Although Rockbridge County Public Schools initially decided upon a hybrid plan for the second nine weeks, RCPS has since switched to a 100% virtual plan. On Nov. 23, the Virginia Department of Health recommended that schools close through the holiday season to help lessen the spread of the coronavirus. RCPS chose to follow this recommendation. Thus, beginning Nov. 30, all preschool through twelfth grade students will follow a virtual method of instruction. 

    Some students’ plans to go back were thus affected by this new decision. Junior Ava McCabe was one of these students.

    “I’m pretty disappointed about not getting to go back. I was kind of counting on returning and getting to see all of my friends again,” said McCabe. “With that said, I do understand where RCHS is coming from because it looks like our COVID-19 cases have been on the rise.”

For others like Senior Charlie Smith, however, the decision did not change much.

    “I was already planning on staying virtual,” said Smith. “Cases have been going up quite a bit in our area, so I thought it would be best to stay at home. Unlike some of my friends, I also don’t mind virtual learning.”

The school system plans a return to the hybrid model on Jan. 19 of 2021. In this model, PreK through first grade will have in-person learning Monday through Thursday. Additionally, second through twelfth grade will follow the AA/BB hybrid model from Monday through Thursday. Students who want to remain virtual can still do so. 

“I’m not really sure if I’m going to go back in January yet,” said Smith. “I do want to see my friends, but I will also be very close to graduating. I guess I’ll just wait and see how the next month is and then reassess my decision.”

Unlike Smith, McCabe is fairly certain that she will be returning if the opportunity to go back in January remains. 

“Unless the situation drastically changes, I’m going to go back,” said McCabe. “The pandemic has really affected my high school experience, so I want to be able to hold onto that as much as I can. Hopefully, once I go back, I will feel a sense of normalcy. I think that going back will allow many to have a feeling of stability.”