Bridging the gap

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
With quarantine orders affecting families, students, communities and schools across the country, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Newcastle Middle School counselor Nikki Bloom has been seeing firsthand the effects on mental health that the isolation can have on young people. 
Bloom came up with a solution, although admittedly not nearly as good as being at school with your friends and teachers every day. She started a virtual lunch for quarantined students with a group of friends at school. 
“I guess I came up with the idea brainstorming with students on how they can feel connected to the school even if they are at home,” Bloom said. “Along with their education, school provides socialization for kids, and at the middle school level, it becomes super-important for kids to feel connected with their friends.” 
Principal Tyler Bartlett first told the Weston County School District No. 1 board of trustees about the weekly lunches a month ago. He reported that, to date, the lunches had been successful. 
According to Bartlett, Bloom had approached him about the idea of having quarantined students meet over Zoom for lunch with friends in her office. The goal, he said, is to help lessen the stress, anxiety and feelings of isolation felt by students who can’t attend school. 
“Not all of the middle school students have phones to access their friends outside of school, and that is where we came up with the idea of lunch,” Bloom later told the News Letter Journal. “It’s the same conversation they would have at their lunch table with friends.” 
Bloom chuckled as she recalled one lunch episode.
“Actually, we had one day where the boys had a burping contest,” she said.  “I do feel that having these lunches provides the students with some peer time and it reconnects them with the school in a different way than academically.” 
And it’s not only Bloom and Bartlett who think the lunches have had a positive impact on the students’ lives. 
“I enjoy the lunch, to be able to interact with people and just have fun with other kids,” Keith Simmons said. 
Cim Hansen said that the lunches help make him “feel better.” Both boys gave similar reasons for appreciating the lunches, stating that they love the social aspect and that the brief and occasional interaction with their friends has made quarantine easier. 
Bloom stressed the need for parents, school district staff and the community to remember the stressful nature of the uncharted territories of quarantine and isolation on not only the youth but also adults. She noted that patience, understanding and kindness are key to getting through the pandemic as unscathed as possible.