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Created: 19 April 2020

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HOME SCHOOLING — From left: Amy Shaw, Corbin Delacruz, Emily Delacruz and Tatianna Delacruz work on a school project from home.

By DEB BENTLY
Contributing Writer

As with any complex, large-scale endeavor, there are differences in perspective. But there seem to be two statements NRHEG teachers can agree with unconditionally:

“I miss seeing the kids,” and, “This is a lot of work.”

As they finish the second week of the Distance Learning plan required of all Minnesota schools, teachers have encountered circumstances which range from delightful surprise to heartrending disappointment—much like any other day at school.  But the surprises and disappointments have changed.

Of the roughly 75 teachers employed by NRHEG, 50 responded to a survey asking for their impressions and experiences. When asked to rate the program overall, 40 indicated they felt things were going well, and another six provided a neutral rating. When asked to evaluate how much work the program requires, all but two rated distance learning as requiring more work, with 34 saying it calls for “quite a bit more” effort to operate online instruction.

“I thought my life revolved around school before,” commented one teacher. “But now I start my day between 6 and 7 a.m. making sure everything is online and ready to go, and I’m often still communicating with students up until 7 p.m.”

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Created: 19 April 2020

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A letter to seniors from Caitlin Goette

My heart aches for you. I sit here nearly a year after graduating, and I still remember exactly how I felt at this time last year. The excitement of soon beginning a new chapter of my life filled me: a new journey, a new place, new people. But it also scared me. I was about to leave all I had ever known—where did the time go?

I am sad that you will not get to experience the last few weeks walking through the halls you know so well, a walk that you could easily do with your eyes closed. I am sad that you may not get to experience your last prom, getting all fancied up with your favorite people, dancing away the night and laughing into the morning hours. I am sad that your final sports season was taken from you, before you even got a real chance to begin it. That you won’t get to experience the feeling of putting on that jersey you know so well and saying to yourself “one last time” as you walk onto the field or track. I am sad that you don’t get to experience the adrenaline of finishing all of your final high school assignments and then spending those last days of your classes simply reminiscing on your time in those rooms. 

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Created: 19 April 2020

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By JORDAN HOREJSI
Panther Press

With the recent coronavirus pandemic spreading worldwide, NRHEG schools have had to adopt an online learning plan. David Bunn, NRHEG’s Secondary Principal, addressed the district virtually through a YouTube video, stating that “We’re here to keep this moving forward. We are unsure as to how long this might last or what this might look like. We believe that at some point, hopefully in the near future, we’ll get further direction from the governor.” With the plethora of changes involving people’s work schedules, health care procedures, and even social norms, it has become quite evident to the students at NRHEG, and to all students nationwide, that the world has entered a new reality, a time when self-isolation and adapting to change are essential. 

A survey was sent out to the student body of NRHEG Secondary School that revealed the students' perspective of their new reality during these challenging times. As mentioned above, NRHEG Schools had to implement a virtual learning plan and students have said they would rather go back to school, because they miss seeing their friends and interacting with others, including their teachers. Human interaction is an aspect of life many of us took for granted before the corona virus outbreak caused us to stay home. Kyra Cain, an eighth-grade student, expressed, “I have been doing a lot of school work and it has been challenging.” Based on the results of the survey, it is safe to say that roughly half of the students who attend NRHEG find positive sides to attending school over the distance learning plan.

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Created: 19 April 2020

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New Richland City Council

By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer

While not all members were in the same building, all members were present for the New Richland City Council’s first meeting of the month—and first ever video/phone meeting due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic—on Monday, April 13. 

After the agenda and consent agenda items were approved, the council approved two resolutions: Resolution 20-05, extending the period of a mayor-declared local emergency to April 27, and Resolution 20-06, accepting and designation of a bequest of $42,496.52 for the fire department from the estate of Sandra J. Thomas, both approved.

Tony Martens then presented the police report, which stated that the NRPD responded to 115 calls in March, bringing the total calls for 2020 to 354. This is up slightly from last year’s calls, which were at 304 from January-March of 2019. A request to re-appoint Officer Sheila Jewison, who served on the NRPD from May 2017-September 2018, was approved. 

It was noted that this week is Severe Weather Awareness Week, and tornado drills are scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 16 at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. in Waseca County.