Students at Princess Margaret Secondary School voice their concerns as positive cases appear

After confirmed COVID-19 cases at both Penticton Secondary schools were announced this week, students came forward to share, speaking on starting to feel anxious heading into class.

“I think now a lot of students are anxious. Before everyone was pretty laid back and now a lot more people are on edge because it's very close to [home.] It’s very nerve wracking to have a case in the school now,” Olivia Carleton-Palanio, a grade 10 student at Maggie said. 

Kaydence Hickie, another grade 10 student, mentioned tension is building in some students, seeing others getting upset over small issues and reacting from the stress. 

“Lots of people I’ve seen are really anxious about the virus and they have requested for others in the class to wear masks,” Hickey said.  

Currently, students are required to wear masks in public common areas, like washrooms, change rooms, hallways. But it’s not mandatory to wear them in their classrooms and cohorts. 

“I was feeling pretty safe for the most part because me and my group of friends wear masks all the time,” Carleton-Palanio said. “All the students need to be taking it more seriously now that it can be spread very easily in our school and I also think maybe masks should be made mandatory in the class.” 

While these students said most people in the school wear masks consistently throughout the day, they would like it to be changed so everyone in class has one on at all times.

“With the cohorts that are set up right now, it’s not working,” Davis Balla, another grade 10 student at Maggie said. “There’s allowed 50 kids in a class without masks and it's just spreading. They should just change it personally I think.” 

Students also have concerns over how they’re receiving information regarding cases and contact those who have tested positive.

“There were lots of rumours [before] and everyone I think, a lot of students had heard about the case days before it was announced and the email was sent home,” Carleton-Palanio said. 

Balla added he doesn't feel like there’s enough communication, “The school doesn't really tell you for a couple days and this thing is spreading pretty fast.”

“It feels kind of unsafe...worrying about people who have contracted Covid-19 and are asymptomatic.”

While Hickey and Carleton-Palanio think the principal and school staff are doing everything they can, they think the current system isn't working. 

“I personally feel pretty safe, I’m doing my best to keep the spread of the virus as low as possible. I know there are some people who aren’t doing their best but I think maybe as long as I'm doing my best maybe others will follow my example and try to keep the school a safe place to be,” Hickey said.