February 14, 2021

Happy Valentine’s Day to My 6th Grade Sunshines!

As we head into the second half of your 2020/2021 6th grade school year, I wanted to let you know how proud of you I am, and how proud of yourselves that you should be, for doing your best in school during this crazy pandemic time!  Since last March 2020, you have been navigating through something that no other school children in history have ever had to handle.  

Never in history have students, as a whole, had to attend school from their home, while watching your teacher share lessons through a computer. You’ve attended from different locations –  kitchen, bedroom, dining room,  living room, office, stairway, outside on the deck or porch, at a picnic table, on the floor someplace, at a parent or guardian’s place of employment, in a car, at a relative’s home, at the sitter’s/daycare, or even in a restaurant!  The background noise and activity level in your “home-school” locations have ranged on any given day from hearing crickets to not being able to hear our classroom meet.  But, you have done your best with a situation that you didn’t ask for; you’ve been honest, you have rolled with the punches, and you keep showing up, day after day, even when the schedule of daily times is switched up on you, too often. Thank you! 

Your patience with me, your REALLY “non-tech savvy teacher,” has been amazing and beyond my wildest expectations! I truly appreciate your willingness, every day, to help our virtual and hybrid classroom run smoothly by sharing your technology skills and knowledge with me, and with each other.  You have shared without giving it a second thought. Your sense of humor has also truly helped to get me, and some of your peers, through those tech speed bumps. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart!  

Your virtual kindness toward each other has been wonderful! For those of you who have attended hybrid school in-person, I see how happy you are when you are able to “just chit-chat” with your classmates, in the same room. For those of you who are remote, I notice how patient you are while the in-person activities happen; I notice how good you are at, and happy you are while communicating and socializing through your devices.  Your smiles are beautiful, regardless of your location! Thank you! 

Your bravery and the self-confidence it has taken to feel comfortable enough to follow “all cameras on,” is to be commended.  It is not always easy to let others into our “personal spaces” part of life, virtually, like this pandemic has required us to do, me included!  Some of you were comfortable from the beginning…so much so that you’ve taken us on tours of whatever and wherever your personal space is, you’ve shared your pets, your family, and your hobbies and projects. Some of you didn’t start out quite so comfortable, but you’ve (me included) done it; you’ve respected the requests of your teachers and the district, and for that I thank you!  If you are someone who is still hesitant about virtual school at this time – no worries – we each have our own timing for things in life. However, I promise you that if you choose to be willing and flexible, for now, it can work for you, too!  Even virtually, everyone has something special to offer in class. It is working for so many of you, for now, because you’ve chosen to let it work. Thank you! 

I also want to let you know that I appreciate your willingness to accept any guidance and support from anyone at home who has been helping you behind the scenes to: show up on time, further explain your school work, get the work done, help you organize, and make sure you have food and a place to sleep during these tough times. Thank you, my students, for respecting and helping the adults in your life, when you can, in the wonderful way that you do!   

Sure, school this year has been completely different than any of my 25ish years of teaching – but because of your willingness to roll with it, you’ve been able to learn, regardless of what life has thrown your way…and I know so many of us have had some not-so-great things thrown our way this year! We’re all in this together on that topic!

Is life these days traditional and what we expect, are used to, or want? No way! Is this way of school forever?  Probably not.  Has it been perfect? Not yet; it probably won’t ever be.  But in our ELA class, we’ve been able to figure out a way to make it work. We’ve read stories, we’ve had great conversations about characters in the literature we’ve read; you’ve learned new grammar, punctuation, and reading and writing skills; you’ve had to think – yes, in a different and virtual way, but you’ve been able to make it happen!  

Be proud of yourselves for your participation and willingness, for being patient, for your bravery, kindness, honesty, humor, and for showing up daily!  Thank you for being you, for giving it your all, and for helping your classmates and me smile and learn, every day!  We have been able to create a classroom personality that has a wonderful blend of seriousness and silliness!  You are noticed, you are special, and you make a difference! Happy Valentine’s Day!  

With much warmth,

Mrs. Peterson