I like how the teacher makes sure we understand and engages instead of moving on from a different topic and makes it fun.”

Mrs. Little has taught here for four years and went to Arundel High School herself, graduating in 2011. She originally planned to work in the business field but changed career paths. “It feels wonderful adjusting to covid. It feels much more natural than online learning,” she said. Mrs. Little says it was difficult not seeing her students in person. She says,“students don’t learn from people they don’t trust.” She followed up saying she wanted the students to be more comfortable with each other. Learning names engages creativity and teamwork in the classroom. “Creativity takes courage,” she explained.