Kandi Grey, Matlala Sefale, Grade 12
UWCSA (Waterford)
For most of us, we’ve only read about the years of global pandemics that sweep through countries in the history books. Never imagined that we would actually be living through it.
The start of the second term in April for Waterford Kamhlaba brought with it the usual cheer of greetings among students and staff after they had not seen each other for a little over a month. Only this time there were no hugs and handshakes, just virtual interaction through computer screens from the comfort and safety of our homes.
The Waterford community has taken to virtual school with the same vigour and eagerness of a new term; with the novelty of learning online instead of physically being in classrooms. Research beyond measure, experiments in video chats and finding apps on our laptops that we never knew were there before. This has been a learning experience in learning.
The staff have been remarkable. They have also had to learn about all the new age technology, along with the skills we’ve all needed in order to move forward with the new normal way of doing things these days. And moving forward we, students, have also had to adjust, becoming more familiar with the technology that’s always been at our fingertips and is now an almost permanent fixture. But lockdown would not stop us from getting our education, and Waterford Kamhlaba has arisen to the way of virtual life like the Phoenix it is.
Online meetings, video classrooms and discussions have been filling up our weeks, and the weeks to come are all looking the same. The Admin office and media team have been working to keep the entire UWCSA community’s morale high up in this challenging time. And as the mental health of everyone is just as important as physical health, our school counsellors have been relentlessly reaching out to check on each of us, and initiatives like the Kamvengers have sprung up among students to encourage physical activity from home. Schedules, classwork and a daily routine, is one way to become more organised, with the added bonus of being just a few meters from the comfort of one’s bed, or the couch. It has undoubtedly improved our motivation to improve our work ethic when there is the distraction of home.
The parents have become the cheerleaders and some of the best inspirational speakers behind the backs of the students. With students tackling their education from home, all-around applause should be granted to their guardians for the unwavering support systems they have become. The school’s management, through weekly newsletters, has indeed given credit where it is due by thanking the guardians for their hard work and understanding in this complicated situation and encouraged them to keep ensuring our wellness and safety. Students and their guardians alike are very grateful for the effective communication between themselves and the school, and even more, for the initiative the school is taking to ensure our all-round wellness.
The worldwide threat of Covid-19 is one that was not planned for, bringing the uncertainty of what the future holds, but plans cannot be put on hold - especially when those plans are our education.
Just remember, we are all alone in this together.
To get a feel of how fellow students were handling online learning, I reached out to a handful within each grade or form as we call them at UWCSA. The following are compilations of some of the feedback I got from them.
Form One (11 -13yrs)– I would say I’m getting there, it was just an unexpected wave of work, with some online meetings. There has been some trouble, but we’re getting there.
Form Two (13-14rs)– My first week was not eventful. Still, it did take a lot of adjustment on my part when starting online school, it was a different experience, and it’s weird not being in a classroom with your friends but I’m doing my best to adapt to the situation. Everyone wishes that we were now back at school, which is very different from the last term.
Form Four (15-17yrs)– So far, it has been relatively stressful, trying to get all my work handed in on time and trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Although as time progresses, I am sure it will get easier as we learn and adapt to this new way of learning.
IB1 (16-18yrs)– The first week of school was great. I enjoy the fact that the teachers understand that we’re struggling a bit with the online stuff so they’re taking it easy, but they’re also not making it seem like we’re not doing any work. But, I think I’ve adjusted well.
IB2 (17-19yrs)– It’s been an exciting week so far as an adjustment from working on laptops at our desks from now and then to working on our laptops regularly. It’ll take time, but this is something that will make us stronger, and more prepared for the future than we’ll ever know.
The start of the second term in April for Waterford Kamhlaba brought with it the usual cheer of greetings among students and staff after they had not seen each other for a little over a month. Only this time there were no hugs and handshakes, just virtual interaction through computer screens from the comfort and safety of our homes.
The Waterford community has taken to virtual school with the same vigour and eagerness of a new term; with the novelty of learning online instead of physically being in classrooms. Research beyond measure, experiments in video chats and finding apps on our laptops that we never knew were there before. This has been a learning experience in learning.
The staff have been remarkable. They have also had to learn about all the new age technology, along with the skills we’ve all needed in order to move forward with the new normal way of doing things these days. And moving forward we, students, have also had to adjust, becoming more familiar with the technology that’s always been at our fingertips and is now an almost permanent fixture. But lockdown would not stop us from getting our education, and Waterford Kamhlaba has arisen to the way of virtual life like the Phoenix it is.
Online meetings, video classrooms and discussions have been filling up our weeks, and the weeks to come are all looking the same. The Admin office and media team have been working to keep the entire UWCSA community’s morale high up in this challenging time. And as the mental health of everyone is just as important as physical health, our school counsellors have been relentlessly reaching out to check on each of us, and initiatives like the Kamvengers have sprung up among students to encourage physical activity from home. Schedules, classwork and a daily routine, is one way to become more organised, with the added bonus of being just a few meters from the comfort of one’s bed, or the couch. It has undoubtedly improved our motivation to improve our work ethic when there is the distraction of home.
The parents have become the cheerleaders and some of the best inspirational speakers behind the backs of the students. With students tackling their education from home, all-around applause should be granted to their guardians for the unwavering support systems they have become. The school’s management, through weekly newsletters, has indeed given credit where it is due by thanking the guardians for their hard work and understanding in this complicated situation and encouraged them to keep ensuring our wellness and safety. Students and their guardians alike are very grateful for the effective communication between themselves and the school, and even more, for the initiative the school is taking to ensure our all-round wellness.
The worldwide threat of Covid-19 is one that was not planned for, bringing the uncertainty of what the future holds, but plans cannot be put on hold - especially when those plans are our education.
Just remember, we are all alone in this together.
To get a feel of how fellow students were handling online learning, I reached out to a handful within each grade or form as we call them at UWCSA. The following are compilations of some of the feedback I got from them.
Form One (11 -13yrs)– I would say I’m getting there, it was just an unexpected wave of work, with some online meetings. There has been some trouble, but we’re getting there.
Form Two (13-14rs)– My first week was not eventful. Still, it did take a lot of adjustment on my part when starting online school, it was a different experience, and it’s weird not being in a classroom with your friends but I’m doing my best to adapt to the situation. Everyone wishes that we were now back at school, which is very different from the last term.
Form Four (15-17yrs)– So far, it has been relatively stressful, trying to get all my work handed in on time and trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Although as time progresses, I am sure it will get easier as we learn and adapt to this new way of learning.
IB1 (16-18yrs)– The first week of school was great. I enjoy the fact that the teachers understand that we’re struggling a bit with the online stuff so they’re taking it easy, but they’re also not making it seem like we’re not doing any work. But, I think I’ve adjusted well.
IB2 (17-19yrs)– It’s been an exciting week so far as an adjustment from working on laptops at our desks from now and then to working on our laptops regularly. It’ll take time, but this is something that will make us stronger, and more prepared for the future than we’ll ever know.
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