We showed a series of safety videos today at school in order to prepare those students who are returning to the school building next week and the week after. Modeled on the TV series Stranger Things, the videos ran through the rules and safety requirements in a humorous and witty way.
The mitigations are hardly surprising, especially for a community that the NY Times designates as "Very High Risk" for COVID-19: from arrival to dismissal, the middle school kids are expected to stay six feet apart and wear their masks in most situations-- the classroom, the hallways, and the restrooms. At lunch, masks can be removed while eating, but students will be seated at desks set at six foot intervals with plastic shields. There is also a daily sign-in procedure that includes health screening and temperature check, and students must sign out any time they leave their assigned room during class.
"What do you guys think?" I asked my homeroom afterward.
"The videos were good, but the rules are insane!" one student responded. "I predict kids will lose their minds if they have to follow all those! Something has to change!"
"Maybe," I agreed, "but it won't be the rules."
Sounds very familiar! We have been back in school for months... they get used to all of the "rules"!
ReplyDeleteBlessings on the return back to school!
ReplyDeleteModeled after Stranger Things?! This sounds like must-see TV.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Chrissy, the transition to the rules is harder than following them! All the best to EVERYONE! You can do, it!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you...it can't be the rules that change. I wonder if there are any people who actually like the rules. I teach elementary so the physical distancing is not something they easily adhere to. But I know that I have a few that are actually happy to hide behind a mask. We had some cute videos we watched at first to help drive home the importance of the rules, but the one that made the biggest impact is a slow-motion sneeze. Once they saw what is in a sneeze and how far it travels they were much more eager to wash their hands!
ReplyDeleteOh, what a strange ride we have ahead of us. Stranger times I cannot recall...glad we're going through it together!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that all goes well for all of our middle school students. I love the honesty of the students...acknowledging the challenge.
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