NDB makes masks a “personal choice”: Interviews with community members about the new masking guidelines

The Catalyst (TC): What was your initial reaction to the masked mandate being lifted at NDB? Helen Ciernick (HC): I expected it because of what the San Mateo County Health and what was happening throughout the state. And so I expected it.   TC: How do you think that this has been going for the last week without having this being acquired? HC: I think it's been fine. I'm no longer ...

The Catalyst (TC): What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? Elizabeth Topalian (ET):  I think it's really good cuz I missing people's faces but also I'm still kind of weary and like cautious of like especially sick people I think if you're sick you should still wear it but like if you're healthy and vaccinated to use you're allowed to like not wear a mask like   TC: W...

The Catalyst (TC): What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? Payton Sellers (PS): I thought it was fine, if most people are vaccinated and test negative than it is okay to not wear a mask.    TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask? PS: I choose to wear a mask to protect myself and others, I have a grandma who I see frequently and I don’t want her ...

The Catalyst (TC): What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? Leonardo Bardomero (LB): Mask wearing should have been made optional since  the very beginning. Thus, when I learned about the most recent guidelines, my first reaction was “finally!”   TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask? LB: I chose not to wear a mask because wearing a mask obstructs my b...

The Catalyst (TC): What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? Jonathan Tomczak (JT): I guess I didn't have a very strong reaction to it, since it was made more for people's comfort. Because guidelines themselves are flexible and there just was not much to react to. TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask? JT: I guess I'm currently choosing based on the fact that it's been two ...

The Catalyst (TC): What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? Ally Co (AC): I’m happy because it means things are getting more normal. TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask? AC: I chose to not wear a mask because it’s optional now, but if someone tells me to put it on then I’ll do it TC: What do you think of people who think differently from you: Those ...

The Catalyst (TC): What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? Krista Mananquil (KM): To the lift of the mask mandate, I’m really happy that we’re moving forward. Before they lifted it, I thought I would still be wearing my mask, but I’m wearing it less than I thought I would. While not wearing my mask though, I find myself wanting to sanitize more and keep my hygiene up to preve...

TC: What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? SB: I am thrilled that we’ve gotten to the place where we can choose whether we can wear masks or not. It makes me hopeful that soon we won’t have to be dealing with COVID anymore.   TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask? SB: I’m wearing a mask for a couple reasons. First, to support kids that cho...

TC: What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? LC: I was very excited about the new masking guidelines.    TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask? LC: I choose to not wear a mask. I choose to not wear a mask because I don’t want to and I feel that because a large majority of people in the state of California have been vaccinated that the risk is ...

TC: What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? CO: I don't think it's smart right before formal. I think we should have waited until after formal because with all of the different dates from different schools with different masking guidelines, I think it's not the smartest thing to have everybody unmasked because that's just going to be a super spreader, I can already feel it. I ...

The Catalyst interviewed Annie Lester, a student at NDB High School, about her feelings on masks being  a personal choice.   The Catalyst (TC): What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? Annie Lester (AL): I was pretty excited because I think that for me and a lot of my friends, we were happy to be able to see each other's faces again. And I feel like it kind of gives ...

The Catalyst (TC): What is your reaction to the masking guidelines? Martha Anne Kuntz (MK): I believe the masking mandates are clear and understandable. I know it has been a rough road for everyone, and, in particular, for students wishing for a normal life within school walls. The new mask mandate makes it both easier and harder to find a comfort zone for many people, though, so hopefully we wi...

The Catalyst (TC): What was your initial reaction to masks becoming a personal choice at NDB? Wendy Connolly (WC): I knew it was coming because Serra HS had mentioned they were doing it and the governor and CDC mentioned the mandate would be lifted. But I was a little surprised that it happened so quickly. I was a little uncomfortable, which is why I still wear a mask, because I am just so used to...

The Catalyst (TC): What was your initial reaction when the mask mandate was lifted?   Mary Hadinger (MH): I think it is up to everyone’s choice. I, however, am going to wait and see because the second variant of omicron is starting to take hold in the United States. And so I am conservative and will continue to wear my mask.    TC: What do you think of people who have different o...

The Catalyst (TC): What was your initial reaction to masks becoming a personal choice at NDB? Caitlin Degnan (CD): I was nervous, but really excited that we weren’t going to have to wear masks anymore. TC: Do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask and why? What do you think of those who think differently than you? CD: I think that everyone has their own valid opinion. I think that if...

The Catalyst interviewed Sara Muzzi, a freshman at NDB High School, about her feelings on masks being  a personal choice.   TC: What was your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines?   SM: I thought it was really exciting that people could make their own personal decision on whether they wanted to wear masks or not. Because I know a lot of people who either felt really co...

  The Catalyst Interviewed Rick Bond, an NDB parent about his thoughts on the lifting of the mask mandate.    The Catalyst (TC): What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? Rick Bond (RB): I felt like it was time because so many people have been vaccinated and developed antibodies. So, I felt like things had progressed to the point where it was time to start doi...

