Items

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  2021-04-01

  Teacher Interview: Paige Bagby

  High school AP teacher, Paige Bagby, answers questions about the changes to education during the coronavirus pandemic. Walls: Your name, grade you teach, school you teach in. Bagby: Laura Bagby, 10th and 11th grade AP-US and AP Psych, Creekside High School Walls: How has the pandemic changed the way you teach? Bagby: Synchronous teaching model. Difference between what the expectation was last year to this year. End of last year, feeling like we are making this up as we go along. Not required to do in person conferences, although most of us did. Pre-recorded. Only 2 assignments a week. School did give out computers and that took a while. Internet is spotty in some areas. Didn’t want to overwhelm family and kids. Teach all AP classes, college board announced a bridge of the exam that doesn’t include anything from the start of quarantine. This year, this feels normal, which is weird. The big expectation is to live stream your classes. The teaching doesn’t feel much different besides the fact that I have to carry my computer around. Standards have dropped. No way of monitoring if students are using their notes or books or computer. Everything is open book and notes. We’ll see what it looks like with the standardized tests. Maybe with students using their books and notes it’s helping them. All the requirements are the same. No group work, a lot more lectures. This year we have to post everything online and they want to minimize handouts. Just about everything is online. We have shields at the desks and students will hide their phones. Walls: What was the biggest challenge in the beginning? Bagby: The biggest challenge in the beginning was convincing everybody that school was still happening. I had some students drop off the face of the earth for the first couple of weeks. I had a rumor that some students weren’t doing work because they thought none of the work counted. Some showed up to the conference but didn’t do work and some didn’t show up or do work. You never really know if your distance learners are there. You’ll see their name but you can’t actually see them. I’ll look and see that a distance learner hasn’t started their quiz yet, because they aren’t at their computer. I will say I have some distance learners who are doing the absolute best. Walls: What is the biggest challenge now? Bagby: The buy in. Getting students to understand that this is still school and that they still have to do the work. Walls: How do you think students are doing? What are their biggest challenges? Bagby: I think that it all depends on the individual student. Some students are looking at this pandemic like it’s a big joke. I’ll overhear conversations where they talk about getting Covid so they can have two weeks off. Some of them aren’t taking it seriously at all. I have a student whose father died and parents who’ve lost their jobs and multiple students whose parents have separated or divorced from the pressures that this puts on the relationship. It really depends on their home situation. There are students that are really struggling, but I guess thats true every year. On the whole the grades are good, but there is an individual case of the student. It takes what you see throughout the whole year amplified. Normally APUSH is difficult and some students are making solid A’s, it isn’t a bad thing. Walls: Do you see anything beneficial coming from the changes you have had to implement? Bagby: I would say that it’s been a real exercise in communication. I think that; for instance, for older teachers who refused to use technology have really stepped it up. I think a lot of them are tired too. The idea of being flexible and embracing something new. If I've learned anything at all from teaching in the pandemic, it is flexibility. Be flexible. I’ve had to learn to let go. I don’t know. I’ve always heard the argument that technology is going to replace teachers. I hope that people have grown a new respect for teachers. I feel like most parents around the country have learned that their child learns better in the classroom and not online. We still need classrooms. Walls: Are you noticing a change in parent involvement? Bagby: My parents, by the way, have been wonderful this year. I have this one family, their son is distance learning and each quarter they send an email to the teachers thanking them and they give us presents.
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  2021-04-14

  The Pandemic on Campus

  As we have rounded the corner of the one year mark for the COVID-19 pandemic, many still wonder when it well end. Now that vaccines have begun to roll out hopes feel higher for some and thanks to the use of mask, the spread of COVID-19 has been limited in many places as well. The sign pictured is one that Flagler College students know too well and it thanks those that pass by for their efforts in helping prevent the spread on campus. Along with these lawn signs as well as text or email notifications, Flagler students are able to be aware of conditions on campus such as moving into Phase Two or the available vaccines on campus.
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  2021-04-28

  Vaccine On Campus

  As a year has passed from the beginning of the pandemic, Flagler College has partnered with Flagler Health to offer the Pfizer vaccine for students over eighteen. Staff and faculty were also offered the vaccine in a separate event.
• 
  2020-05

  Social Distancing

  Being retired, my husband and I spent a lot of time going out to eat and dance and visit friends and grandchildren. Now we get to wave at our neighbors as they pass by separated from us at a safe distance. Some good friends we do not see at all because they have been scared to death by bad information. We spend a lot of time cleaning and re-cleaning the house and a few make work tasks. I have taken up bike ridging and a group of us do twice daily rides around the neighborhood. Our neighborhood has responded well to the stay-at-home by keeping safe distances. We have small group gathering in driveways instead of homes. Talking about the response to the virus has now become a "do not discuss topic" like religion and politics as households form their own opinions on what is safe. Some friends are laid back and some are panicked. Over all though our social circle is hanging in and anticipating the end of the lock down. Within my circle of friends we were always in touch but are now sharing more joke videos as they show up. My husband and I take short drives, break up the day, and visit with small groups of friends in driveways.
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  2020-05

