Angelica Gonzalez ’22 (left), Mitchell Baker ’25, and other journalism students ceremoniously throw away their masks upon hearing news of Northwood going mask-optional (Photo: Mr. John Spear).

For the first time since March of 2020, we can see each other’s faces at Northwood School.

On March 2nd, the mask mandate will no longer be a rule. Students and teachers will not be required to wear a mask. This is a significant day for the Northwood community, the last time students could go with masks was when the school sent everyone home at the start of the pandemic two years ago this month.

Mr. John Spear, Assistant Head for School Life, wrote in a message to the school community, “The CDC and New York State Department of Health have each changed their guidance on indoor masking in schools. Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, March 2, students, employees, and visitors will no longer be required to wear a mask when indoors at Northwood School.”

Students are excited to get rid of the mask mandate. Sachiel Ming ‘24 said, “I am new this year, so I have never experienced a mask-free Northwood. I am tremendously excited to continue learning without a mask, it has been so annoying and uncomfortable wearing a mask.”

Ming thinks removing masks will bring the community closer together. “I feel without a mask students can interact with each other much easier.”

Although the mask mandate has been lifted, there are still a few rare occasions where students and staff must wear masks. “On the shuttle bus to the Hub and in a limited number of classroom settings. Students have been notified if they are regularly in those settings,” wrote Spear. “Another situation where a mask is required in school is when someone returns from the recently shortened five-day isolation after a positive test; recently recovered students are permitted to return to school on day six, but they must wear a mask on days six through ten,” he added.

It is also important that students know that wearing a mask is optional, not forbidden. If you are feeling sick or don’t feel comfortable without a mask, you should wear a mask.

Spear noted that the CDC and the New York health department allowed us to be mask free due to numerous factors, including:
> a decrease in positive cases
> continuous and sustained downward trend of cases
> 7-day average of positivity going down
> 7-day average cases children 5-18 are at the lowest point since the re-surge of cases
> hospitalizations have trended downward
> pediatric hospitalizations are low
> community immunity and vaccination rates continue to increase.

Spear warned that we may not have seen the last of masks at Northwood. “t’s important to remind everyone that if these metrics trend in the other direction,” he said, “the CDC or the NYS Health Department may revise guidance to again require masks or a future outbreak on campus may warrant requiring masks again.”

It has been a difficult winter, with sports teams hit by COVID outbreaks and the freezing cold weather has made it difficult to stay motivated. As the Trimester comes to an end, students look forward to the formal dinner. On Wednesday, Northwood hosted an exhilarating formal dinner.

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Formal dinners occur about once per month. It’s an occasion that allows students to dress up and socialize after a long exhausting term. After a scrumptious dinner there was a potent music performance produced by music teacher Mr. Adam Stewart and his students.

“What music will be played after the formal dinner?” Mr Stewart asked in an interview a few days before the show. “We’re doing a nice variety of music that our students have chosen. It is mostly music from movies or the radio, so hopefully our audience will recognize it and enjoy!”

Some of the songs included “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana and “Yesterday” by the Beatles. Students are excited to hear their peers perform these songs.

“We are always trying to do something special to make the formal dinner memorable,” Stewart said. “This time around the formal dinner lined up with the end of the trimester, so my classes have plenty of music to perform. I believe performing is a quintessential part of music learning. This opportunity to perform in front of the community is a chance to benefit our performers and listeners,” Stewart added.

Stewart hopes the music performance after the formal dinner will inspire more students to join the superb music program here at Northwood. “Our program took a brief hiatus prior to my arrival, so in many ways it feels like we’re waking up from a long winter’s nap. Many students are eager to pick up where we left off, while others have their own musical priorities. This gives us the opportunity to re-evaluate what we want out of this program while still prioritizing individual goals. Hopefully I’m doing a good job establishing a safe space to take risks as a performer here at Northwood so that students of all ability levels feel comfortable trying new things.”

The future of the music program is bright, many young talented students here at Northwood are eager to step into the music world and learn new things. Stewart is optimistic about the future of the program. “My plan is to prioritize supporting any music-based student initiatives. This means that if you want to learn an instrument, learn to sing, start a band, or learn to compose music, I’m here to support your goals.”

So far Stewart’s efforts have led to the formation of a Jazz Band and Acapella ensembles as well as monthly Open Mics at The Hub.

“I want each student at Northwood to feel supported exploring their musical curiosity, whether that involves studying to audition for All State, creating content for social media, or even mixing beats to support your freestyling. If you are willing to try, I’m here to support you!”

The formal dinner was a fantastic where students got to dress up, eat some fancy food and listen to some awesome tunes.

 

Northwood’s student-led newspaper has earned national recognition from one of the oldest and most prestigious student journalism organizations.

The Mirror is a silver medalist in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s College/Scholastic Digital News category. The Mirror received a thorough evaluation of the paper according to sound journalistic standards. The CSPA has been evaluating student-produced newspapers and magazines since 1925 and it is the most prestigious scholastic press association. The evaluation looks at 70 distinct areas of operation in three general categories: Essentials, Verbal, and Visual.

Mr. John Spear is Northwood’s journalism teacher and The Mirror’s adviser. He said he is encouraged by the award, especially after the difficulty of the past two years.

“It has been a challenging two and a half school years,” said Spear. “In the spring of 2020, after students were abruptly sent home, The Mirror staff worked hard to chronicle life at Northwood during that tumultuous time. Last school year, we took a hiatus for the first trimester and struggled for the rest of the year to find a balance so that every article wasn’t about the pandemic,” Spear added.

Spear said he hopes this honor results in renewed interest in The Mirror. “This year, we have the smallest staff since the paper relaunched in 2015. The students are writing excellent articles, but I worry we’re missing important stories because we are understaffed. I am hopeful that this recognition from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association will result in more students taking journalism and writing for the paper,” he said.