Back to School - Unprecedented!

Maya Angelou’s words are very appropriate as we go back to school this fall: “Do the best you can do until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."

Some words can get used to the point that they lose meaning. Throughout the COVID pandemic, unprecedented is one of those words. As I prepared to go back to school it was sobering to think of all of the new structures and processes in place that have never existed in my teaching career - unprecedented.

Last Friday I didn’t know what to expect for students' return on Monday. I had no frame of reference, just countless pages of relaunch guidelines, news feeds, and social media. I really didn’t know what to expect - unprecedented.

Monday came.

It was great! Yes it’s different. Yes, physical and psychological safety are our top priority. Yes it was fantastic to have kiddos back at school again. And yes, the students blew me away how prepared they were to come back to school. Students know that things are different. They might not like all of the “strings attached” as we come back, but they are willing to do their part so we can be together at school again.

Last Friday, as a staff, we didn’t know what to expect. Fear and anxiety were packed into our bags as we went home for the weekend. This Friday, we are much more relaxed, we have gained a week of experience. We have precedent.

Does that mean it’s smooth sailing and we have an easy year ahead? Nope! But after one week we “know better” and that means next week we can “do better”. I think our rational selves knew that all along, but we needed to experience it to believe it - precedent.

Today as a staff, we started the day with a quick exercise. I had the staff give some advice to their “Last Friday” self. Knowing what they know after one week with students, what is something they wish they knew last Friday before students arrived on Monday. Part of this was to reflect, but part of this was to share. We need to share our experiences so that we can develop shared precedent moving forward.

I’ve included their advice to their “Last Friday” self below. The advice is simple, concrete, and wise. If you’re still waiting for your first day with kiddos, I hope this advice is helpful. Take this as trusted advice. We’re all feeling the same things, but most of all, we’ve got this!

Advice to my “Last Friday” self:

• Make the most of your time and remember to breathe.

• What you think will happen is typically worse than what actually happens.

• Go with the flow and not stress about the small things. Everything will work out and focus on what is to come and what I already know.

• You don’t need to panic - things went well and your kids are great!

• It doesn’t all need to be perfect the first time.

• The kids are ready to be back at school.

• Breathe

• This too shall pass.

• You will have to remind them MULTIPLE times about their masks, but they are not a huge deal.

• Get more sleep - stop worrying about things you can’t change at 2AM.

• Go for a bike ride, it’s going to get busy.

• The students in your class will be receptive to the new protocols, and in reality, classes won’t be as different as you might expect!

• Sleep more, exercise more, take more time to yourself. Write down questions as they arise.

• Why don’t you trust your gut? You trust it for food, why not now?

• Try the hairstyle before, not in the morning when you’re running late.

• Masks are not as bad as you think they’ll be.

• The kids are excited to see you.

• Wear a sweater and your good shoes. Eat more to keep going!*

• The sanitizing stations work really well.

• Plan for more stuff - time flies with a small group!

• Take one day at a time. This is all new to everybody. We need to get kids active again. Nice to be back to school; feels better and kind of normal.

• Have somewhere they can put their masks when they are not wearing them at their desks so they’re not taking up space or falling on the floor.

• Yes, you are going to sound like a broken record.

• Wear a sweater.*

• The kids are more prepared for the changes than you though they would be.

• It’s OK not to know.

• Having this last week to reflect on my professional practice I can honestly say that I felt more at peace once I saw my students and the smiles on their faces. Children are much more resilient than us adults. We lose our sense of trust-adults.

• Trust yourself and your experience to be flexible and handle what comes your way with grace and thoughtful process. You’ve got this.

• FEAR - False Evidence Appearing Real

• Think about indoor recess ideas.*

• They need YOU. Nothing else. Just you to be present and there for them. Focus on relationships and connecting. Everything else will follow.

• Wear warm clothes because the heat isn’t on in the school.*

• Slow down. Curriculum is on the bottom of the list right now. Focus on safety, routines, and a bit of fun!

• Bring an umbrella on Wednesday!*

*It was cold in our building this week and we had rain. Sweaters and umbrellas have nothing to do with COVID risk mitigation:)