Letter from the Editor

Dear Reader,

Welcome back to another school year! Here's to another year of making the most of the online environment both in and beyond OHS.

As the school year begins, I encourage you to remember that you’re here to define your own OHS experience, and you can contribute to the OHS culture in a positive, meaningful way. Take inspiration from the people around you and the things that you learn, and be the kind of person whom you would be inspired by. And as the year goes on, keep this in mind even as your to-do list fills up; think about the activities you enjoy doing that contribute to who you are and how you define yourself—whether that’s reading books for fun, viewing (probably online) museum exhibits, or anything else—and make some time for them.

In the current situation, many people beyond OHS are learning to navigate the online environment. You may now hear new perspectives on online learning or conducting events online. You might hear different responses now after telling people you attend an online high school as compared to a year ago. It might seem as if the OHS experience is less unique or memorable than it used to be.

At its core, though, being online is far from the only thing that defines OHS culture; it’s how we’ve been able to make use of the virtual environment and come together to create a school community. While certain shared experiences of OHS students—like attending class from a car—may no longer be applicable to just OHS, we can still build a culture shaped around our community and our unique experiences at this school.

As we enter the school year in a period where every school and organization is operating online, I implore you to take some time to think of how you can help shape our school’s vibrant culture and consider all the experiences that make OHS what it is. If you’re new to OHS, welcome! We’re excited to see what you do at OHS and hear all the perspectives that you’ll bring. And if you’re returning, I’m sure you have many observations to share about what makes an effective online environment and what defines the OHS experience, and you have many valuable perspectives and insights as veteran OHSers.

This year, I hope that the Journal can continue to be a place to reflect on and shape OHS culture, both by sharing diverse stories of the OHS community and facilitating discussions on topics relevant to OHS students. And, of course, I hope that you’ll enjoy reading our articles every issue, whether you’re a new or a long-time reader of the Pixel Journal.

For this shorter back-to-school issue, we’ve featured two wonderful members of the OHS community: alum Catherine Yeo ’18 and core instructor Dr. Walker-Dale. We’ve also highlighted some activities OHS students have been working on during the past few months of the pandemic. I hope that you will find these articles inspiring.

I’m excited to continue growing the Pixel Journal platform throughout this school year, and I hope that you’ll join us for the ride—as a reader, contributor, or both.

Cheers,

Paige

Editor-in-Chief