I can say with total confidence that this school year ended a way that would have been truly inconceivable to us at the start of the year. We are so, so proud of the way the kids handled 4th and 2nd grades. From Day 1, they were enthusiastic and confident. They came home from school every day happy, excited, and marveling over their luck at landing in such a great place. They never acted like outsiders, fully embracing and being embraced by their classmates and teachers. They worked hard to catch up on subjects that they hadn't been exposed to before, and were gracious when material they already mastered was covered. They worked hard, growing as public speakers, writers, and creative artists in multiple media.
Then they took the quarantine in stride, switching to school from home with equanimity and focus. They stayed committed to doing their best work, showing respect to their teachers and classmates, and having some fun in the mix. They learned to balance competing Zoom calls, shared office space, and social time with friends online. They held it together when technology failed, when instructions were unclear, and when the fun parts of school became burdensome. They learned to adapt, doubled down on their determination, and found renewal in rediscovering outdoor free play.
I thought Max's reflection on what was different about the end of this year summed it up perfectly:
"yeah, who would have guessed we'd have a dog?"
