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Alex Hinely
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2020-01-11
Silent Bells & Quiet Halls: An Auditory Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic
In almost every aspect of life, COVID-19 has put the world on mute. From canceled weddings and downsized gatherings to remote workspaces and quiet homes left behind by those we have lost, the overwhelming soundtrack of the pandemic is silence. When K-12 students in the United States transitioned to distance learning nearly 10 months ago, elementary, middle, and high school campuses were abandoned, leaving bells silenced and hallways quiet. From March to November, this silence came to define my work at Princeton Joint Unified School District in the rural town of Princeton, California. No longer did bells ring to mark the end of one period and the beginning of another, lockers no longer slammed shut as students rushed to gather their belongings, and students could no longer be heard gossiping, laughing, and playing during morning break. While this silence initially felt like summer vacation had merely arrived a few months early, the lack of auditory stimulation began to diminish morale and decrease productivity as work felt further removed from the students themselves, transforming human beings into pieces of data and names on a paper. I could often go an entire eight-hour shift without speaking to another person, frequently finding my voice raspy when I would pick up the phone for the first time in hours. Even among coworkers, passing conversations vanished and became simple one-line emails dealing only with the business at hand. As Zoom calls replaced in-person staff meetings and participants remained on mute, the noisy world in which I once worked fell even further away. When in-person learning became optional in November, the sound slowly began to return, but it had changed from what it once was. Growing accustomed to the silence over the long summer, I often found myself jolted in surprise at each unexpected bell or sound of students on the playground. The number of students has drastically lowered since we first closed in March, as many opt to remain home to avoid possible exposure, while lunchtimes are now staggered, and breaks are shortened to prevent spread, creating ominously quiet and often uncomfortable atmospheres. The unease and discomfort heard in students' softened voices displays that widespread uncertainty that has permeated every corner of society. It is my greatest hope that schools will return to "normal" for the 2021-2022 school year and that the sounds of carefree students once more fill the hallways and classrooms of Princeton Joint Unified School District. Silence has become an all-too-painful reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I look forward to the day that bells ring on their regular schedule, coworkers are free to converse with one another, and every student returns to campus. In images and articles documenting the pandemic, the overwhelming auditory silence that many of us are experiencing is often lost and forgotten. -
2020-08-23
Alex Hinely Internship Portfolio
As a second-year graduate student in the History MA program at Arizona State University, I found myself enrolling in the HST 580: Professional Experience course after viewing an online announcement outlining the unique experience of a remote internship. With prior experience as a digital archivist with the National Archives and Records Administration, the Smithsonian Institute, and the California Digital Newspaper Collection, in addition to years spent as an undergraduate research assistant at the UCLA Center for Korean Studies digitizing reels of microfilm, I initially believed this internship to be hours of busywork without much substance. I was quickly proven wrong, however. Unlike the previous archives mentioned, A Journal of the Plague Year is a living and breathing archive, recording stories as they occur. This constant fluctuation resulting from live submissions created a dynamic, and sometimes turbulent, workspace that required interns to possess flexibility, problem-solving, and innovation skills. Far from my initial understanding of the internship, the archive provided curatorial interns with a wide-ranging set of skills applicable in any professional environment. Using Omeka-S, Otter.ai, and Slack, interns learned to enhance accessibility to historical documents by curating and transcribing crowdsourced items into a searchable resource. Curatorial interns carefully handled thousands of photographs, articles, and recordings, while assisting with branding, legal compliance, and writing for diverse platforms. Through archival collaborations with international universities and institutions, interns were able to advance their communication skills to convey necessary, time-sensitive, and fluctuating information concerning the live curation of items. This interactive and innovative internship challenged my understanding of public history and pushed me to appreciate the archival process in a new light. As calls for submissions urged individuals to share their everyday experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic, I recognized the importance of documenting daily happenings and confronting historical silences. As a result, A Journal of the Plague Year reignited my determination to support rural K-12 students and ensure that their stories are documented alongside their urban and suburban counterparts. While I have no immediate plans to become a public historian, I have learned an innumerable amount of skills that will surely advance my career in the educational sector. -