  Mask With Take-Out

  How has Covid-19 changed your daily life? The virus has made me stay in the house and keep myself occupied. Cooking, eating, cleaning, walking, sewing. I have a running list and tackle a few things each day. Clean out the garage, vacuum the furniture, detail the bathroom, sew some masks. I'm still working, thankfully, but that is slow also. Cleaning out files and other things. The picture I am sending is dessert from Green Papaya. Free mask with meal. How is your neighborhood and/or social circle responding to the crisis? Lots of people are out walking. Superhero parade for the kids while staying six feet apart. Watching in horror as some people crowd up in their driveways. How has Covid-19 impacted your perspective of St. Augustine? Makes me sad to see such an empty downtown but at least people are walking around making the most of it. I love that the restaurants are stepping up and offering discounts, even on margaritas! Certainly gives you a new perspective. Even though the city was getting crowded with all the new construction, still miss the people. How has Covid-19 impacted your use of social media? Lots of time spent on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Must know what's going on in my town, my state, my country, and my world. What practices have you implemented to mitigate the impact of social distancing on your mental health? I keep regular appointments with my therapist. March was in person but April was telehealth. Weird at first but then OK. Very thankful I get to "see" her. Also making sure my dad and others around me know they are not alone. We are all in this together. Keep busy, make a to-do list - making sure friends and family know to keep busy and it won't be so bad.
• 
  2020-05

  Masked Visitors

  How has Covid-19 changed your daily life? My husband and I moved here in 2014 so I could volunteer with the city archaeologist, Carl Halbirt, and I have been doing that most every day since then. We have two new archaeologists now, but volunteers aren’t allowed until the virus social distancing is lifted. In November my husband died and after a short hiatus from volunteering I started again. Now, I am in my house with my dog every day. I miss being with people. Even our church is doing online services now. On Easter the priest printed large photos of many of our congregation and taped them to the pews, so it looks like we were in church. I saw myself, and right where I usually sit! How is your neighborhood and/or social circle responding to the crisis? My neighbors are all staying home like I am except for a few Flagler students who went to their parents homes. Some are furloughed, others are working from home. Since I’m retired, I’m just missing my volunteer work. Several of my friends and I have a group text several times a week so we can keep up with each other. My Community Hospice social worker is staying in touch with each of our grief support group members by phone, and several of us have exchanged phone numbers so we talk occasionally. The Tolomato Cemetery group is planning a Zoom visit on the third Saturday, which is the day we have the cemetery open for visitors. It will be my first Zoom conversation. I’m looking forward to that. My church, St. Cyprian’s is open each day for individual prayer and the commons and labyrinth are open as well for anyone who wants to pray or just sit in a peaceful place. How has Covid impacted your perspective of St. Augustine? I am happy that our city leaders have been proactive in closing so many businesses. I feel so sorry for the small business owners and workers who have lost their jobs, and I hope when the danger has passed we can get to a new normal. I don’t thing everything will be the same. I am hopeful the city will be able to help the businesses and workers with tax relief or some other means. I am proud of the way the police and firefighters are connecting with us by social media. How has Covid-19 impacted your use of social media? I’ve used it much more to keep up with friends near and far. I have also been using FaceTime with my daughter and son who live in other cities. I’ve been using Shipt to order my groceries for delivery to my house. What practices have you implemented to mitigate the impact of social distancing on your mental health? I’ve tried to make a small list of things I want to accomplish each day, but if I don’t finish it, I don’t beat myself up about it. It helps to keep me from sitting around watching mind numbing Hallmark movies. I’ve tried to walk most evenings around my neighborhood, just to be outside. I am reading books and doing jigsaw puzzles as well. I’ve cleaned/organized several cedar chests and drawers and I am working on bookshelves now. I am also writing a Corona Virus Journal describing my feelings (and there have so many emotional times during this quarantine) and making note of things I’m doing and friends I am talking with. It’s on my computer and I have no idea what I will do with it, but maybe my children will read it someday and maybe I will too.
• 
  2020-04

  Maple Street Biscuit Company

  Maple Street located in historic St. Augustine was deemed an essential business during the statewide quarantine. To help the community they sold extra toilet paper, cases of water and paper towels, which were out of stock at most grocery stores.
• 
  2020-06-15

  Maple Street Biscuit Co.

