Colter did the math, our kids have gone back to school for a "first day" four times this school year. School started, online, at home, 100% remote in August. We learned how to log in and use digital learning platforms. We picked up paper packets and science materials. At Christmas time, the district announced they would not be allowing in person education for the second semester until our county's COVID cases went down. BUT they would be adjusting everyone's teachers and schedules so kids could return in person the second it was possible. So, we had a second "first day" with new teachers and schedules in January. On we learned (at home) and in February the announced the elementary schools could return to an in person learning environment for two hours a day, four days a week, in two co-horts. Colter got to go to school for his third "first day" of school on February 10th, right before we left for Mexico.
February 10th Kindergarten through 2nd grade goes back!
We planned to go to Mexico and let the kids do their remote learning there. Of course, COVID cases dropped just in time for Adell to miss her first couple of days of in person learning and for none of the kids to be able to learn remotely in Mexico. Sigh!
When we got back from Mexico Adell had her third "first day" back at school for in person, part time education.
February 23rd Adell goes back!
We also decided Lorien needed to go back to LA to see more of her peers and less of her parents. We were able to move her into a cooperative housing situation on the UCLA campus. She is still taking a full class load (online) at SMC and hopes to move down to San Diego with friends in August. For now, she will get to have some more independence and a little social life.
March 1st: Lorien back in LA!
Clare had to wait the longest to go back to school. The high school was finally allowed back in person in two cohorts on March 17th. They were supposed to go two days a week...but our district likes to make every thing confusing so Clare only went back for one day the first week, and two days the second week. By the the third week COVID cases had dropped enough that our district announced full (four day a week) in person education for all the hybrid students. So on March 29th the kids had their FOURTH "first day" of school! It has been a wild year.
March 17th, High school is back!
Honestly, I loved a lot of things about school at home. I loved that all the kids had teachers to teach them who weren't me. I loved not having to pack lunches. I really enjoyed sleeping in until the kids had to log into school. No clothes to find, no driving to school, no rushing when we were late, no forgetting some random item at home, no remembering library books or sneakers on PE days. I also was happy to make sure they were set up on school then go back up to my room for rest or whatever I wanted while they learned. If I stuck around, the kids would constantly interrupt their own education asking me for little things. If I wasn't there, they handled it themselves. Other than Wyatt, the kids did fine with remote learning. It wasn't as good as in person by a long shot but it was fine. I didn't feel like my kids were suffering educationally. I loved that school was over as soon as class was over. No homework was awesome! I really, really, really loved not having so many after school activities packed into our schedule. The ONLY thing I did not like about learning at home was not having the house to myself for a few hours every day. I like my peace and quiet for a little bit at least. However, I am so happy the kids are back in school. More importantly, the kids are so happy to be back in school.
