Indiana Area Senior High School

Staff Shortage Affecting the Normal School Procedure

By ELLA MOSCO

The 2021 school year has had limited staff members in the building due to COVID-19. After our winter break, there was an outbreak of COVID-19. This caused many staff members to be out of the building for long periods of time. When many teachers are out it is difficult to find substitutes or teachers that are able to cover classes.

 

Classes without teachers to cover them have been held in the auditorium. It can be challenging for students and teachers to communicate when utilizing Google Classroom and email. In addition, all teachers have different methods of teaching whether they teach asynchronously or synchronously.

 

IHS German Department’s Dr. Stephan Schaffrath, whose classes have been held in the auditorium, explained the difficulty that comes with it. “The only times my classes were held in the auditorium were when I was teaching remotely and synchronously. In my case, it simply added another layer of complexity and possible distractions for students. It was the best available option at the time, but not a very efficient option. Actual learning time went down to probably around 50% to 60%.”

[Photo by {INPUT NAME HERE}]

Dr. Sarah Bond, who teaches Ninth grade English at IHS, commented,I would say that teaching asynchronously affects what I choose will be taught the day (days) I am absent.  The format might not be what I would have done if I was in the room, but online platforms like EdPuzzle, NewsELA, and CommonLit have helped as they have options for guiding students through the activity/material.” The websites that most teachers use can be a resource for independent learning while teachers are unable to be in the classroom. Along with Dr. Bond, Dr. Schaffrath also had to teach from home but unlike Dr. Bond, Dr. Schaffrath chose to teach synchronously through Google Meet. However, while being able to talk to his students “live” through Google Meet, it still had some challenges.  Dr. Schaffrath states, “The most challenging part of teaching from home is that it is very difficult to gauge what students are doing and what their learning challenges and needs are. Some of that can be done remotely, but not when limited bandwidth makes it impossible to have everyone turn their camera on. A very well developed asynchronous set-up might actually be better than an impromptu synchronous approach.” Dr. Schaffrath indicated it is harder to teach online because you don’t get the student engagement that you would be used to as a teacher in the classroom. 

 

When classes are held asynchronously or synchronously, there are potentially extra added distractions that Dr. Bond, Dr. Schaffrath, and any other teacher have to deal with. And with students possibly not being focused on the class, further improvements and adaptations of instruction has had to be adopted and utilized by IHS teachers.

You May Also Like...

IHS Mini-THON fundraises for the Four Diamonds Foundation

By Addison Mosco The IHS Mini-THON fundraising committee is raising money for the Four-Diamonds Foundation. There are many different ways they are fundraising, but all the money is going to the same place: the Four Diamonds Foundation. Senior Emma Masengale comments, “We are fundraising by reaching out to businesses, holding events at school or during after-school events, and collecting change at local businesses as well as after school in our parking lot.” The Four Diamonds Foundation is a program that supports families and children who are affected by pediatric cancer. According to their website, the “Four Diamonds’ mission is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children and their families through superior care, comprehensive support and innovative research.” The foundation has helped over 4,000 childhood cancer patients and their families receive the help that they need.  “I think it is very important to raise money because all the money goes towards

Read More »

IHS Drama Club Prepares for Footloose

By Elizabeth Olsen With the change of seasons swiftly approaching, there are many things that the IHS student body has to look forward to. One of the most anticipated events coming up would be the annual spring musical, put on by the IHS Drama Club. This year, the club is taking on performing the Broadway version of the classic 1984 film, Footloose. There’s a lot more that goes into the club’s preparations than one may think, and learning about it can spark a whole new appreciation for the show.  To begin, the club dives into their rehearsals directly after Christmas break. For the entire month of January, the actors learn the entire book, which is essentially all the musical parts. A lot of work is to be expected to be done on the actors’ own time, as it is crucial for rehearsals’ effectiveness. Some actors even go as far as

Read More »

Mini-THON 2024: What to expect

By Gabi Isenberg It’s that time of year again. Mini-THON 2024 is rapidly approaching and IHS Leadership has prepared a fun night for the school on March 21. Mini-THON is one of the largest school-organized and student-planned events. It is a smaller version of Penn State’s THON, during which students stand for 46 hours to raise money to find a cure for childhood cancer. IHS students pay a signup fee and then are drafted to one of the four colored teams. This year’s colors are pink, yellow, green and blue. In the months leading up to Mini-THON, fundraising takes place in the form of change wars, spikeball tournaments, and no phone days. The money raised is donated to the Four Diamonds Foundation to fund research for a cure for childhood cancer. At the end of the night, the total monetary count is revealed in celebration. On the night of Mini-THON,

Read More »

Students take on after-school jobs

By Elia Dietz Students at IHS have begun to take up employment as an after-school activity. Whether it is for experience, money, or simply to keep busy with an extra benefit, almost the majority of students spend their free time after school or on weekends working.  When thinking about applying for a job during the busyness of the school year, it is appropriate to take into consideration the positive and negative attributes of a job.   The most popular jobs students have experience in involve retail service, fast food or working in a restaurant. These jobs are great for students looking for a way to make money while in school since employers are usually looking for younger hires.  Jobs can be a lot to handle however, especially for students who involve themselves in school-related activities like clubs, sports, band, or theater. Not only is there a limited time to get assignments

Read More »

IHS girls’ basketball rolls into season

By Addison Mosco IHS girls’ basketball kicked off their season with a game at Forest Hills High School against the Forest Hills Rangers. The game ended with a score of 45 Indiana and 53 Forest Hills.   Regarding how the season is going, sophomore Laken Kugler comments, “I believe our team has done an excellent job so far this season and I am really proud of how hard we have been working to keep improving. Every practice we work hard to get better and improve. My favorite part of being on the team is playing with some of my closest friends. They make the experience of playing basketball here so much better. My coaches and teammates have helped me improve this season by giving me confidence and making me work hard to get better.” Led by head coach Michael Franciscus and assistant coach Dave McCombie, the IHS girls’ basketball currently has

Read More »

Variety Show collects funds for Teddy Bear Fund Drive

By Ella Mosco The Variety Show is an annual event on Teddy Bear Fund Drive Day to raise money for the Teddy Bear Fund Drive. Auditions for the variety show were on December 13 after school. Auditions were held to go over the acts with students who wished to participate and perform. Mrs. Tammy Glavach and Mrs. Tara Pangonis have been in charge of planning and overseeing auditions for the variety show for the past two years.  During the show, some hosts helped engage the audience. Hosts also participated in games with the students and staff. Being a host is a very important role of the variety show, they are what keep the energy high and the environment fun. This makes the variety show especially entertaining.   The show consisted of trivia, PBIS drawings, student and staff performances including a teacher dance team,  and a rap battle between senior John Trevorrow

Read More »