In an ordinary year, the week before school lets out for the holidays is the hardest week of the entire year. This is the week that kids struggle to stay engaged, and teachers struggle to keep kids engaged. This is the week traditionally where we have programs, and activities but still try to also have math and reading. This is also the week that I write my annual holiday Stanzas:
Twas the last month of 2020, what more can I say? Between covid and politics, we are ready for it to all go away;
The kids are zoomed out, and tired of school; the teachers need a break, during this time of Yule.
The schools have been virtual, the restaurants have been closed; how much more can we take, how many more restrictions can be imposed?
Social distancing and sanitizing, and wear your dang mask; if you want to reopen, it’s not too much to ask!
Google classroom, seesaw and zoom are the primary places, where learning takes place and we see our students’ faces.
The children are all cooped up bored driving parents insane, while teachers on zoom continue to teach and explain.
The teachers are uploading instructional videos galore, in their heart of hearts they wish they could do more.
The teachers are all busy grading and giving feedback, trying to keep kids engaged, and attendance on track;
The phones in the office ring two by two, parents calling us cause they can’t join the zoom;
I, in my office checking the attendance reports for each week; While monitoring countywide covid data, the outlook is bleak.
Mr. Jayne is on standby to help troubleshoot the computers,While Mr. Saum and Mr. Clark help kids, SPA’s best tutors.
Our diligent PTO parents, who creatively fund raise; have succeeded in raising money for the school, and deserve our praise!
Our paras meet daily with reading groups on zoom, but we are ready for the day when we can teach them in a classroom!
Sam’s Book flood books delivered via drive through distribution; when it can’t be face to face, it was the second best solution!
This year we are missing our PBIS activities, and our holiday concert as part of our holiday festivities.
Despite all the changes, we have seen during this year; we are grateful for our families and students, we want to be clear!
We are optimistic as we enter twenty-twenty-one, I think we can all agree with twenty-twenty- we are done!
As always please know, Your SPA family is here! We work for your children, even when they are not near.
We wish you all the best: health, happiness and good cheer;Most of all we wish, this dang Covid would disappear!
Much love to all!
I have to say, during this time of Covid, I’ve never been happier to be retired! Glad you’ve made it through the first semester. Hope the bugs are worked out.
We have in fact survived! We are looking at this as an opportunity to redefine and overhaul public education!