The Day Student COVID-19 Experience

22 October 2020Sophie B, Mackenzie ‘22; Photo by Bonnie Z, Mack '21

For most returning day students, it has been hard to navigate the changes occurring due to COVID-19. Pre-Covid, day students got to go into the boarding houses and have a space to put their things and hang out. Due to Covid, the day students have to go to the Foote Centre where there are lockers to put your bags, etc. Since not being able to go in the houses, it has sort of separated the day students from the boarders.

Sofie C, Hope ‘22 says “Before Covid I could make connections with the new girls in the house. Now, following our new Covid mitigations, I feel a distance between me and the new girls as I am not seen in the house anymore.” I know many of the day students have felt this way, but we are trying to keep a positive attitude. Most of us miss the connections formed with staff and students as well.

The schedule for a day student is pretty straightforward. After arriving at school you walk into the front of the Foote Center, sign in, and go through the thermal scanner which makes sure that your temperature is not irregular. Most of the time during the day you’re pretty busy around campus so the Foote is not that crowded. Day students have been allowed in almost every place on campus except for the boarding houses. Most of the rules are easy to follow and have become a daily routine for every day student.

One positive thing that comes out of this is the connections formed among all the day students. We have created a sort of a family atmosphere. Through it all, I think the Houseparents have tried to include all of the day students in house activities. Being in the house is like being a part of a family so when you aren’t surrounded by them as often, it can be hard to adjust to. Everyone is doing their best to follow the rules so we can be in the houses again too.

As it turns out, as long as we mask up, day students are now allowed to be in their house common rooms! Yahoo!

Returning day student Jocie L, Mackenzie ‘22 says she misses “being able to hangout with my friends from Mack but I have created bonds with some of the day students that I hadn’t had before”.

Like any difficult situation, good and bad things come from it. It is important to look on the bright side and think about the ways we can prevent the spread. If we follow the mitigation strategies we can keep each other safe and ensure that we can stay on campus with our Brentwood family.

Sophie B, Mackenzie ‘22

Where Students Choose To Be