Quarantining on Heading Ave.

Luke is a senior at Peoria Notre Dame High School. He and his parents chose the in-school learning option for him this year. 

The school administration is in regular communication with parents about all kinds of issues, including COVID. At least a couple of times a week, we receive an email stating that someone in the PND community has tested positive for COVID. If your child was within six feet of someone with COVID for more than 15 minutes, then your child has to quarantine at home. 

When we receive these emails, I hold my breath, hoping we won't get a call. Nine weeks after school started, I was in the principal's office at St. Mark's for a meeting. My phone rang and PND popped up on the screen. My heart sunk a little as I took the call: "Hi Maria, this is Terry at PND. Luke has been exposed to someone with COVID, and we will be sending him home. We're letting you know before we pull him out of class. He will have to stay home until the 20th."

Above, Luke is in his bedroom, getting ready to start his online school day. 

Because of the timing of Luke's exposure and some school breaks, he only had to have five days online. This was enough, as far as I was concerned. I know having the online option is a plus, but sitting in front of a computer from 8 am to 3 pm (with a few breaks) is not ideal, at least for Luke. 

Fortunately, John had some serious yard/house projects to get Luke outside and moving around. 

There were many beautiful days while he was quarantined, making the top of the house a good place to be.

The first step of the project is cleaning out the gutters.


Next up is installing gutter guards.


You have to take a break every once in awhile.


Every day that Luke was on quarantine, we received a text survey from a health department, asking if Luke had a temp, symptoms, etc. Most days we remembered to complete it. 


Thankfully, he was healthy throughout his quarantine. 


Though probably a little tired of being home so much. Obviously, quarantining is not the end of the world, and we so grateful that no one in our family has gotten COVID. 


Perhaps his next project could be cleaning up his room. ;)

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