While much has changed in recent weeks, the 8th graders on safety patrol at Immaculate Conception are still on duty–now as the “social distance safety patrol.” They took time to encourage their fellow students this week, revealing a glimpse of the how middle schoolers are tapping into resilience amid the particular stressors they experience:
We particularly love that the eighth graders conclude the video with a time-honored ICS chant– ”All the time, God is here!”–and added a robust, timely “Wash your hands!” for good measure.
While distancing is tough for lots of people, it can be uniquely disorienting for students in transitional grades like 8th, who have long looked forward to school traditions that now play out in different ways. Thanks to middle school teachers Ms. Frazier and Ms. Pobric not just for facilitating the eighth graders’ video, but for continuing the kind of activities that help our students stay in touch with the fullness of who they are.
Students at St. Athanasius took time to greet a different group: the classmates they have met yet, newly enrolling for next year:
While many of us may feel like just getting through the next few days is an accomplishment, we are grateful for all the parents thinking ahead to next year and completing the enrollment process.
Gratitude seems to be spreading among our students as well: through journals at Our Lady Queen of Angels, thank-you art at St. Athanasius, and Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary’s shout-out to a special member of its community:
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It has long been part of the discipline of being Christian to “count our blessings”; it is even more important now in light of research about gratitude’s positive mental health impact.
St. Mark’s continues not just to talk about gratitude, but to call for action on it–encouraging families to patronize particular businesses in the neighborhood, incorporating those businesses into lesson plans, AND representing the Partnership:
Meanwhile, back online, our fine arts educators continue to inspire our students to creativity–and be inspired by them. Art teacher Mr. Moakler from Sacred Heart rightly shows off the work of eighth grader Ana and others:
Even as Sacred Heart’s music teacher Ms. Trinidad, who continues both vocal and instrumental classes online, takes a moment to recognize a student who inspires her:
And art teacher Ms. Anderson from St. Charles Borromeo, who has teed up an exceptionally creative range of assignments and suggestions, inspired this hilariously deadpan take on an American classic:
And as we discussed in Wednesday’s Post, Earth Day activities went on for more than just one day at several schools and highlighted a central component of the student experience at St. Athanasius.
In so many ways, learning continues, along with joy and community made more precious by today’s challenges. The faculties of both St.Charles and Our Lady Queen of Angels said it most eloquently this week: if there is one message teachers want to communicate even more than their subject matter, it is, quite simply, love.