Return to Learn ~ In Person x 5 Days a Week

On the Monday after spring break, Aiden and Madilyn returned back in-person to a regular school schedule for the first time in over a year. They were excited to see their teachers and friends. They were not so excited to wear masks all day long though, but we will take the wins where we can.

As a parent, I have been amazed at the resilience my kids have displayed in the past year:

In the first months of the pandemic, my kids adapted to my homeschooling curriculum. Surprising, we all learned a ton about each other in those months and eventually developed a fun and unique learning environment.
In August, when school started, it was 100% virtual. We had some bumps, but they quickly learned how to learn via online instruction.
In October after fall break, they returned back to campus in a hybrid model. The class was split into three groups -- A, B and Virtual only. The A and B groups had two days of full day instruction, two days of independent study and one day of virtual learning. By then, we were excited to get the kids back in the classroom, but this schedule was not ideal.
Then, on the Monday prior to Thanksgiving, the school district elected to return back to a 100% virtual classroom arrangement. The kids were so devastated. We had just gotten them into a pretty good routine with the hybrid model. It was at this time that we decided to continue to have our kids go to school on campus using the onsite support option that had to be made available for parents. This allowed our kids to have socialization time and see their friends, however, they had to remain in their "pods" and still virtually attend school. And although it allowed our kids some resemblance of school and allowed Josh and I to get back into our offices to work, it didn't solve all of our issues and had its own challenges.

It has been a trying school year and, yet, through it all, our kids managed to adapt and make the best of each situation. They have continued to work hard and their grades reflect that perseverance. We are super proud of them and hope they know impressed we have been on how much they have grown mentally this year. It will definitely be a school year to remember.

Aiden, March 2020

Fourth Grade, Mrs. Fuerte