5 Things I Learned From School Reopening

Hello, 2020-2021 school year! I just experienced the first week of school with some of our elementary students since the COVID-19 pandemic…and it’s April. So, how did we get here?

This school year, we’ve held strong as a district and a union to stay home and learn online for the safety of our community. Based on science and guided by health experts, our district held a firm line on when and how we would reopen according to certain criteria that had to be met. Most importantly, teachers needed the vaccine, and we had to have lower rates of infection. Finally, all the data seemed to indicate that we would finally be able to reopen schools. An announcement from our Superintendent came out that we would return to hybrid learning on April 12th. We were finally ready to welcome our students back to in-person learning at school!

Here are 5 things I learned from my time volunteering at two elementary school sites on the first week of school:

1. Love is the answer.

On the day I reported to my first school site, I received an email with the subject line: “I love you” from the Principal of the school. She wrote an encouraging message of support to her staff and shared it with me. There was a link to a playlist of her favorite songs to lift their spirits. She shared detailed information about every procedure and protocol. Her message of love framed this week, unlike any other back to school week in history, perfectly. Waking up to this message, I knew love was the answer.

Love is one of my core values. I got to feel it viscerally on this first week. Love is what educating children is about, or should be about. As students returned to school, the feelings of love, community and joy were palpable. For many of our students, it was their first time at school, in person, in their young lives. 

2. Protocols are key.

As soon as I arrived at my first school site, I felt welcome and appreciated.  They gave me a mask with the school mascot and told me I was officially part of the school staff for coming to help. I received my bright yellow safety jacket and a walkie talkie and immediately went to work. When the gates opened, it was like magic to see the smiling faces of all the students and their families. The day felt just like a regular back to school day except for the new protocols. Everyone had to socially-distance, hand sanitize, wear masks and sign a clear pass questionnaire stating their child had no symptoms of COVID-19. 

There were new protocols for entering and exiting the school, keeping socially distanced, playing on the playground, eating snack and lunch, and dismissal. The most helpful practice those first few days was to check in and share how things were going. We would evaluate the protocols to see how they were working and make small changes as necessary. The consistent communication and feedback helped ensure that we could return to school as smoothly as possible.

3. Hybrid learning is about being inclusive.

Although most students were back in the classroom, some remained online as part of the hybrid teaching model. To bring everyone together, teachers projected the at-home students’ faces on a large Promethean or Boxlight screen as they participated via Zoom. The teachers simulcasted the classroom to the students at home via webcam, so they could see their classmates at school. In this way, students were able to answer questions, share stories, and interact with one another.

At first I thought it was going to feel more important for the students at home to feel connected to the students at school, but it goes both ways. I saw the Transitional Kindergarten students, missing their friends at home, enjoying some playtime via Zoom as their teacher shared her laptop screen. Though challenging at times, facilitating these connections between students in-person and at home is so vital as we continue in this hybrid model.

We’re not back to the way things were before and I’m not a fan of saying the “new normal” either.  We are in the present moment doing the best we can and innovating in this new era of education.

4. It takes a community.

Reopening school helped me gain so much more than I expected. I witnessed the reality for two different elementary schools in two different communities. They each welcomed their students back with open arms and love.  Love and joy replaced my feelings of fear and discomfort. In addition, I saw why it was so important to open school even though it was late in the school year. The smiles on students’ faces were priceless.

5. Remember, “We Got This!”

Above all, this work is challenging, emotional, scary, unpredictable, exhausting, uncomfortable; but also joyous, loving, exciting, hilarious, and amazing! In the words of many school leaders right now, “We got this!” 

Thank you to all of the kids! You are the most resilient of us all. You are the reason to celebrate this new spring of togetherness after a pandemic year. To all of the teachers who give themselves wholeheartedly! Thank you to the school leaders who lead with love. Thank you to the front office administrative managers, nurses, counselors, aides, food services personnel, BSS (behavior support specialists) and BSS (Building Services supervisors).  They are holding the ship together and keeping it afloat. To all the families, who trust us to educate and love their children. 

Let’s celebrate the end of a year unlike any other! With love!