It’s noise.
I’m not talking about construction noise or clanging HVAC equipment. I’m talking happy noises, like the sounds of children laughing, chatting, and learning.
Those are sounds I didn’t hear much back in September when we returned to school.
We entered the new school year with much trepidation. Everyone — students, teachers and staff — was delighted to be back after months of working remotely. But we encountered all sorts of new rules and precautions to keep everyone healthy. We tiptoed hesitantly through our days, carefully navigating new protocols and systems, afraid that any misstep would send us back to 100% remote learning.
And what that all sounded like was … silence.
But it struck me the other day as I was walking through the halls of Schlegel Elementary that the school was back to sounding like a school again. I think we’re all relieved and a little surprised that we made it this far without having to go fully remote again, and you can sense that feeling in how comfortable everyone has gotten with the new schedule, distancing and masking requirements.
You can see it especially in the students. They’re smiling (you can tell by their eyes), chatting animatedly with their friends, giggling at knock-knock jokes, and skipping through the halls, tossing a carefree “hello!” as they pass.
In short, kids are being kids again.
* * *
email me at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.
You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.
webster on the web 
Nice article and sentiment. I tend to wonder when they will open the elementary schools, such as this one, to full time classes again. I do not feel the two hour a day class room, for the elementary, process is working.
You’re right, it’s not ideal. But I think everyone is doing the best they can given the circumstances. Let’s hope that come September things will be able to go back to almost normal. Thanks for commenting!
As a retired Schlegel Rd teacher, I am very happy to hear about the return to normalcy at school. I loved my years teaching there! Thanks for the update!
As a very active sub. teacher for the district, I love how this district has handled this. Is it perfect? Of course not. But, I see it working in the elementary buildings and the middle schools. We have to do this slowly. I see a difference from Sept. to now! We are “getting back to normal”. I put a number up on the board every day. Today it was 82. The kids always ask what that’s for. I say, “That’s how many days you have made it to school and you should pat yourself on the back. What you are doing is working!” I warms my heart every day when I go to school. Hopefully we will be back to “business as usual” in the Fall of 2021!
The comment you made on Facebook a few months ago about how it bothered you that the halls were so quiet is what prompted me to write this.
As a teacher you would think I would practice what I preach. “I warms” should be “It warms” ! That’s what you get from me on a Friday nite! 🙂