Friday, February 12th was a day free from online classes for South Washington County Schools’ middle and high school students. In substitution of a normal workday, the district instituted a “Teacher Planning Day”. This day of planning was necessary due to the fact that hybrid learning would begin again the following Tuesday. Hybrid learners in grades 11 and 12 would occupy their school buildings that week of February 16. Freshmen and sophomores enrolled in hybrid learning will re-enter their school buildings the week of March 1.

The “Teacher Planning Day” presented all of Park High School’s students with an escape from classes. They could sleep in until noon, watch Netflix, or do whatever pleased them. Therefore, why is it that many voluntarily set foot into their school building? Why is it that they were discovered enhancing its hallways? The Journal investigated how some of Cottage Grove’s teens used a period of leisure to extend love to their peers.

In the PHS Library, Nevaeh L. and Paige H. were creating paper letters and symbols. These cutouts would later be adhered to posters by the two twelfth graders. “Right now we’re doing the dye cutouts so that we can make signs around the school…” explained Nevaeh.

Once completed, their signs would radiate themes of hospitality and safety through clever phrases. Paige organized a poster that read, “Welcome Back, Wolfpack”, for instance. Meanwhile, Nevaeh encouraged COVID-19 prevention practices by making her sign write, “Glad To See Your Smiling… Mask?”

A second bunch of peers assembled wall art that was similar to Paige and Nevaeh’s. “We’ve been writing ‘Welcome’ posters as well as like ‘Be Safe Around Each Other’ because it is COVID right now,” Lauren W. summarized, surrounded by her friends, Mackenna H., Kendall H., Brooke W., and Delaney H.

In addition to constructing signs, the girls hung streamers across every locker down PHS’s English hallway. This effort contributed to the massive task of garnishing the entire building with streamers.

As students designed, taped and pinned thoughtful ornaments, Mr. Andrew Bodurtha and Mr. Mason Fong seized an opportunity to exercise their DJ skills. The two PHS staff members were spinning vinyls by the main office to gage if it brought students joy. “This is a practice run because Mr. Fong from the Inclusion Center said we should DJ as kids come in to boost the morale…Mr. Fong and I are going to be DJ-ing Tuesday and Wednesday as kids walk in…” Bodurtha shared.

All of the benevolent acts described above were executed with a common initiative. Todd Herber is the principal of PHS. It was his idea to spruce up the building’s interior. In an exchange with The Journal, Herber revealed what generated his conception, “With everything that all of us has experienced during the past 11 months, sometimes, it’s important to find reasons to celebrate. While not all of our student body will return to hybrid learning, some are choosing to continue with their VLA experience, nonetheless, we wanted to show the students of Park High School that we have missed them and that we are excited to see them again!”

With that, Herber exhorted the Activities Director, Philip Kuemmel, to attract support from student groups. The PHS Student Council, Key Club, National Honors Society, and Inclusion Center were notified. Consequently, many of their members transformed Herber’s lovely vision into a reality. Furthermore, they did so during a day off from school.

In an attempt to learn why these kids sacrificed vacation time to beautify PHS, The Journal spoke to multiple participants. Amelia is a member of NHS and Student Council. She shared, “For me, it was just making the school happier since there’s not going to be that many people. So, we did a lot of different color streamers to make the school bright.”

Others had more personal reasons for attending PHS on February 12. “For me, it was just something to, for myself also, just to get out of the house and do something and also go see the school again, make sure it’s still here! To come back, we’re not done yet. Especially since it’s our senior year. Just trying to do something,” Paige H. confessed as an NHS member.

The simple job of brightening up PHS had significant takeaways for members of NHS, Key Club, Student Council, and the Inclusion Center. One participant by the name of Sunshine V. encapsulated the day in one statement, “I think today is really important though, it is the start of something new, something different…something better…we’re actually being able to interact with students and other teachers and I feel like that’s very important for our mental health…I think it’s really good that we were able to bring everybody together and do this.”

As some PHS students circle back to their school building within the next couple of weeks, it is Herber’s hope that the newly installed decor will instill positive emotions in students. “I hope that in some small way, students feel that they are valued, and know they matter to us,” he expressed.

(Left to right) Kendall H., Delaney H., Mackenna H., Brooke W., and Lauren W. effiStudents posted signs like these on lockers, reminding their peers to follow COVID-19 ciently pinned streamers along the English hallway.prevention practices. Photo by Sadie Jones Photo by Sadie Jones