Click here to view the Nov. 11, 2020 edition of The Image.

The 2020-2021 school year began like no other year students have ever experienced. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the country in a way that this generation has never known. As some Lafayette students make their return to in-person learning on Nov. 12, it will be a return to a familiar building, however, the environment will be anything but familiar.

In order for the school to re-open, new procedures had to be established to ensure the safety of students and staff and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the school building. Some of these procedures include required face coverings, enforced social distancing, strict rules against eating in classrooms and the elimination of a lunch period.

Although this year has seen many events postponed, businesses shut down and cancellation of almost all large gatherings, it has also seen students overcome COVID-19, put their artistic ability to use by handmaking masks and finding joy in new hobbies over quarantine.

Continuing to produce the print version of the Image this year was a decision we did not make lightly. We were aware of the challenge of taking on this task virtually. However, in the end, we chose to produce our newsmagazine and distribute it online because, despite the situation, time or place, people still have stories to tell. And as long as people have stories to tell, we will be there to report them.

*Editor’s note: Everything in this edition was updated as of Nov. 10.