Approaching One Year of Pandemic
Inspirational Hearts by Fourth Grade + Kindergarten
It’s been almost a year since a pandemic came out of the likes of science fiction and movies and into our reality.
I recently reread the March 2020 letter to the community delaying the return to school, so hopeful it would be a week or two. Well, we all know that weeks became months and next thing we knew we were reimagining graduation, summer camp, the start of school, and nearly every aspect of school life. If I hadn’t lived through it, I’d say it was unbelievable. Just unbelievable.
A few weeks ago, I joined fellow fourth and fifth grade parents for an upper school information session. In that meeting, one parent asked about the pandemic and learning loss. Hearing our teachers describe how we have been able to keep things moving was a powerful moment for me. It was truly the most honest reflection of how the pandemic has affected teachers and learning at GUS. In the world outside of GUS, some have responded by pausing life as they know it. There is no pause button when it comes to a child’s educational needs. GUS students are the lucky ones. This school year has been happy and hopeful, but also different. Just so very different.
I met with one teacher recently who shared that they felt their teaching wasn’t as innovative or creative as it usually was. I was shocked. This year, I have seen our teachers at their most creative, inventive, and passionate. Over and over, they have been faced with the unexpected, and, each time, they’ve been able to not only make it work but make it shine. We have had a front-row seat to grace under pressure personified. They have been true rockstars, but have gotten so used to grinding that they’re left with no sense of what they have truly done. I’ve truly never seen a group more committed to delivering on our mission, to knowing and helping every child, to bringing out the best in every student, and finding the best in every situation. We are all so fortunate to have the most dedicated teachers. Just so very fortunate.
I’ve spoken a few times about how the hardest part of this pandemic, aside from the devastating loss of life, has been not knowing when it would end. This pandemic has felt like the last mile in a race with a finish line that keeps moving a bit farther every time, a mile, a week, a month, until summer, until fall, until Thanksgiving, until winter break, until Spring break… the line keeps moving and what I’ve realized is there is no real finish line. We will forever be changed by what has happened, in big ways and small ways, and we don’t know when it will end. There are signs pointing to another year of mask-wearing and social distancing. It’s so hard to not know. Just so hard.
Of course, it isn’t all bad. Reflecting on how much I took for granted in normal times, like spending time with friends and visiting my favorite places, I know I will be changed for the good by what has happened. GUS will be changed in positive ways, too. The pandemic has brought new families to GUS - so many who had long wondered ‘what if,’ suddenly found the push to make the jump - and we are so happy to have them! It has also forced us outside more, encouraged us to be creative with our spaces, and given us opportunities to come together in new and different ways. The zoom version isn’t always worse. The annual school meeting last spring had our highest attendance in years! Some changes will be worth holding on to.
Yet, we do need to mourn. It’s ok to be sad for what has not been. For lost opportunities or experiences, for that calm that used to come from routine, for vacations or breaks that just haven’t happened, for people we miss or have lost. Change is hard. These changes have been painful at times, especially for 8th graders, then and now. So, as we come up on a year since our lives were forever changed by the pandemic, it’s ok to take a minute to acknowledge grief. It is sad. Just so very sad.
Yet, there is always hope. As I sat down to write recommendation letters for our 8th graders applying to secondary schools, I found hope. This time each year, reflecting on young people who have enriched our community is a joy. This year, I was struck by the resilience demonstrated by this group of young people. Starting in August took some bravery on the part of school administrators and teachers, but also on the part of students. They, and their schoolmates, were asked to uphold community contracts and strict protocols. Here we are, days from Spring Break, months of school behind us, and I am so proud of this group. They have demonstrated many traits, but the ability to trust and go forward, our school battle cry, has been inspirational. They embrace the possibilities and they give us hope. I know they will be ready for the next chapter, but I know we will be sad to part with them. This group of 8th graders are a true credit to our school and I am so proud. Just so very proud.
So, while there are many emotions like sadness, hope, and pride whirling around as we approach the one year mark, let us move forward by taking our cues from our community. Like our 8th grade leaders, let us embrace opportunity. Like our teachers, let us be inventive and creative as we reimagine the things most important to us and battle through the loss of what was. Especially as parents, we know time will move at lightning speed and just because we don’t know where the finish line is, we do know that one day, things will be different. We will reclaim the things that are most important and we will change the things that can be better. If you had told me that day in March that this is what was about to happen, I wouldn’t have believed it possible. Yet, what I have learned in that year is at GUS, truly anything is possible. I am so lucky to lead such a special school with so many wonderful community members, just so lucky.
Gretchen Forsyth
Head of School