It is hard to believe that this school year has come to a
close already – particularly since you haven’t actually been in school since March
13! 2020 is now half over and it has been one for the history books. You may
not realize the significance right now, but one day you will look back on 2020
and this time spent on lockdown and realize the global, unprecedented nature of
what we’ve all lived through.
In early 2020, reports of a new global pandemic began
circulating. And by the middle of March, the entire world shut down. At one
point 80% of the world’s children were NOT in physical school. Entire countries
are on lockdown, borders closed, stock and gas prices plummeted, store shelves
were empty of non-perishable foods and toilet paper, all public gatherings
(including weddings and funerals) were banned, playgrounds closed, professional
sports teams cancelled the season, hand sanitizer and Lysol wipes are still
incredibly difficult to find, people are wearing masks everywhere.
It’s been a
wild ride and we aren’t over it yet. While currently our region is in Stage 2
(meaning certain things can open again – like restaurant patios and salons –
with certain health/cleaning/distancing protocols in place), our province is
still under a State of Emergency and there continue to be new cases of Covid-19
reported every day.
On Thursday March 12th, one day before the scheduled
last day of school before March break, the government announced that schools
would close AFTER March break for a two-week period. And then they extended the
shutdown. And then they announced online/distance learning resources to help
support students in the interim. And then they extended the shutdown again and
teachers officially began teaching via distance learning. And then they called
the year.
I have been struggling a bit with how much you all have
missed out on this year – truthfully, maybe I am struggling with it a bit more
than you all seem to be. End of year parties, the school Fun Fair, yearbooks,
saying goodbye to daycare after all of these years – and of course all of the
wonderful teachers and friends you haven’t gotten to see every day. I commend
your teachers for being so amazing and flexible and compassionate during this
difficult time, but online learning for an hour a day just does not replace the
immense value you get from being in school. Luckily, you all have an easy time
with school and you took on online challenges with relative ease. We had some
bumps in the road, and some days where no one felt like ‘school’ but overall,
you have all been rockstars and I am so proud. I am also so thankful that your
father has been off work this entire time to help you, leaving me free to focus
on my (new) job, working entirely from home shut away in our bedroom.
So while I am sad that you have missed so much, I am also so
grateful that we’ve gotten to spend this time together. I am working, but there
is no long commute and thankfully I can take breaks when I need to. We will be
together at least until the end of summer, meaning nearly six months of us all
being at home together. It’s hard and challenging and frustrating and isolating
and lonely at times – for all of us – but it’s also so, so wonderful to be able
to spend so much time together. A strange gift in strange times.
We still have no idea what the next school year will look
like or what it will hold for you all, but I know now, without a doubt, that
whatever comes your way you will all handle it with the amazing resilience you’ve
shown so far. I couldn’t be prouder. Onwards and upwards to Grades 3, 4 and 6!
Love,
Mama
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