Thursday, May 28, 2020

Milestones in Quarantine

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School has always been big on ceremony. Silly hats, formal speeches, printed certificates and all. Recognition for work well done and reaching of milestone moments, moving from one level to another. 

Those ceremonies and traditions cement the experience and give us all a moment to pause together and say, "You amazing kid! Go you!" 

In my middle school, my eighth graders lost their ceremonies this year. 

There was no big field trip, no formal dance, no academic awards ceremony, and no commencement ceremony. 

There are other milestones, too, which while not academic-related exactly, matter a great deal to the kids: thirteenth birthday parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, quinceaƱeras, tournaments, belt ceremonies, recitals, investitures, badge and bridging ceremonies, performances, concerts. All of them are notable for in-person gatherings: grandparents with cameras, cookies and punch, flowers and streamers. 

We're doing what we can (schools and families), sending notes, making phone calls, arranging for video versions of events, but it's not the same. The energy that comes from all being in the room together--the whole group of us, not just the ones associated with one kid, but with ALL the kids--just isn't captured at COVID safe social distance. 

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Some kids feel cheated (others feel relieved), parents and families seem deflated, and we teachers are so very sad. These moments matter a lot to us, too. Celebrating accomplishments brings us together like no other part of the educational process. 

For me, it has made the opportunity to celebrate together that much more precious. I know I'll feel the moment more strongly, the next time I get to call out a kid's name from a stage so they can be applauded by us all. Now I know I shouldn't have taken those opportunities for granted. 

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