School is back – and hopefully, it will provide a piece of normalcy in these it’s-impossible-to-rest or think-of-anything-else but COVID-19 days.
The Okotoks community — like the whole planet— is caught in the grips of the wall-to-wall world of the biggest news story since the Second World War.
It will be the difficult job or educators — at Foothills School Division, Christ the Redeemer Catholic School, École Beausoleil and the private schools of Edison and Strathcona-Tweedsmuir — to try to keep things as normal as possible for the young minds.
It’s going to be a tough gig for teachers.
Even kindergartners know something is up if they are learning their rhymes and taking nap-time at home and their teacher is singing Twinkle, Twinkle on a laptop computer in the living room.
Teachers will go that extra step to be creative in their education to sure students are dialed in.
It’s not going to be easy for staff, students or parents.
The majority of the teachers will be doing online type home-schooling for the very first-time.
They are going through the drill while having to worry about their health and that of their families. It’s definitely not easy for the parents.
They have the difficult task explaining to their children why this is all happening — being truthful while not trying to frighten young minds.
And there isn’t a mom and dad out there who isn’t concerned about their family’s future.
Fortunately, there is help.
The school divisions are making mental health and guidance a top priority for students in what everyone hopes is a one-off in history.
Getting the students in front of the books is a good start.
It’s far from normal but it is a positive step forward.
And Albertans — students and educators — need a step forward right now.
