Students rose to challenge of pandemic

An open letter to students:

We asked a lot from you this year:

• Learn remotely

• Learn in a hybrid model

Learn in person 2 days and remotely 3 days

• Learn in person AND livestream on different days

• Learn in person 5 days

• Oh and do all of this during a global pandemic

We asked a lot from you this year. You, in response, rose to the occasion. Some days were really hard, but I watched you cope, adjust and persist. I watched you grow, learn and mature. And I am beyond impressed.

I've been hearing some negative things on the news and social media about this school year. I hear words like "waste," "gap," "loss," "deficit." Don't listen to any of that. Those people were not in our classroom. Those people do not know you or your teachers. They didn't see what I saw.

I've seen whole smiling faces on screens and smiling eyes above masks. I've seen tears, laughter, frustration and success. Best of all, I've seen light bulbs go on when you mastered something new. You learned time management and new technologies. You learned to be independent and responsible. You have improved as writers, readers, mathematicians, scientists and historians. You worked on your physical fitness and your mental and emotional well-being.

If you hear people say, "How will students ever 'catch up'?" Please respond with this: "Our teachers will welcome us into school next year and see where we are and get us to where we need to go. That's what teachers do. We will continue to learn and grow, because that's what students do."

I feel fortunate that you were the students I had this particular year. If I had to choose a group of kids with whom to teach through a pandemic, it would 100% be all of you. I will miss you and I am so proud of you.

Kathleen Ryan

Lombard