Our New Normal, Volume V

A gentle breeze wafts across the fields, the temperature hovers around 70 degrees, the humidity is negligible, and the mood is light, belying the fact that COVID remains a serious challenge and the outcome of the November 3 election still weighs in the balance.

 

On the sidewalk beside the Estes Building, I encounter the Magnolias, one of five junior kindergarten classes in the midst of a fall-themed scavenger hunt. I inquire about the name.

 

“We have different tree names in JK,” explained Kim Turner, the lead teacher who’s been at Collegiate for 10 years. “There’re also Birchwoods, Dogwoods, Sycamores, and Maples.”

 

Why tree names? I ask.

“Because we like to get outdoors a lot and be in nature,” Kim responded. “Today, they’re looking for all sorts of things: red leaves, yellow leaves, orange leaves, acorns, flowers, birds, twigs…you name it. We’re going to make little self-portraits with what we find.”

 

These are 4-year-olds. I said.  How’s it going with the masks and distancing?

 

“It’s going great, honestly,” she replied. “We do have to cover a few noses throughout the day, but it’s going great. We snack outside. We lunch outside. We’re outside as much as we can be.”

 

Looks like there’s a tremendous amount of energy here, I commented.

 

“There’s absolutely a tremendous amount of energy,” Kim said with a laugh. “Constant movement. That’s JK.”

 

Keeping an eye out for the Magnolia stragglers and fielding questions from her charges was Alice-Cole Reynolds, who joined the JK faculty this fall after 12 years as a teacher and administrator in Henrico County.

 

What do you like about this age? I asked.

 

“They’re full of energy and excitement and the love of learning,” she said. “They just love being at school. Their brains are constantly firing. They’re very inquisitive. They want to know about everything which makes it fun. Every day is new and different.”

And in their innocence, they’re maybe immune from the challenges of the times, I offered.

 

“Yes, for the most part,” Alice-Cole said. “They are aware of the coronavirus. They understand why we have to keep our masks up. They understand distancing to an extent. They’ve heard coronavirus and COVID-19 enough to know why they can’t play with their friends the way they would normally.”

 

Nearby, Anne Hogge, a Lower School guidance counselor, was overseeing recess on the upper field where Emma Harrison’s 4^th grade class was engaged in a variety of activities using playground balls, hula hoops, and jump ropes.

 

“They’re having a good ol’ time,” Anne observed as the kids availed themselves of their first chance to move about after a couple of hours in the classroom. “They’re connecting with each other and getting out some of their energy. I’ll tell you, the first week we were out here, I was very nervous because recess looks so different this year. Our students have shown tremendous resilience. They’ve figured out ways to play that they’ve never done before with rules and physical distancing.”

 

“At first,” she replied, “they didn’t know what games they could play without touching the ball.  They’ve realized that they can kick the ball. They’ve learned how to play shadow-tag where you run around and instead of tagging somebody with your hand, you step on their shadow.  Some of them have brought books out so they’re reading a lot more. They’re including each other more because they have to play with those in their class when a lot of times at recess they would go find students from other classes.”

 

 

“Right,” Anne said. “The students are adapting and showing us that even with the limitations, they can still have fun and enjoy recess.”

 

Though the weather was awesome, I ventured into the Estes Building where Page Chapman was concluding a 2^nd grade physical education class in the spacious multi-purpose room.

 

What’s been on the docket today? I inquired.

 

“Earlier, we were doing a lot of throwing and catching,” said Page, who’s in his 21^st year as a teacher and soccer coach at Collegiate. “Then we did a movement activity that focuses on body control and body awareness.”

 

 

“As you can see,” he continued, “we have boxes that are roughly 10 feet apart and away from each other. The kids do all their activities inside their boxes. We have to be physically distant to maintain their overall safety. Our curriculum is the same. We’re still focusing on body control and balance. We’re just doing it in our own designated area. The kids are doing a great job.”

 

 

“Not only creativity,” Page said, “but we’re working together as a community and also changing how we teach and go about the things on a normal-day basis, but they’re no longer routine.”

 

 

“I’m just very impressed with our entire school community: how we’re coming together to provide such a healthy and safe atmosphere for in-person learning,” he said. “Our kids, their families, are just doing a fantastic job. The school community, including the faculty and staff, is doing a great job. We’re putting our best foot forward to make this the best possible school year that we can have in this strange and difficult and challenging time.”

~ Weldon Bradshaw