2020-08-13
Distance Learning Parent Conferences
Unable to resume in-person instruction, for the time being, the first day of school for students at Princeton Joint Unified School District in Princeton, California looked quite different this year. Instead of having students on campus, parents were asked to attend a scheduled conference to pick up supplies, technology, and information. The white papers hanging around the perimeter of the gym list every student in attendance, and the items placed below each sign were left for students to use at home. Parents attending the meetings felt overwhelmed and frustrated by the inability to return in-person but recognized that the local school district did not make this decision. Over the summer months, distance learning strategies were completely overhauled to improve on the lackluster results of last spring. Teachers at Princeton Joint Unified School District will be offering live instruction throughout the day using several new platforms. Parent conferences will continue into next week before daily live instruction begins on August 20, 2020. -
2020-07-17
Gov. Newsom Mandates Schools in Counties on California’s Watch List to Start Year with Distance Learning
After months of wondering if Princeton Joint Unified School District schools could feasibly return to in-person instruction amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Newsom decided for us. Positive cases in Colusa County and Glenn County dramatically rose in July, and, as a result, both counties were placed on the state’s watch list. While the state has offered school districts in these counties to submit a waiver request allowing them to reopen, the chance of being approved appears very slim. As the pandemic has continued, it is interesting to see how everything has become more politicized than it initially was. Politicians from both sides of the aisle appear to be making decisions concerning the health and welfare of the American public based on political ideologies. Parents have openly expressed their frustrations with the governor’s decision, often pinning it on Democrats as a whole. While the push-and-pull continues between parents wanting to return to normal and politicians keeping their kids home, schools are stuck in the middle, trying to make this new system of learning work for families who want no part of it. -
07/11/2020
Morgan Keena Oral History, 2020/07/11
Morgan Keena, a seventh-grade social studies teacher from Meridian, Idaho, reflects on her personal experience with the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing several topics, ranging from politics to parking lots, Morgan discusses distance learning, life in quarantine, and the response of the local officials. Suddenly bound to the confines of her apartment, Morgan vividly describes the difficulties associated with teaching students virtually and provides insight into at-home entertainment, including running, puzzles, and video conferencing with friends and family. Morgan examines the response of government officials in both Idaho and her home state of North Dakota, including Mayor Robert E. Simison, Mayor Lauren McLean, Governor Brad Little, and Governor Doug Burgum. Morgan also reflects on the experience of finding out her sister tested negative for COVID-19 after possible exposure at a bar in Scottsdale, Arizona. Looking ahead, Morgan expresses concern about members of the public not wearing masks and the prolonged process of developing a vaccine. -
2020-06-22
Sharks and Santa Clara County Host Free COVID-19 Testing at SAP Center
The San Jose Sharks teamed up with local community organizations to encourage COVID-19 testing at SAP Center at San Jose. Individuals who came in to get tested received free San Jose Sharks or San Jose Barracuda memorabilia. -
2020-06-29
San Jose Sharks COVID-19 Social Media Campaign - Goalies
Photograph collage showing San Jose Sharks goaltenders Martin Jones, Evgeni Nabokov, and Brian Hayward wearing goalie masks, along with three face masks. This photograph was posted on San Jose Sharks social media channels with the caption, "Our favorite masks 😍." -
2020-07-06
San Jose Sharks COVID-19 Social Media Campaign - Brent Burns
Edited photograph showing San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns wearing a mask while celebrating a goal. This photograph was posted on San Jose Sharks social media channels with the caption, "Stop the spread. Stay stick-feet apart." -
2020-07-06
Colusa County Lands on State's List After Increase in Coronavirus Cases
After a local spike in cases, the California Department of Public Health placed Colusa County on a data monitoring list. -
2020-06-18
Don't Be Embarrassed to Wear a Mask in Public, Some People Wear Golden Knights Jerseys.
