COVID 19 Reflections

One year ago, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic. Schools across the world quickly adapted to virtual learning, with teachers, students, and administrators preparing for a new life way. When I returned to my high school in September 2020, since shutting down on March 25, 2020, the hallways were one of dead silence. I teach at one of the largest schools in my school division, with approximately 1250 students attending each year and class sizes as large as 30 students per period. When I think about what my classes will look like with the current health and safety guidelines, I was feeling slightly anxious.

In-person instruction, remote learning, hybrid teaching, and blended learning are a series of terms that I refer to as “The Year of COVID,” with instructions on how to teach the students. I read multiple teacher websites, listened to several podcasts, watched the news, and talked to my colleagues about how teaching during COVID could ever work during a pandemic. I think daily about my students, but now, those concerns are growing. I never thought the Friday we said goodbye to them would be the last time I saw them. I never imagined not walking back into my classroom full of 9th,11th and 12th graders practicing their written and reading skills. I never even got to say goodbye to them this time. There is so much more I wanted to teach them. It’s not only about English skills but also about being good citizens, about growing up and learning how to overcome life’s challenges. 

Disappointing grade 12 students who won’t see a graduation dinner and dance and the absence of yearbook pictures will never happen. Teachers don’t get to celebrate moments with their students and finish the year with kids we have grown to appreciate over the past seven months.

Lives turned upside down. I am grateful that my family taught me to adapt and be resilient, but not everyone can do that easily. Listening and watching parents being frustrated by becoming teachers overnight and kids not being able to go anywhere is taking a toll on everyone’s mental health. We are all human, and we are sad that we can’t meet every need out there. Teachers have big hearts, and we wish the best for every child. 

We want to work with our students and help them in any way we can. Also, we are learning how to navigate digital learning and adapt to a less structured educational setting. We continue to be the support for students. We realize that teaching is a work of heart, and all of us have our hearts in the right place moving forward. Supportive messages from the Superintendent’s department help us to remain grounded and include these words, “Helping the kids is what is on our hearts during this pandemic, and we need to do that together.”

Upon return in September, we couldn’t join as one to begin the school year. There is no unity; teachers and students are in cohorts. We repeated the instructions daily, sit two metres apart, no sharing of school supplies, and masks on. Preparing for the year was physically and mentally exhausting. All schools made several structural and procedural changes to comply with new guidelines.

There are no cheerful conversations about summer holidays and travel escapes that occurred during the summer. Hallways once buzzed with happy conversations changed dramatically. Most kids now sit and stare, their eyes filled with a lack of enthusiasm. 

On those first few days beginning a new school year, the moments felt so fascinating. I would see new faces, bubbly and goofy personalities. It felt right. By the second week of this September, I sensed disappointment. I’m used to hearing and seeing students interacting with each other when I’m delivering my lessons. Some of our classes moved online, and many teachers expressed the same feeling about students on mute — I didn’t hear much laughter. Now, I ask students about their learning in other classes and how they spend their time away from school. I keep my expectations high, but flexibility is imperative. We have learned to pivot during this pandemic to broaden our scopes to provide meaningful learning opportunities for students. 

Not everything is perfect. COVID-19 has changed education, including technology, equity concerns, and school budgets. However, when we collaborate, we will discover light in this darkness. Keeping us all safe and healthy is hard work, but we will not forget the words of Dr. Roussin, ‘keep practicing the fundamentals.’ I’m focused and determined to give it my all. 

There are some beautiful moments, and students are excited to be back. I feel I can relate to my students. I am learning with them, and I’m hopeful for a better future. None of us were prepared for this one year ago. A teacher is always a learner, so I look for engaging lessons. My students are resilient. They sanitize; they wear masks without complaint;  sit two metres apart;  embrace the opportunity to be in school; my grade 12s are planning for the future, and they are remarkable kids. And I am fortunate to know them. 

2020 is now gone, and what a year this has been. But we did it. We managed to persevere and provide learning opportunities to all-time to celebrate all the small moments.