  The Catalyst (TC):What was your initial reaction to learning that Notre Dame was lifting our mask mandate? Jennifer Walton (JW):Well, I was surprised because I thought that they would announce it to the teachers first. I was not surprised [because of] the fact that I knew California said schools, on the 14, would not have a mask mandate, but it's also up to the individual school to se...

The Catalyst (TC): So I'm here with my mom, Stephanie Boyd, who is class of 1994 at Notre Dame, and I just wanted to ask you a few questions about the new mask guidelines at school. And the first question would be, what is your initial reaction to the masking guidelines that were integrated on March 14? Stephanie Boyd (SB): I think they're very exciting. I think it shows real progress in the COVID s...

The Catalyst (TC): What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? Georgia Blaney (GB): Honestly I thought it was way too early for masks to be optional especially in large settings. TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask? GB: I choose to wear a mask just because I want to protect myself and the people around me. TC: What do you think of people who think differently...

The Catalyst (TC): What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? Michelle Campusano (MC): My initial reaction was honestly anxiety. We have been wearing masks for so long, it is almost a part of my identity. But with that, I know that the new masking guidelines are in response to the mass public getting vaccinated and staying healthy and safe.  TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask o...

The Catalyst: So we're gonna be talking about the new mask update today. I'm here with Mrs. Tauskey, who runs the front office for student life. And I just wanted to know what your initial reaction was to the new mask update?  Barbara Tauskey (BT): I think it's a wonderful recommendation. I think that I wear mine intermittently. And I know it's a recommendation and so I feel for me, in certain ci...

The Catalyst (TC): What was your initial reaction to the masking guidelines? Ted Daley (TD): I think that they are misguided and a mistake.   TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask TD: To protect myself and to protect other people because I don't want this disease to keep spreading.   TC: What do you think of the people who think differently from you, t...

The Catalyst (TC): What is your reaction to the masking guidelines? Flora Burke (FB): I am concerned for the teenagers that have pre-existing health conditions that have to wear a mask. I am worried that they will get bullied for choosing to keep wearing a mask while others aren’t.   TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask? FB: I wear a mask when I feel unsafe or when I t...

The Catalyst (TC): What is your reaction to the masking guidelines? Lauren Zerella (LZ): I am excited not to have to wear masks anymore.    TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask? LZ: I choose not to wear a mask because I want to get back to feeling comfortable without one.    TC: What do you think of people who think differently from you: Those that are ...

The Catalyst (TC): What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? Annie Stump (AS): I was excited when the mandate was lifted because I feel like it would bring our school experience back to or at least a little more normal. TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask? AS: I chose to not wear a mask because I just want school to feel as normal as possible again, so no...

The Catalyst (TC): What was your initial reaction when the mask mandate was lifted?   Chloe Parkinson (CP): I was super excited but I wasn’t sure whether or not I wanted to wear my mask because it’s hard to breathe.    TC: Why do you decide to wear/not wear your mask?   CP: I wear my mask in some classes, but not all. I would rather not wear them because people...

  The Catalyst (TC): What was your initial reaction when you heard that the mask mandate was going to be lifted at NDB? Alexa Neilson (AN): I think it was just really disheartening for me and shocking a little bit. Because even though I knew that California had announced that, I knew that they were still strongly suggesting it, which essentially means that the experts still believe that ...

The Catalyst (TC): What was your initial reaction to the masking guidelines? Ali Ceschin (AC): I was happy that the mask mandate was dropped.   TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask? AC: I choose not to wear a mask because I think it helps return to the feeling of normalcy that all of us have been waiting for since COVID first started.   TC: What do yo...

The Catalyst (TC): What is your (initial) reaction to the masking guidelines? Theresa Hamilton (TH): I think that the school is actually being looking out for the best interests of all of their communities and trying to keep everybody safe and I believe that if they are saying that the kids can remove their masteries school is a safe environment. So I'm happy that they are able to go to school withou...

The Catalyst (TC): What was your initial reaction to the masking guidelines? Marissa Bergquist (MB): I was kind of surprised because it felt like it came out of nowhere.    TC: How are you feeling now about the new masking guidelines? MB: For me personally, I want to wear my mask but I don’t really mind if people around me don’t or if they do. I can see reasoning on both sides, personally I’d just r...

The Catalyst (TC): So I'm here with Ava Lough, who's a senior, and I just wanted to ask you a few questions about the mask update at school. So first, what was your initial reaction to the new masking guidelines? Ava Lough (AL): To be honest, I don't really feel like I had that strong of a reaction. I think I kind of like expected to come since all of these state mandates are being lifted right no...

The Catalyst (TC): What was your initial reaction to the masking guidelines? Kaila Acbay (KA): I was a little surprised because I know that Omicron is still happening, but I feel like it’s a good direction. I think it’s good to know that we’re maybe near the end of COVID.   TC: Why do you choose to wear a mask or not wear a mask? KA: I wear a mask because, honestly, I just fee...