School's out... or is it?

Cue the second verse of Alice Cooper’s “School’s out for summer:” 

No more pencils no more books
No more teacher's dirty looks yeah
Well we got no class
And we got no principals
And we got no innocence
We can't even think of a word that rhymes
School's out for summer
School's out forever
My school's been blown to pieces

The reality is school is still in session – just at home.  As much as parents and teachers try to make it seem school-as-usual, it’s the furthest from usual.  It feels like a snow day, extended spring break, and summer break all in one.  And yet we’re still doing schoolwork.  Something feels off.

Teachers are doing their damnedest to keep students involved.  We all know distractions at home can be hard to avoid.  Or motivation to do schoolwork when you roll out of bed is a challenge.  The end of school year 2019-2020 is one for the books.  Prom is cancelled.  Graduation is most-likely cancelled.  College tours are virtual.  And we haven’t been able to be within six feet of our friends or family for over a month.  What is this world we are living in?

There is little distinction between the weekends and the weekdays.  Mainly because there is so much flexibility with schoolwork and the lack of organized activities because of “sheltering in place.”  Time is just moving by with a snail’s pace.  Everyone is grieving.  The loss of social norms, the loss of academic milestone and celebrations, and the loss of family and friends due to COVD-19.  It’s just a very surreal time.

Yet, school isn’t out.  It’s not going to be out for a couple months at least.  It’s just that sports are cancelled.  Classes are online.  Graduation is cancelled. And Commit to College Day is postponed a month.  Everything is off.  And yet, school is not out for summer.  We have to reign it back in.  We are trying to focus on business-as-usual with our academics.  This is not an extended spring break, or a snow day.  Focus!

School is not out forever.

For questions or comments contact Joanna.