The Blue Devil Beat

COVID-19 caused an abrupt end to the 2019-2020 school year, leaving both parents and students wondering what the upcoming year would hold. As the ending of summer grows nearer, excitement for the new year is beginning to heat up. After the upheaval of last year’s plans, local students are excited to get back into the classroom to learn and socialize with all of their friends again. Teachers and faculty have missed the smiling faces of the students, Everyone is ready for things to go back to normal.

But what exactly does normal look like in a post COVID world?

Planning for the 2020-2021 school year will be a unique experience, subject to many changes continuing throughout the year. The Oklahoma Department of Education released a packet containing the guidelines for how the school year should be handled. This document, Return to Learn Oklahoma: A Framework to Reopening Schools, is a “compendium of factors for individual districts to consider.” The focus appears to be on maintaining a flexible balance between learning and safety, through strong parent teacher communication. It is recommended that t h e school prepare for frequent changes and possible disruptions. The board of education has received this information and is working to have a plan of action before the school year starts. The school may even implement distance learning as a backup if the number of cases spikes beyond a safe threshold.

Alisa Boecker, a teacher at CHS, spoke with The Beacon about what precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of the students. She spoke about the importance of good hygiene in creating a safe learning environment for the students of Cordell Public Schools. Overall, it appears things at the schools will return to business-as-usual.

Former junior class president Spencer Williams, like many, misses having daily human interaction. He has utilized the extended summer to further consider his academic standing, and plan for the future.

“Even though some opportunities were taken away, all we can do is try and make the best of things.”

For Cordell’s student athletes, The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association released a two phase plan for athletic activities. This plan calls for sanitizing of workout equipment between uses, proper spacing between athletes, and frequent hand washing. These guidelines are being followed during the summer workouts and team practices to ensure students are playing and practicing in the safest way.

The athletes are already slipping right back into the groove of things, frequenting the weight room and the track, under the new conditions.

Hopes for a good football season are high with the Blue Devils working hard to get as powerful and conditioned as possible. Early morning workout sessions have the boys primed and ready to rumble.

According to head football coach, Zane Trammel, The boys are going to have a strong season. “We have the same team as last year, these guys are just bigger and stronger now.”

The Lady Blue Devil basketball team has been putting in work all summer long to stay fit and ready for the upcoming basketball season. Their coach, Jana Rogers, has the girls running drills, scrimmaging, and conditioning to ensure a hearty team. Last year’s pointguard, Andrea Palmer, said she has a lot of faith in her fellow players and believes that with their teamwork skills, they will be unstoppable.

“Last year was a learning year for us, since then we have gained the confidence and experience that we need to have a successful season,” she said.

With the summer coming to a close, the school is expected to make a strong comeback, in both sports and academics. Cordell is back on track, educating the youth in a safe and healthy manner.