Masks, distance, and small groups? OK!
I was attempting to trim an out of control forsythia bush when my watch pinged an alert.
Massachusetts DESE released their initial, long-awaited guidance for reopening schools yesterday.
As the director of a tiny independent school, I have been waiting, both eager and afraid, to receive this information.
In a less-graceful-than-intended maneuver, I rolled back onto my butt and landed in a pile of castoff twigs and black mulch. I propped myself up on my elbows and squinted at my tiny iPhone screen, trying to absorb the critical details:
6 feet apart preferable, 3 feet apart allowed. Face the same direction.
3 instructional plans: In person, Hybrid, and Remote
Face coverings for all
Small cohorts of kids
Hand hygiene
Designated isolation location for students who might become ill
“Holy crap,” I thought, heaving myself out of the mulch, “We can do this… WE CAN DO THIS REALLY WELL!”
Ever since the initial CDC guidelines came out in late May, I have been walking around with constant chatter in my head. The maximum class size of 10 was not going to be a problem for us, but the extended list of restrictions impacted even the teeny tiniest details of our school day. It was daunting, and for a young microschool like ours, felt potentially game-ending.
I know I need a better-fitting mask. I’ll get one… because I have hope for our school to open again!
But yesterday, as I read through a list of what has quickly become the common sense of our new normal, I felt a surge of hope. Because of our tiny size, our school has the agility required to meet safety requirements that only months ago, would have felt shocking.
Like every small business and organization, The Accord School has been absolutely devastated by the COVID pandemic. We had to shut down right in the middle of our enrollment season- and families aren’t banging down the doors of tuition-based schools right now. We lost income that we depend on from social groups, VanCamp, and our annual major fundraiser. The past few months have been uncomfortable on good days, and deeply worrisome on the bad ones.
But last night, as I mentally walked through our building, making notes on an old architect’s drawing, I felt my shoulders relax, maybe for the first time since March.
Our enrollment, although scary low right now, will make physical distancing more than doable.
I had already been writing a 3 pronged instructional plan.
Our kids have been practicing wearing masks (on camera) during online group games since May.
Small cohorts of kids is what we do.
Hand washing? No problem. We have sinks in almost every classroom.
We have never had an “isolation room” (togetherness is kind of our thing), but we do have that unused office where students sometimes try to sneak off to take naps. That’ll work.
In no way am I going to be cocky or overconfident. The impact of this pandemic has been jarring, and we have a lot of planning, shifting, and a steep financial recovery ahead.
But the hope and likelihood of being with the kids again in the fall is going to give me a huge head start up the hill.