Running a yearbook and newspaper is no easy task even during a normal year, but imagine both leaders of the classes stuck at home at the same time Editor-in-chief of the Warrior yearbook, senior Marissa Barch, and editor-in-chief of the Arrow newspaper, senior Ethan Smale, were both stuck at home when Covid-19 numbers hit a high at Utica.

Although both staffs had participated in several ice breakers before the chiefs were quarantined, it was the beginning of the year and many staffers weren’t familiar with each other, making the task of directing the class even more difficult.

“It was very hard because I was trying to run a staff virtually at the beginning of the year when they all were still learning how to use InDesign,” Barch said. “I normally would just go up to them in class and help them on their own laptop, but I couldn’t do that from home.”

Barch remotely joined class every day through Teams, and although she was bummed to miss the group photo in person, senior Brooke Monarch called her in and she was able to make a virtual appearance.

“I would sit on her screen, and if someone needed help I was passed around the class on her laptop,” Barch said. “They would explain what was wrong and it took a lot more effort than normal.”

Generating ideas for the newspaper was challenging without Smale present, because he was the only returning Arrow staff member from the previous year.

“Unlike Marissa, who was quarantined because of exposure, I actually had COVID,” Smale said. “I was extremely tired and didn’t feel well, so sometimes I couldn’t join remotely.”

Arrow managing editor, junior Abby Williams and digital manager Alex Schmidt, stepped in to help Smale while he was out.

“Alex helped create a file in Drive for idea day and showed everyone how to add their stories online,” Smale said. “And Abby did a great job helping new staffers learn how to interview and write like a journalist, as well as use InDesign.”