A Letter To The Incoming Class of 2020

As August comes to a close, the directions for this new school year hang in the air. Both parents and teachers alike have their phones going off with the constant updates. One update contradicting another. Families are filling out multiple surveys seeking out answers about in-school instruction. Teachers are confused about the guidelines and parents are frustrated by the everchanging results. Frustration aside, I teach 7th and 8th grade Social Studies and I cannot control my excitement to meet my new students along with seeing the familiar faces from last year. Whether we have a blended learning model or a fully remote school year, it will be a "new normal" for everyone. Students are eager to go back to school. That eagerness is matched with an immense amount of fear. Yes, going back to the building is exciting but, shool will look different. So, to the new students here's a letter to help calm the emotions you may be feeling.

Dear Incoming Class of 2020,

Your teachers are so excited to see you! They are just as happy as you are to start a fresh new year. We have missed teaching important topics and seeing our students accomplish their goals. Our hearts broke on March 13th, 2020. That was the last time our days were normal. That was a time before sickness, grief, death, loss, confusion, anxiety, and fear raced through our everyday thoughts. We went from laughing with each other during a lesson, to simply smiling over Zoom, to not showing our faces at all. It went from "Raise your hand!" to "Mute your mics!" No more high fives only emojis on Google Classroom. We both had to transition from a typical school day to staring at a computer for 7 hours. We could not leave our homes and see other family and friends. Yet, we were expected to go on doing work as if nothing changed. All of us tried to stay positive for the sake of everyone but, it was hard. We proved though, we can do hard things.

Now we are running towards a new school year head-on. Masks on, temperatures are taken, hands are washed. This unknown path we are all on will be emotional but, the power of community is we can support one another. Teachers will greet you with warm eyes and huge smiles under their masks as you take your first steps into this new year. Both of us have never done this before so, patience is appreciated on both sides. As a teacher, I will make sure my students always feel safe and supported. All of us have been through so much. My approach this year is compassion over the curriculum. Our emotional status and mental health will be a the forefront is this academic year. Yes, you will be sitting in one room all day as teachers shuffle from room to room but, we have the opportunity for change.

Often, when a system crumbles, a new one is rebuilt. Classes will be smaller, days will be shorter. This year will be our chance to practice a new education format. One that intertwines pen and paper along with technology. Parents, teachers, and students should work together as a team to ensure the happiness of all parties involved. Communication will be key and I encourage questions so we can create a solution together. We have all been a traumatic historical event and will come out stronger from it. Schools starting a new year have a chance to bring light into a dark time. This is the time to encourage one another. There will be distractions all over, having to keep the masks on, temperature taking, separate entrances, no after school clubs, social distancing, constant hand washing, reminders not to touch our faces, the list goes on.

Together though, let's make an effort to create a positive and productive new normal. My door, just like every year is always open for my students. Express your fears and nerves to one another to find support in isolation. We are all going through this crazy time together and we are all going to push through this time together. Both teachers and students should work as a team to ensure the safety of everyone and to ensure a great opportunity for an education.

I hope this year can erase the mistakes of education past and create a bright future. Students should bring their supplies and themselves as teachers create safe and engaging lessons and let the excitement of learning and community-run its course. Then, if something occurs and we move to all remote again, we have been here before. Let's adjust and learn from the mistakes of March - June of 2020. The main goal to keep everyone safe and healthy. No matter if the school year is blended or virtual let's be there for one another. It's not the new normal, it's the new opportunity.

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”

Arthur Ashe

Sincerely,

The Mindful Educator