District switches to at-home learning in response to COVID-19

Arushi Gupta, Section Editor • March 18, 2020

Earlier today, superintendent Dr. Michael Goddard announced that students would not return to school until April 3. In the meantime, students will complete their coursework digitally.

In addition to extending the high school’s spring break in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, students will not be returning to school until Friday, April 3, and the district has also cancelled or delayed all school events until that date.

“I think switching to at-home learning will affect students positively and negatively,” Lovejoy parent Colleen O’Brien said. “The activities being canceled are going to hurt student morale. There are so many activities that students truly enjoy and look forward to that have been canceled such as UIL. On the other hand, this will be a chance for all of us to become more computer savvy and learn to have new routines by learning at home.”

During their time off, students will be completing their coursework and interacting with their teachers through online platforms such as Google Classroom and Zoom. The district will also be launching a “Leaping Into @Home Learning” website tomorrow to provide a platform with resources for families and students to reference during their time at home.

“I feel that online school is going to be hard to adjust to because most of us have never had to do it before and it’s nothing like going to school and meeting your friends and teachers and sitting in a classroom,” junior Prachi Saxena said.

Regarding prom and upcoming senior activities, the district has mentioned that they will be receiving guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and making decisions on what events will be postponed as the events approach since they are currently unsure of the effects COVID-19 will have during that time.

“We’re going to continue to stay in touch with you and communicate with you,” superintendent Dr. Michael Goddard said. “Just know that you’re loved and cared for. We are ‘One Heart, One Lovejoy,’ and that’s what makes it so special.”

About the Contributors

Arushi Gupta, Editor-In-Chief

Transitioning into her fourth and final year on staff, senior Arushi Gupta is thrilled to take on the role of Editor-In-Chief. After spending nearly six months at home, Arushi is looking forward to the start of school so that she can have a somewhat normal senior year. Other than newspaper, Arushi is involved in tennis, NHS, and the Thirst Project at school. She also enjoys spending time with her friends, swimming, drinking coffee and binging TV shows on Netflix. Some of her favorite shows include “All American,” “The Umbrella Academy,” “Outer Banks” and, of course, “The Office.” Arushi is ecstatic about leading this publication and looks forward to having a great last year on staff.

Grace Nguyen, Section Editor

Fueled daily by three iced vanilla coffees, standing at 5’2”, Grace Nguyen will walk into the E103 door with no problem. Grace is entering senior year, and the only reason she is believed to have survived high school is because of the napping couch in the photography studio. During her time on staff, Grace has been to almost every football game, win or loss, and wouldn’t have changed a thing. Yes, Grace has been tackled by football players, run over by coaches, and body slammed by referees. Nonetheless, Grace will confidently walk on the field this year, bruises and all, alongside her sideline media team. Stepping outside the newsroom, which is rare, Grace enjoys playing softball, hanging out with family and friends, and finding excuses to go to every $3 Pazookie Tuesdays at BJ’s. After high school, Grace hopes to pursue a career in sports photojournalism, so watch out for her still getting run over by athletes on ESPN in the years to come. Although it’s bittersweet to leave newspaper upon graduation, Grace is thankful for all the opportunities that she’s had on staff. Through The Red Ledger, Grace created long-lasting friendships and won a lot of awards that she never imagined was possible. Grace hopes that current and future staffers will think of this national-award-winning publication the same way as she did–a second family and their home away from home.