The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
A new educational normal
Car parade welcomes young students to virtual learning
MIDDLETOWN — A ying and yang of emotions were in abundance Monday as teachers, staff and the principal of one school bedecked their vehicles with colorful signs, balloons, streamers and encouraging words — and got ready to parade around the neighborhood.
The Moody Elementary School caravan, one of several taking place over a week’s time around the public school district, marked the first day of virtual learning in an effort to protect students and staff during the coronavirus pandemic by way of social distancing.
The district is employing Google Classroom and Seesaw to connect with students.
Monday was a chance to welcome the children back to a new method of teaching made necessary as the nation steels itself for another month of working at home and, often, in isolation.
With equal parts nostalgia and exuberance in a slow-moving parade, teachers set off to honk horns and enthusiastically greet their students, most of whom haven’t seen their
instructors since March 13.
“It’s somewhat depressing” without the chatter and bustle of young kids filling the halls and classrooms, “not to be able to greet them every morning, help them off the bus,” said Principal Jen Cannata.
Mostly, she misses popping into classrooms and the lunchroom, as she often delights in seeing what children are working on and eating each day, Cannata said.
Disconnection is an unfamiliar feeling for everyone in the school community.
“Not seeing them smiling, not hearing what’s going on in their lives, not hearing their stories, how their families are, if they won the basketball tournament. I know it’s probably even harder for them,” the principal said.
Outside, paraprofessional Sheryl Wolfgram wrote “butternut squash” with a neon marker on the rear windshield of her SUV. She knows her students will immediately understand the reference.
“I’m majorly obsessed with butternut squash and all the kids know, so this is what makes me happy. I feel like a squashy princess,” Wolfgram said as she placed a sparkly crown on her head.
It’s been tough, she acknowledged. “I do a Zoom call with some of our kids because I miss them,” she said.
A group took part in a birthday party vehicle promenade for a student over the weekend. As a special surprise, Wolfgram and her husband dropped off a gift.
Music teacher Charlotte Stopa brought along her 4-year-old son, who needs extra help due to a learning disability and requires speech-language and occupational therapy. “We’re trying our best,” she said, adjusting to a new normal.
“We love Moody School! Keep singing,” she wrote on her SUV, adding an embellished clef note.
Stopa is also home with her 2-year-old daughter. It’s been quite a challenge making sure the older one completes his work, and keeps busy with other activities. Stopa is also working for hours on creating lessons for her students as well as her son. “It’s been tricky, very exhausting. We can’t go out and have a break.
“We can’t go to the park,” although the children do play in her fenced-in yard. “He can’t see his friends to have that fun interaction,” she added.
It’s possible instructors won’t see them until fall, when they advance a grade.
“It’s really hard thinking I might not see them for the rest of the year,” Stopa added.
A parent reached out to Cannata Sunday night, trying to figure out with her son how to make a sign to hold aloft when the group of cars passed.
“You have to use whatever is in your house. The mother had gotten a big piece of plywood from the garage. The child said, ‘Mom. That’s not going to be big enough,’” the principal said, clearly
charmed.
“Middletown has done a great job with checking on the social and emotional well-being of families, making sure they’re fed, making sure meal sites are up and running, making sure every family has a device or access to Wi-Fi. That’s been a huge task the district has taken on,” she said.
The younger children are most unfamiliar with doing schoolwork on the computer. “We’re talking about 5-yearolds having to navigate through the technology or get the assignments with minimal support. They’re self-guiding their learning. But it can’t replace brick-andmortar construction, where the kids are with their teacher every day,” Cannata added.
Fifth-grade teacher Tammy Behrens acknowledged these past two weeks have been much different than summer break. The “not knowing” when things will get back to normal is a new sensation.
“It’s a great way to show our students we really miss them. I’m excited to get back to school with them,” Behrens said.
“We’re with our students more than we’re with our families, so, all of a sudden, we have this abrupt stop to being with your family every single day,” she said, looking forward to video chatting, notes from the children, using various platforms to see them, all learning something new together.
“It’s been really nice to reconnect with them again,” Cannata said.
“I tell my students all the time one of the things we focus on is developing a growth mindset. This is it,” Behrens said.
“Right now, we have to show grit. We have to show everything I’ve been teaching them about. You need perseverance, resilience and, above all, you need grit. We all need that: just roll with it and make the best of it,” she added.