Many Thanks for a Great Year!

It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of the school year.  We continue to monitor life around the nation and our world, checking in on the impacts of the COVID-19 health pandemic. At this point in our return to normalcy, states are now considering an appropriate timeframe and phases to begin reopening our communities.  While we still don’t know what will happen with each new opening phase, one thing for sure is that we will end our school year with distance learning.

A local parent of my district and Wall Street Journal contributor, wrote an article published in the Wall Street Journal about distance learning in our district. Check this out!


Click on this image to read the news article.

Now that we have had the opportunity to move this education ship a full 180 degree turn in a few days back in March, we’ve implemented a full distance learning program with available resources, community members jumped in to support families and students with learning, and we are beginning to wrap up this school year . . . what will happen in August. Questions begin to arise about the upcoming school year.  What will this look like?  Will we be engaging in distance learning, learning at school, a blended model?  What will be the state of the health care and pandemic?  It is not new conversation to hear about the expected resurgence of the COVID-19 virus in the fall.  At least we know more about this virus, are working towards a vaccine, and will be better prepared for the fall when we begin another school year. 

Our year has come to an end. We send off our students with our annual bubble parade.
Families and staff say good bye and send warm wishes for a fabulous summer break during the bubble parade.

We made it!!  It is hard to believe how crazy this year turned out to be.  I am truly thankful for all my students and their parents for helping us to make lemonade out of our lemons.

While we don’t know what is going to happen in the fall, we are going to make certain our students have a fabulous end of the year celebration to begin their summer vacation. 

MANY THANKS TO ALL!!!

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Annette Durbin

Annette has been an educator for more than 30 years working in the PK-6 elementary classroom, K-12 multi-language learner instructional specialist, district leadership, university professor, as well as a mentor for teachers nationwide. A National Board Certificated Teacher, Annette focuses her research on accelerating learning and advancing achievement, personalizing instruction, technology, and leadership in the education field.

This Post Has 32 Comments

  1. Suzan | It's My Sustainable Life

    Inspiration is always good & “you made it” about sums up 2020 so far. Sending out positive energy as you have done here is always appreciated!

  2. Jaci

    I was a teacher this last year and I feel our students really learn some useful tools the last few months!

    1. User Avatar
      Annette Durbin

      Yes, certainly some additional independent learning skills, too.

  3. Stephanie

    These have definitely been some challenging times. Curious to see how schools look starting in the fall.

  4. Lisa

    This is a year to remember. I hope next year is more traditional.

  5. Jessica

    My sister is a teacher too, it’s such a trying and confusing time. But always, we try to make the best of it for the kids!

    1. User Avatar
      Annette Durbin

      I agree!! I think that is the focus we need to have, regardless of what happens in the fall – to make the situation the best we can for our students.

  6. Lora

    I thank all teachers who adapted to this new way of teaching/learning. I do think some good things came out of it to carry us into the future.

  7. Douglas

    I teach at the college level and have now been doing that remotely since March. It is definitely different. It has allowed me start my blog which is a plus. I do miss the in person interaction though.

  8. Sydney

    It’s going to be strange come Fall! I’m hoping kids can go back to school normally, but no matter what, we will make it work!

  9. Danielle

    It was certainly the most memorable academic year we’ve ever had (and hopefully, the last of its kind until we retire)!

  10. Alexis Farmer

    Wow what a wild ride of a year, I’m sure the bubble parade was a hit!

    1. User Avatar
      Annette Durbin

      The families love it!! It was great to see so many families participate and bring their own bubbles, too.

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