Almost a year later, the events of the week of March 13, 2020 continue to influence the lives of students and teachers at Loudoun Valley.  

Courtney Kincaid, the visual art teacher, notes that the month of March is important for members of the art department. 

“March is Youth Art Month. Mr. Herbert and I would normally be preparing for the 2021 Night of the Arts show,” Kincaid said. “ It is such a wonderful event that celebrates Loudoun Valley’s artists.”

Despite not being able to host the show in-person, Kincaid is hopeful about arranging Valley’s first virtual art show. 

Sophomore Maddy Helm notes that in a world without a pandemic, she would be a lot more likely to participate in more school and extracurricular activities.  

“If I was in school, who knows where I would have been. I probably wouldn’t be doing the same things I am doing now… I would be much more involved in school spirit and outside activities,” Helm said.

During the past year, orchestra and choir department leader Kelly Holowecki  finds that she has become more attuned to how the pandemic is affecting her students. 

“I’ve grown in understanding what students are going through. I try to be more receptive to what goes on with them outside my specific class,” Holowecki said. 

Beyond the classroom, teachers have also learned to identify their own needs. Trude expresses that she’s learned to give grace to herself as a teacher during this past year. 

“I have to tell myself it’s okay to not be okay, it’s okay that you don’t know what’s going on,” Trude said.

Covid-19 took potential experiences and memories from many this year, especially the senior class. Sophomore Hagan Strite has compassion for all the seniors who had their senior year taken away from them.

“I’m empathetic towards seniors from this year and last year,” Strite says. “ They had their senior year ruined; your senior year is supposed to be the best year in your high school experience but theirs was ruined and they can’t get it back.”

Senior Maris Robey was eager for her senior year. 

“I was looking forward to being the head of the school, like that same feeling in eighth grade. You feel like a leader since you are the oldest,” Robey says. “ Also, I was looking forward to leading the jungle.”

However, special education teacher Daniel Loper notes that the pandemic shouldn’t dampen the hope of the future. 

“The week of March 13 doesn’t define us and the exasperation that so many people, including myself and my family, went through. Giving it importance compounds the anguish that everyone went through and continues to go through,” Loper said. “It’s going to be alright, we will be okay.”