MCVSD students were notified that schools would be closed through Mar. 27 due to the novel coronavirus. Then, they got the news that it would be extended through April 10. They did not know when schools would re-open in this time of uncertainty. Students have still not returned.

School closure has taken a toll on clubs and activities that were planned for the spring. The CHS Fashion Show, Battle of the Bands, Freshman Orientation, drama productions, Art Show, SkillsUSA competitions and fundraising events have all been postponed until further notice. Money raised from these events helps fund future councils and events.

Fundraising from the Battle of the Bands pays for transportation to the Dodge Poetry Festival, a trip the LitMag club attends every other year. In addition, it supports the Asbury Park Music Foundation and the Class of 2020, according to co-coordinator and senior Jillian Tracy of Belmar. 

“Thankfully, for LitMag, the bus is not that expensive, and we were planning on having a lot of leftover funds and disperse them as necessary,” Tracy said. “I don’t think LitMag is going to have trouble getting the money.” 

The National Art Honors Society (NAHS) has also been impacted by their postponement of the annual Art Show. Workshop/Event Chair and senior Lila Nathanson of Long Branch said NAHS may sell postcards featuring students’ work from the Art Show this year, while also considering having the event virtually if no later date can be organized. This would not be a devastating loss since the club is not dependent on this fundraiser.

The process of rescheduling the spring drama show is also being taken step by step. 

“It all depends on when we go back to school and how much time we will have to prepare,” said drama productions director and senior Jamie Nickerson of Tinton Falls. “We definitely are not having the spring drama show at the Jersey Shore Arts Center on May 1 and 2 like originally planned, but we are still open to performing the show at school.” 

Additionally, all of the SkillsUSA competitions were cancelled, but this did not affect the club financially.

“Our funding is already secured so [it is] just a disappointment, not a financial issue,” said SkillsUSA president and senior Neil Estrada.

National Honor Society (NHS) is running peer tutoring remotely through Google Classroom. Teachers or students can request a long-term tutor or just help with homework.

Class councils are among those experiencing difficulties because of the coronavirus. Sophomore class president Samantha Skolnick of Hazlet said although not being in school affects fundraising, she is not worried because of the class’ current funds. 

The freshman class was planning a ShopRite bagging fundraiser that was postponed among other events, but class president Lucy Battista of Tinton Falls remains hopeful that the class will make up for it in upcoming years and fundraisers.

Though the closure did not cause significant problems for the freshman or sophomore classes, the junior class is a little more worried, as they plan many large events next year, according to class president Isabella Carmona-Ramirez of Long Branch. 

“[School closing] does affect class fundraising and I feel like that’s a major setback considering that we’re supposed to be planning for next year’s upcoming senior events like prom or the senior dinner or stuff like that,” Carmona-Ramirez said. “We have to roll in a bit of extra money, so it does make it pretty difficult.”

Overall, students are remaining positive during this pandemic. 

“At this moment, we are focusing on strengthening our CHS community before anything else,” Skolnick said.