  Maple Street Biscuit Co restaurant located in downtown Saint Augustine, FL. Several signs posted on the front doors read: "Dear Guests, Your safety is our top priority. If you have any of the following symptoms, we ask that you do not enter: Fever, Cough." Another sign read: "We ask you please wear a face mask upon entering our community store." A sign that sits on the counter by the register read: "Out of respect for other guests and our team, please do not reach behind our counter." Brief interview with Community Leader (Store Manager) Emilee O'Kelley: What Plan did you come up with to ensure the safety of your guests and employees? It is actually not my plan. The plan was implemented by corporate and distributed to all locations. In the beginning of lockdown, we tried to do as much to ensure that we could keep our stores up and running. First, we shut down our dining rooms. We made everything to go and third-party delivery. We went down to a limited menu. And we opened a community store where people could buy pasta, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, soap, paper towels and produce to ensure that our community was taken care of as well. Right now our dining room is back open to 50 percent capacity in compliance with Florida guidelines. All of the tables are 6 feet away from each other and were taking extra precautions by making sure all of team members are wearing masks. We offer guests plastic cutlery. We stopped operating self-serve stations and now a team member assists guests. Do your employees currently receive hazard pay? No How has your business operations or income changed since COVID and quarantine? Income definitely. We were used to doing $2000-dollar weekdays and $6000-dollar weekends and during quarantine we were only making max 600 dollars a day. With the travel ban lifted we have slowly gotten back to normal operations, but it is still not the same. Did you implement curbside takeout? How did that transition go? We did not advertise curbside takeout, but if they called and asked us to bring it out to their car, we would. We mostly shifted in a way to make our guests as comfortable as possible while following our corporate guidelines. Have you had any issues with customers since the implementation of new guidelines, specifically the mask mandate? No, because our store does not strictly require a mask mandate. We politely ask that our customers wear a mask, but they will not refuse service. Are your employees allowed to ask customers to wear a mask? No
• 
  2020-07-27

  The Prince of Wales Restaurant and Pub

  Located in downtown Saint Augustine, FL. Closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic. Remained closed as of July. Owners were unavailable for comment. The Prince of Wales Restaurant and Pub was forced to close in April due to state order close of all nonessential businesses. They have yet to reopen as of late July 2020.
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  2020-07-14

  EarthBound Store

  Earthbound, located on Saint George Street in Saint Augustine, FL displayed several signs throughout their store. Outside they had signs that read: “Wearing a face mask is required for both your protection and ours.” And “To help us follow CDC guidelines, we're limiting the multiple entry points to this location. We are requesting only 15 people to occupy this store at a time.” Signs were also displayed in the store encouraging visitors to maintain a 6-foot distance from all other customers. Interview with crew member Bryce: What plan was created to ensure the safety of your guests? Our store was briefly closed during quarantine, since we were not considered an essential business. During reopening we all went through training to start sanitizing all of our areas that people would touch in the store. Do your employees currently receive hazard pay? No How has your business changed since COVID? We are limiting how many people can enter the store at a time, other than that nothing has changed that much. If you are a restaurant did you implement take out or curbside, and how did that go? We are not a restaurant. What steps did you have to take in order to comply with local and federal government orders? All of out crew members and customers have to wear masks. We are required to limit how many people enter our store, since it is small. We are not allowed to have any testers out for things such as makeup.
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  2020-07-29

  Prohibition Kitchen and Roosevelt Room

  Prohibition Kitchen and Roosevelt room located on Saint George Street in Saint Augustine, FL had several signs in bright orange to grab ' attention. The most extensive was a sign (pictured) detailing how to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and the symptoms. Other signs stated that guests were required to wear a face mask upon entering, and stated that seating would be limited due to the new social distancing guidelines provided by the state. They also provided a barcode to scan and read a digital menu on your phone. Interview transcription with manager Charles: What plan was created to ensure the safety of your guests? Our restaurant currently is operating at 50 percent capacity. During quarantine we closed the restaurant and stayed closed until Florida had moved into phase two of reopening. All of our tables are frequently sanitized, and our servers are required to wear masks. When they start their shift, they are required to answer questions about their health or any symptoms they may be experiencing. Do your employees currently receive hazard pay? No How has your business changed since COVID? We operate slightly differently now. We have to be more careful and we are not able to accommodate as many guests. If you are a restaurant did you implement take out or curbside, and how did that go? No, the restaurant was closed and there was no way to do any kind of curbside takeout. What steps did you have to take in order to comply with local and federal government orders? We have all of our guests and servers wear masks. If a guest enters without a mask they are asked to leave. We have several signs on our door that state that. All of our table are either six feet apart or we only seat guests at every other table. Our bar is currently closed, but we still have live music for the dinner guests.
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  2020-12-11

  Flagler College Graduation

  Flagler College had a socially distant graduation in the St. Augustine Amphitheater. Masks were required and graduates did not shake hands when they received their diploma. Each student was allowed two guests and had to enter a lottery to try and win extra tickets. There were two ceremonies, one for the Spring graduates of 2020 and the other for the winter graduates of 2020 on December 11th 2020.
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  2021-01-29

  Pizzalley's Chianti

  Signs could be found outside Pizzalley's Chianti Room showcasing the current emphasis on mask-wearing after the events of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
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  2020-04-13

  Effects of Online Semester for Flagler College Students

  This article examines how students are responding to the semester being online and potential job opportunities being lost. Students lost half a semester of connection, opportunity, and milestones.
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  2020-04-20

  Swimming as an Essential Activity

  While Florida is not predicted to peak until the first week of May, some cities are reopening closed beaches now, in mid-April. This hit the national news with much controversy, spawning the hashtag #floridamorons on social media. The day before I saw this article, I spoke with my parents who are at the New Jersey shore. They told me one man there was ticketed for walking his dog on the beach and a couple was ticketed and threatened with jail time for being on the beach.