School closures in 2020 pandemic

Let me give you a little insight on how I handled the school closure as it approached in March 2020. 

As I sat on the couch the evening of March 12, 2020, my husband said,

“I’m confident that you won’t have school on Monday… schools are going to close.”

Now, if you know me, you know my husband is always the logical one in the relationship, while I’m more of the emotional one. He makes logical decisions, I make emotional ones. 

So, trusting my logical husband, I went into school on Friday March 13th, 2020 and began searching my files and activities to send home work for my students. He already could tell the school closure was coming.

The prep work

During my planning period, my assistant principal asked me what I was doing copying so many materials at the printer? I explained that I would be sending work home for my students in the event that schools closed by Monday. He scoffed and laughed at me. He also stated that there was no way schools will close and that I can prepare the work, but I should not send the materials home today. 

By 11:00AM, I started to separate the materials into piles for each of my students. My assistants helped significantly so I could continue our daily lessons as normal. I didn’t want my students to feel the stress or the change coming. 

The announcement

I received a phone call from my husband at 12:28PM, just before my students came back from lunch. My husband told me that my district just announced a school closure for the next 2 weeks. My students came back from lunch at 12:35PM. As I was getting my students back into the classroom from lunch, I heard my principal come onto our loudspeaker. 

“Attention students and staff, it has come to my attention that schools will be closed for the next two weeks. Please take home any necessary supplies and materials for this time off. Thank you.” 

That was it. No explanation, no reasoning. They knew just as little as I did. Administration was scrambling. There really was going to be a school closure.

I told my assistants to run the classroom as normal for the next hour so that I could get a couple things put together. The final 2 hours of school, I talked with my students and prepared them for the closures. 

Going the extra mile

I made personal phone calls to all my families to explain to them that schools will close for the next 2 weeks and I would be available via email if they needed anything. 

My team and I sent home a set of markers, scissors, and a glue stick and a stack of at least two weeks of work for my students to do at home.

We also worried about my students that were on free and reduced lunches and had two meals at school everyday. My team and I searched my cabinets for any snacks, food and meals to send home. I sent home instant Mac n cheese bowls, cans of soup, goldfish crackers and poptarts. Anything I could send home to help out even just for a little bit. We all had no idea how long we would be closed for. 

I packed all the students backpacks at 3:00PM and filled them to the brim. I said my goodbyes and “see you in two weeks” to each of my students. Never did I realize how long it would be until I saw them again. The school closure broke my heart.

If you want to know more about how I handled teaching in spring 2020, stay tuned for my next blog post! 

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