Thursday 27 August 2020

Return to School: Thoughts from a Parent, Teacher and Community Member & 1st Day of School Jumpsuit



 I am sitting here in the early hours what is officially the first day of school for staff and students.  As part of an admin team we've been in schools already looking over the documents, immersed in conversations, planning, re-evaluating our school processes and thinking about our staff and  communities.  This year the traditional  "back to school" looks and feels different.  There is still an excitement in seeing my colleagues, meeting my students, and thinking about all the possibilities.  But there is no denying that it's also laced with worry, angst, trepidation.  People have been asking me how I feel about the return to school.  I've chosen mostly not get into the details on social media because it's hard to be clear and difficult to not be mis-understood, but I'll try to take a stab at it.  
  • Grateful  and excited that I am going back.  Honestly, although I think online was a great alternative and I gained a lot of new skills, I love being with my humans.  Big and small, tough and easy, children are just my jam.  If I've discovered anything in the past year it's that I still get so much joy from teaching in the classroom.  
  • Keeping judgement at bay and checking myself.  Parents need to make the best decision possible for their own families.  We are all working from a place of some knowledge, limited information, anxiety and fear.  We don't know how it's going to work out and that's scary.  I trust that parents are experts on their own families and they will choose an option that is best for them for the right now.  Thankfully we here have the option to go in person, have a teacher online, or in some cases home school.  The decision  we make right now is not forever and we can all change our minds if need be.
  • My kids need school and their friends.  Education is more than academics.  It's connection.  It's social education.  It's citizen education.  It's learning that you have blind spots and biases.  It's looking at the same thing from multiple angles.  My children need this.  Right now our province has relatively low numbers, around five a day for the past few weeks, with outbreaks here and there that have been dealt with in a fairly organized manner.  After weighing the risks vs. alternatives we've decided at this point the risk is worth taking.  Just for the record we do in fact have immune-compromised family that we had to consider in this decision.  My husband and I both work and online schooling just doesn't seem like the right choice for us or the children right now.  This doesn't have to be our choice forever.  It's our choice for now and we feel very confident with the plan schools are putting together.  We will watch and reevaluate as needed.
  • Funding.  I can't say that the government doesn't have lots of holes in their plan.  I also don't want to get into a debate about it to be honest.  It's exhaustive and somewhat unproductive.  I'll say this.  I wasn't surprised by the lack of planning and actual input into the education plan.  Our government doesn't put education first and as far as I am concerned that's old news.  We, the public, can fix this with  the way we vote.  We don't necessarily even have to jump ship and change our vote, but we can demand that education, class sizes, supports and optimized learning for our children be part of their platforms with clear deliverables and not wishy-washy language.  We have a right as tax payers to say this is important and this is what we want to see our money invested in.  Honestly, if you don't want them to spend more of our money on education, I am not sure you have a right to complain about the current state of things.  That sounds really harsh but we can't change how classrooms and children are supported without addressing class size and complex classroom needs. 
  • Promise.  With 1000% certainty, I know that we at school will do our  absolute best to keep your children safe.  To love them.  To provide them social and educational opportunities in a new way.   To lower their anxiety and yours.  Just because our doors aren't as open physically,  we are still here to support you.  Write us an email.  Send us a note.  Call us.  We still want to hear from you and we still want to work with you for your children.  We will succeed and struggle with them. 


And so on my first day off work, I am excited to see my staff.  I am excited to hear their summer stories.  I am ready to hear their anxieties.  I am ready to be part of the solution.  I am ready to take lean into our current reality. I am ready to gain new skills.  I am going to try to lean into the unknown so that new learning opportunities can come into my view.  


Tell me how you are feeling.  Our feelings might be different.  That's okay.  Tell me your story so I can listen and learn and reflect.  There is no right answer, just the right answer for you and your family.  

On another note, since it is my Friday fashion post, this jumpsuit was a Winners purchase in July and I immediately knew I would be wearing it on the first day of school.  If it's hot, then the sleeveless look is perfect,  and if it's chilly, I have my trusted denim jacket  to throw over.  Some things even COVID can't change, and that's the excitement of picking out the first day of school outfit!  Make sure to follow me on IG to see all my outfits from the first week of school. 








11 comments:

  1. Hey, you go, Bo! As a former educator who is still consulting and working with schools, I can relate to everything you're saying here. Although this is the time of year each year that I REALLY miss being there, I don't envy all of you having to make all the tough decisions this year. My very best wishes for a successful year. You've got all the right spirit and positive attitude. And a cute outfit, too!

    xx Darlene

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your words. It sounds like you're still greatly involved in the education system. It's a new and unchartered territory that we are making decisions in. Kindness, compassion, and bravery are going to be needed at this time.

      Delete
  2. What a fun jumpsuit! Perfectly colourful for your first day back at school! I hope it goes well for you - schools have been reopen here for a while and all is going well but we don't have as many cases as you do in the US so the kids don't need to wear masks or distance which is nice, gives them a little bit of normality even as there are more rules and restrictions for private gatherings with there having being another 2 cases today in this state.

    Hope you are having a lovely weekend :)

    Away From Blue

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing how you guys are doing things in your part of the world. I actually live in Canada and not the US. Our numbers are also quite low in our province, with only two to four cases a day, but nonetheless it's giving people anxiety about return to school.

      Delete
  3. Well said! You had to make some tough decisions as an educator and I appreciate you and all of the teachers out there! I hope you have a successful year! On a separate note, I love your colorful jumpsuit! Such a cute first day back look!

    Jill - Doused in Pink

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much. I am sure we will all persevere through this time. I often wonder what kind of "histroy" lesson this will be one day for generations ahead. A world wide pandemic and it's impact on culture, society, economics, etc.

      Delete
  4. Great first day of school outfit! We are going hybrid right now and should get a call from the school tonight or tomorrow as to the plan for after Labor Day. It has gone well and the kids are loving their days in school (not so much the home school days). It was interesting to hear from the administrator side of it, how you feel about it.
    www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ditto to everything you said, and said so well. I have always worked in low socio-economic areas and those babies especially need to be in school. Most of the students in the last school where I worked would not have the technology, the connectivity, the adult supervision needed to be successful in an online learning environment. They wouldn't even have the nutrition they need without free breakfast and lunch. I am afraid most of them probably lost over a half year of instruction and progress last school year.
    Praying you and all the educators returning to school this year stay safe and can jump all of the hurdles this virus has cast in your way to just trying to do your jobs. Children are my jam, too. And back to school was always exciting to me. Hope this year will be your best yet. You certainly look adorable in that jumpsuit. Go get 'em!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ooo nice first day outfit and I hope it has been a wonderful few days so far. We started remote learning and it has been pretty hectic so we are chugging away one day at a time. I am relearning a few things too so that's neat!

    Maureen | www.littlemisscasual.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Aren't you cute!! And, you even have your own 'back to school' sign- I love it!!! This jumpsuit is just lovely with or without that jacket. I wish you the best!! My kids have been in their schools for 3 weeks now and so far so good, fingers crossed!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Bo, first I have to tell you how adorable this jumpsuit is on you! I always got excited for the first day of school when I was in school and even more so when I get to send my kids back to school. The best part is the new school clothes! This is a scary and frustrating time for everyone sending kids back to school. But I am having confidence that the schools are making it as safe as possible. I just worry that we will get settled into our 2 days a week at school routine and just as quickly it will be switched to fully remote again. But I guess we have to just take it one day at a time. Wishing you lots of luck and much success this school year! Thanks for linking up with me.

    Shelbee
    www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    ReplyDelete