Back to School - Covid Style (2020)

 

Wow, it was a weird summer. When we switched to online learning last March, no one could have imagined that in August we would still be dealing with the Covid, and trying to figure out the best way to educate our kids.  The school district held a lot of meetings, sent out surveys, and still seemed to change their plans weekly.  Tim and I talked a lot about homeschooling the kids, but they were so upset about the possibility that we decided to do everything possible to get them back to school. When it finally came time to start, the district had decided that the kids would be going every other day, and then do online learning on the odd days and Fridays.  Honestly, we weren't sure about that much online learning, and tried to look into alternate options.  Unfortunately, there were not a lot of great ones and ultimately we decided to send them to Lakeview.  There was a lot of excitement, and a lot of nerves the night before the big return to school.  They weren't able to have Back to School Night and I was surprised at how much that bothered all of us.  We have loved meeting the teachers and checking out the kids classrooms the night before they officially start and that seems to help the kids feel ready to go back.  Since we couldn't connect in person, the school sent videos from the teachers and staff - watching those seemed to help settle some nerves.  We all woke up extra early for their first morning and it was fun to see the kids' excitement.  We had to get our traditional "first morning" pictures quickly because Luke and Ruby were ready to take on the 3rd and 1st grade.

They are so patient with all of our pictures.

Ruby always wants extra time with the camera

Mask Up!  

This is the "new normal" every morning.

Tim and I walked the kids to school where thinks looked pretty different.  In the past the kids entered from the front of the school and just walked directly to their classes.  The new protocol is that each of the teachers greets their students on the back playground, and then they walk the class in together.  The kids were both pretty nervous until we made it to the school but as soon as they saw their friends, all their fears disappeared.  I loved hanging out and watching, they both looked so happy to be back.

Ruby loved her first day of school with the big kids,

And Luke loves his teacher, so it was a perfect first day.