Annandale students featured on news program
A news segment that aired on MSNBC July 13 with three rising seniors at Annandale High School illustrates some of the issues students and their families are thinking about as they decide what to about the return to school.
Fairfax County families must decide by July 15 whether to spend the entire 2020-21 school year with distance learning or opt for in-school learning two days a week.
Sophia Baraban told MSNBC reporter Ali Vitali she initially preferred going back to school. “I miss the school environment so much,” she said. “I miss being in front of my teachers. I miss being with my friends. And I was also concerned about passing my IB [International Baccalaureate] exams next May.”
“But then after attending every single town hall that was offered and talking to several of my teachers, I realized the best choice for me and my family was actually to stay home,” Sophia said. “There is so much unknown right now — both about how the school year is going to work and about COVID-19.”
“Going to school right now feels like such an experiment,” she said, and she and her family are not willing to be part of that experiment.
Annandale student Lalain Imran also decided to stick with virtual learning out of concern for the health and safety of her siblings and grandparents.
Jimmy Le is choosing to go back to class, noting “there is uncertainty with both options.”
“I really don’t work well in a virtual setting,” he said. “I trust in the school system making the safest environment possible for all of us.”
3 responses to “Annandale students featured on news program”
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I also trust the school system, but I don't trust that the information they are getting in making their decision is full and completely accurate. Both because we learn more about this illness every day, and because I feel like our federal government has a different agenda than protecting its citizens–especially the most vulnerable among us. So my family will be selecting all-virtual learning for this year.
These are thoughtful, well-spoken students who are informed, personable, and focused on what is going to work for them. For all the grief that schools get, these three are a reminder that Fairfax County schools and Annandale in particular are doing what we need towards educating children for our future. This video should be placed on AHS's website as an example of what happens in our community.
I saw this newscast last night. The student was well spoken and very articulate; good job!