Humorous graphic posted by 98.5 KFOX encouraging the use of masks while also showcasing the continued rivalry between the San Jose Sharks and the Vegas Golden Knights despite the postponement of the current National Hockey League season. -
2020-06-13
Virtual Colusa County Fair Junior Livestock Auction
On June 6, 2020, the California Department of Food and Agriculture informed the Board of Directors of the Colusa County Fair that an in-person junior livestock sale would be prohibited to combat the spread of COVID-19. As a result, local students who raised livestock with 4-H and FFA were left with little choice but to participate in a virtual auction hosted by EZ2Bid. For students who were unable to care for their livestock at home and relied on school facilities, raising animals quickly became difficult as campuses closed. Having already purchased their livestock well before the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, local students had to adapt to the shifting climate to avoid losing thousands of dollars in invested time and money. In Colusa County, agriculture is an integral part of the educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the local economy. In an all-too-real scenario, students received an irreplaceable life lesson on the unexpected challenges faced by farmers and ranchers. While COVID-19 might have negatively impacted the education of K-12 students overall, there are some lessons that could not have been taught any other way. -
2020-06-12
Abandoned Student Belongings
When the Princeton Joint Unified School District campuses unexpectedly closed on March 17, 2020, students were unable to collect personal belongings left in lockers and desks. As a school employee, I was tasked with collecting these items, placing them in plastic bags, and making them available for pick up. From the well-kept lockers of eager freshmen to the trash-filled desks of fifth graders, removing student belongings felt like an invasion of privacy, looting personal spaces thought to be their own. These belonging bags contain much more than physical items, however. They contain the last sense of normalcy for these students, the final laughs shared before an extended summer vacation, and the unfounded security in knowing that tomorrow will be just another school day. -
2020-05-29
Princeton High School Drive-In Graduation
The fourteen graduates of Princeton High School’s Class of 2020 sit six feet apart as supporters watch the graduation ceremony from the confines of their cars. After months of coordinating distance learning efforts and planning for graduation amid ever-changing guidelines, there was an incredible sigh of relief knowing that this challenging school year was over. Although staff members and graduates alike were celebrating the end of a difficult journey, there is no denying the uncertainty as to what lays ahead. Graduates are entering adulthood at a time when the economic outlook is bleak, the college experience is altered, and the threat of illness is troublesome. Certainly, the academic response to COVID-19 will redefine education, proving just how irreplaceable physical classrooms and in-person interactions are to our students. -
2020-05-19
Princeton High School Lights on for Seniors Parade
Flyer distributed by the Parents of Princeton High School’s Class of 2020 announcing a “Lights on for Seniors” Parade on 05/22/2020. This event was not associated with the local school district and was completely created and executed by parent volunteers, displaying the efforts of parents to honor their children and celebrate their achievements despite COVID-19 bringing an early end to their senior year. -
2020-04-17
Pierce High School Class of 2020 Yard Sign
Photograph of a commemorative lawn sign distributed to seniors at Pierce High School, mirroring a nationwide trend of honoring high school graduates with innovate projects that adhered to social distancing guidelines. Oftentimes, projects like this were employed to provide a sense of normalcy not only to graduating seniors but to communities at large. -
2020-04-14
Colusa County Fair 2020 Junior Livestock Show and Auction Notice
Letter written by the Colusa County Fairgrounds CEO announcing changes to the Colusa County Fair and Junior Livestock Auction because of COVID-19. While most aspects of the fair would be cancelled, the Junior Livestock Auction would continue, allowing K-12 students to show and sell animals raised prior to the pandemic. -
2020-04-10
Burchfield Primary School Staff Car Parade
Flyer advertising a parade of school employees traveling through the city of Colusa, California. The parade was intended to allow separated students and teachers to see one another in person, albeit at a distance. Similar parades of teachers and school staff members occurred in neighborhoods around the United States during the COVID-19 campus closures. -
2020-04-03
CIF Statement Regarding 2020 Spring Sports
State media release issued by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announcing the cancellation of all remaining spring sporting events for the remainder of the school year. Although many classes were able to transition to online learning, team sports were not replicable in quarantine with mandatory social distancing orders in place. -
2020-03-30
California FFA State Conference Update
Statement issued by California FFA regarding the cancellation of the 2020 State Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California because of COVID-19. Large gatherings of any kind were quickly banned as the virus spread, preventing in-person conferences for extracurricular student organizations. -
