This year, 2020, has taken a huge unexpected turn. COVID-19, for many, felt like it came out of nowhere changing and took away plans, events, gatherings, and just in general everyday life occurrences for people across the United States. As COVID-19 started to affect the US during mid-March with at first the thought of only lasting a couple weeks, to then a month, to then two months, to where we are now, June.

The 2019-2020 school year had many twists and turns, which led to school closure, no graduation ceremony and social distancing.  While the class of 2020 is leaving NHS this year, they aren’t leaving alone.  Mrs. Sharon Larcara, a physical education teacher, will be retiring and leaving Nutley High School at the end of the year, this June.   

For NHS seniors, May 1st is the day where the Class of 2020 was expected to celebrate with their friends by taking pictures on the Oval, in the senior courtyard and at the park behind the school. They anticipated smiling proudly with their classmates while wearing their college apparel. Due to the coronavirus, this has caused many events to be cancelled or even pushed back, therefore College Decision Day looked very different this year.

Mr. Andrew Linfante has been a part of Nutley High School’s staff and history department for almost 30 years. He has taught several courses over his time at the school, but he is most well known for teaching Economics and US History II. Mr. Linfante is leaving his impact on Nutley High School students and staff.

The events of COVID-19 have many people worried and anxious about health, wellness and safety. The people who seem the most worried are parents. They have to make sure that they are safe, their children are safe, and make sure that their often elderly parents are safe as well. This is a very difficult time for parents because each day different news comes out about the virus. With all this going on, some parents still have to go to work and that means they are at risk of getting the virus and bringing it home to their family.

COVID-19 is something that not many saw coming so fast, impacting families across not only the US, but the world. It unexpectedly took the lives of families and friends in many countries leaving the world devastated.

Covid-19 has become one of the largest and most impactful global pandemics in history. Citizens worldwide have been ordered to self quarantine and social distance since the beginning of March 2020.

As COVID-19 spread across the US, schools all across the country have been effectively shut down. While schools continue to do online classes, assignments, and meetings, students still miss the experience of being in schools, near their teachers and friends. Nutley High School closed its doors on March 13th, and as of the publishing of this article, it is unclear when the school will open again. As a result, this has left hundreds of students wishing to be back into the building.

The circumstances of the world we are living in right now almost seem like a false reality; something you do not believe could be true until it gets to you. The CoronaVirus pandemic is history in the making, and it has affected millions of people from all around the world. The virus is spreading like a wildfire, as it hops from person to person changing, affecting, and even killing some. I, myself, was unfortunate enough to receive the news that I had tested positive for COVID-19.

Across the United States and around the world, virtual learning has become the new normal for many elementary school, middle school, high school, and college students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With social distancing currently underway, virtual learning has become a source where students can finish their required school year from home for the rest of the year, if needed.

On March 16, 2020, Nutley Public Schools started virtual learning at home due to the rapid outbreak of COVID-19.  Students and staff are all at home trying to make the best of this time and are trying to stay connected and active with school work.  While this was something to adjust to, many are doing their best to keep up with learning and teaching at home. 

In early March 2020, The Maroon and Gray sat down with Nutley High School’s custodians, to talk about some of their responsibilities around the building. Head Custodian Mike Spagnola, with Custodians Anthony Moltedo and Jose Rivera, shared what their daily schedules look like. 

While the students of NHS are expected to arrive in their first class by 8:05 A.M., many custodians arrive at the building by 5:30 A.M. They turn off the alarms, unlock all doors, turn on all the lights, and prepare the building for the students to come in. This process can take up to 45 minutes.

On February 28, 2020, the Italian and Spanish National Honor Society held a 5 vs. 5 soccer tournament after school in the small gym of Nutley High School.  It was run by Mr. Gaetano Sollazzo, who is an Italian teacher and head of the Italian National Honor Society. The event was created to raise money for the Italian and Spanish Honor Societies. 

As the Class of 2020 inches closer to the end of the year, the graduating class will finish their senior year with an epic bang. On June 20th, at MetLife Stadium, students will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have fun with friends at Project Graduation. 

Technology has become a major part of the 21st Century and it plays a huge role in education systems today. Computers, especially Chromebooks, have become a huge part of the Nutley Public Schools. In Nutley, every student in grades 6-12, has access to a Chromebook and uses them in almost all their classes. This allows students to be able to research information, type papers, contact teachers for help, have easy organization, and to have a more interactive learning environment.

On February 25th and 26th, the smell of cupcakes filled the halls of Nutley High School, as the Advanced and Third Level Culinary Students hosted their first ever cupcake war. This Cupcake War was held in the gymnasium during the lunch block. Culinary teachers, Mr. Huggins and Mr. Gulardo helped prepare their students as they used their knowledge of cakes from previous class lessons to participate in this different kind of learning experience. 

Just under 2,000 children a year die from cancer throughout the world. As ethical, global citizens, it is our duty to do all we can to support these children and their families.

On March 12th, Nutley High School held a College Fair for its students to come and learn about possible school options. Before the fair began at  7p.m, the school held an AP meeting so that the students could learn about the benefits that come with taking college level courses. The fair lasted until 8:30 p.m, giving students time half to learn about their possible college choices.

On Monday, February 10, Nutley High School opened a largely student-run Coffee Shop, available for the NHS staff. This shop is run by Mrs. Megan Della Fave and provides students in the Structured Learning Experience and Career Awareness Program, an opportunity to work and give back to the NHS community. “The store was the idea of Director of Special Services, Mrs. Helen Doyle-Marino, even before she became the Director,” says Mrs. Megan Della Fave.

by Meghan Macaluso, Special Reporter to the Maroon & Gray

Relay for Life is an annual event in the township of Nutley in May where citizens and students create teams to compete to see who can raise the most money for the American Cancer Society. Team members take turns walking around DeMuro track for one night to help raise awareness and fund cancer research. The event is open to all.