It has been a year to remember as the COVID-19 pandemic has led to unheard of lockdowns, school closures, facemasks, social distancing, and constant hand sanitizing. It is important during these trying times to ask yourself, “What good can come out of this unprecedented new normal.”
With what seems like entire countries on lockdown, I know from personal experience there are some silver linings in hitting the pause button; time with family, less running around, fewer appointments, more quality down time, maybe a few more family game nights, and a newfound interest in puzzles. These are some of the more positive results of the Great Curtailment.
After months of closures, when the provincial government gave us the go ahead for school re-entry, many of us eased forward with trepidation, cautious but relieved at the same time. We are now nine weeks into the re-entry, and as a school board trustee I wondered what our stakeholders were actually feeling – I wanted to hear of the positives that 2020 has brought us. Below are a snippet of actual comments from our staff, students, and parents during these unprecedented times:
“I appreciate the staggered lunches and recesses – less conflict, more one-on-one opportunities.”
“I love learning from home – I don’t have to “people” as much.”
“I get to use a swing I have never been able to get a turn on before because there are fewer kids at recess.”
“No microwaves means healthier lunch choices, and no 20-minute waits to warm up food daily.”
“Staggered school bus drop-off equals two and a half minutes to get 500 kids off the buses and into their classes.”
“People finally understand what personal space is!”
“Learning how to Zoom and Google Meet – technology is not so scary anymore.”
“It’s pajama day every day when I learn from home!”
“I like that things are being kept cleaner – I feel safe.”
“Just so great to be together again!”
“I have a new-found appreciation for friends and coworkers.”
“No school lockers means no loitering in the hallways.”
“I am saving so much money on lipstick!”
“Masks are the new accessory; I love to match my mask and my shirt.”
Socialization is so important in learning; it’s great to be back together.
“Phew, I don’t know if I would graduate if I had to keep learning at home”
“Good to have a choice in learning – we are all unique and all learn differently.”
“I learned to sew!”
“I am constantly singing Run DMC in my head when I see all the floor stickers that say ‘Walk this way.’”
“No worries about garlic breath when I wear a mask!”
It’s heartwarming to hear all the little joys that we can find in each day. I love that I can see a twinkle in someone’s eyes and know there is a big smile greeting me behind that mask. I appreciate the small things like an elbow bump, tapping on a window to say hi, or how much I enjoy seeing a smiling face on a Google Meet.
We may not all be in the same boat, but we are all weathering the same world-wide storm. So as my grandma used to say, keep looking out for the rainbow, because you will always find one after the rain.
Robyn Steed,
School Trustee – Beaumont