Several of the more than 160 students who have opted for participating in eLearning rather than attending classes on campus shared their experiences as they wrapped up the end of their third week of school.

Senior Kaiden Miller has stayed at home for the betterment of his mom, who battles an overactive immune system. While going to campus is something he would like, he acknowledges that limiting his mother’s exposure to the coronavirus is top priority.

There are benefits of working from home, as Miller said, “I can be a bit more flexible and spend more time on hard coursework for my advanced classes while also setting aside the necessary time for easier ones.”

Miller added that his time management skills have also improved with the responsibility of learning at his desired pace.

In comparison to last year’s eLearning that started on March 12 due to the quarantine, Miller said he feels like this year is much smoother and more structured. All the teachers have had to adapt and grow to the requirements of teaching both those students who are coming to school and those who are learning from home. Miller said, “My teachers continue to evolve with increased experience while also offering engaging and challenging coursework.”

As a result of the work of the technology department and the adaptivity of the teachers, it appears students are being able to learn in ways they weren’t able to as easily during the end of last year.

Sophomore Kiersten Fisher said, “Though virtual learning may have its high points in its own way, I will be excited to get back to campus.”

One challenge is that while student-to-teacher interaction has been going well, online students have had a hard time interacting with in-person students through Zoom as well as with the cameras that were installed in every classroom this summer. Fisher said, “Having in-person students and virtual learners (at the same time in the same class) does not allow for as much student-to-student communication.”

There have been a fair share of troubles and problems with all the change that coronavirus has caused, yet “even valleys have their peaks,” as Fisher said.

“I feel like it’s really brought the Cathedral community together more.” Kristyn Fisher, a freshman and younger sister of Kiersten, said.

The addition of Mission Mondays will provide one day each week for all instruction to take place on line, and of the more than 160 students who have opted for online instruction, many are on campus either for marching band practice, weight lifting and athletic practices and games, so they are not completely cut off from their classmates and teachers.