As we move to all remote learning, Covid takes round three in a surprise attack. Covid utilized our substitute teacher shortage against us. We don’t have that many Covid cases in our district, only 10 active right now. We also don’t have many subs. So, we are moving to virtual because we were short 30 teachers in the last two weeks. It’s disappointing to be sure, but I guess we should have seen it coming. Covid took round one back in March, when our lives came to a screeching halt. That was the hit I didn’t see coming. We battled back in round two, when nice weather and masks allowed us to return to a new normal. We ate out and saw friends… we just did it outside, and we wore masks most places. Requiring masks, permanent lunch seats, and new in-class seating arrangements, the schools pushed forward with new protocols. They sent kids home for contact tracing, and most people went along without complaint, knowing that the alternative was full remote learning. But the lack of subs got the best of us, as teachers got sick (not necessarily with Covid) or were contact traced out.

Despite keeping the numbers low and doing everything right, the school administration still lost. Tayden is lucky. He spends his mornings at the county vocational school, and they are still in person. He is happy about that because he loves his Computer Animated Design class, and it is far better in person. We are raising the first generation of kids that knows what it is like to not go to school. The first generation that WANTS to be in school. I haven’t mentioned it, but I am back working in the school cafeteria, and the collective mood Tuesday was somber, as the kiddos knew that Tuesday was their last day together until at least December 7. 

We are doing it differently this time. Teachers are reporting to school. Kids will check in to classes remotely at the time of the class. Basically, attendance is taken at that time and they are absent if they don’t log on. They watch the teachers live. In a nod to the difficulty of the times, teachers, staff, and administrators can bring school aged kiddos to work and try to help keep them on task there. That should allow for some levity during class. 

As cases spike, we plod on with the teachers as the pioneers, forging the way with new ways of teaching. The school tech teams are overloaded, but pushing through. Meanwhile, there are two potential vaccines. I will get one as soon as they go public, but it looks like I am in the minority. My friend did a very informal poll on facebook, and 75% said they wouldn’t get the vaccine. I want normal back. I want the economy to bounce back. I will get the vaccine to help with that push. Understanding everyone’s arguments, I will still get it. 

Stay safe everyone! See you next week!