2020-03-27
Burchfield Primary School Parent Club Flower Hunt
Parents of local schoolchildren invited city residents to hang paper flowers in their front windows to provide local students at home the opportunity to go on a scavenger hunt while on walks or drives. Similar projects featuring hearts, rainbows, and signs of encouragement were completed around the world. -
2020-03-17
Colusa Unified School District Meal Service Schedule
Flyer released by Colusa Unified School District announcing free grab-and-go meal service during COVID-19 campus closures. Following the guidance of the California Department of Education, school districts continued distributing meals to ensure that students who relied upon this food did not go hungry. -
2020-03-13
Glenn County Office of Education COVID-19 Update #3
Letter written by the Glenn County Office of Education Superintendent ensuring students and parents that COVID-19 was not an immediate threat in the area. As school districts in urban areas began closing to prevent the spread, rural counties were left justifying their reasons for keeping schools open. Ultimately, every school in Glenn County was closed four days after this letter was released. -
2020-03-12
School Office Coated with Q.T. Plus Virucidal Spray
Q.T. Plus Virucidal Spray was distributed to school staff members before campus closures to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The spray, intended to kill the virus, left a long-lasting sticky residue that quickly deterred its usage among employees. -
2020-05-15
Princeton High School Drive-In Graduation Announcement
Informational graphic announcing the style, date, time, and location of the Princeton High School graduation ceremony. Following the guidance issued by the County of Colusa Department of Health and Human Services, the Princeton Joint Unified School District Board voted to hold a drive-in graduation where families and friends would view the ceremony from parked cars. #ASU -
2020-05-14
County of Colusa Guidance on Graduation Ceremonies and End-of-Year Material Collection
News brief issued by the County of Colusa Health and Human Services Department summarizing the recommendations made by the Colusa County Public Health Officer to school district superintendents in Colusa County. On 05/13/2020, Colusa County was approved for Full Phase 2 Reopening by the State of California, creating public confusion about high school graduation restrictions, prompting clarification from the county. #ASU -
2020-04-30
Princeton High School Class of 2020 Banner Mock-Ups
Sample banners recognizing the Princeton High School Class of 2020 await administrative approval before public display. Non-traditional efforts to honor graduating seniors increased as COVID-19 social distancing restrictions lengthened, and traditional rites of passage proved inconceivable. #ASU -
2020-04-08
Distance Learning Packets Organized for Distribution
Boxes containing distance learning packets await distribution at Princeton Joint Unified School District. K-12 campus closures and limited internet access among students required the use of physical work packets to continue learning. #ASU -
2020-04-03
Donated Picture Books for Distance Learning
Picture books donated to Princeton Elementary School by the Colusa County Library sit on display for students to choose from. With the closure of school campuses and public libraries, students did not have access to borrowed books during the COVID-19 pandemic and relied on donations to continue their literary learning. #ASU #HST580 -
2020-04-03
Revised Princeton Joint Unified School District Campuses Closed Announcement
Informational graphic used by Princeton Joint Unified School District to inform students and parents of meal and packet distribution schedules during campus closures. This informational graphic was released in response to prolonged social distancing recommendations requiring the district to remain closed past its planned reopening date of 04/20/2020. #ASU #HST580 -
2020-03-20
Princeton Joint Unified School District Packet Distribution Schedule
Poster released by Princeton Joint Unified School District informing students and parents of the distance learning packet distribution schedule during campus closures. With some students living over 25 miles away from campus, and many lacking stable internet connectivity, physical work packets were delivered via school vehicles to three neighboring towns to relieve travel burdens and encourage learning. #ASU #HST580 -
2020-03-20
Princeton Joint Unified School District Meal Service Schedule
Poster released by Princeton Joint Unified School District informing the local community about the free grab-and-go breakfast and lunch options for anyone 18 and under during campus closures. Following state guidance, school districts in the area served any child requesting food, regardless of enrollment status. #ASU #HST580 -
2020-03-20
Campus Closure and Event Postponement Announcements
Multiple notices posted near the entrance to Princeton High School informing students, parents, and community members of campus closures, meal service distribution, distance learning procedures, and postponed fundraisers. The sudden campus closures required the school district to quickly disperse large amounts of information to ensure continued student access to food and education. #ASU #HST580 -
2020-05-23
First Morning of Campus Closure at Princeton High School
The student quad on the Princeton High School campus stands empty on the first morning of closure. Normally filled with students and staff, the sudden desertion of campus felt eerie and apocalyptic. #ASU #HST580