My sweet daughter Sofia asks “Why can’t I go back to Kindergarten today? This is always a tough question to hear each morning as we sit down to do the best we can on her work for the day. I myself am struggling with this also as I am a teacher and know just how much not going back to school is hurting both of us. Between juggling distance learning with my own students I try and reassure her that we will continue to learn at home, but it's just not the same. The hugs, the laughter and all of the fun events that we spend all year waiting for are just not happening this year. It truly is heartbreaking on so many levels.

My daughter, like many others has worked so very hard this year. She will not have a Kindergarten Graduation, which all Kindergartners deserve for how much they have grown this year. Sofia has learned how to add, subtract and is really starting to read like a champ! I owe all of this to her dear, sweet teacher. One accomplishment that Sofia was so excited for, was being a top winner for writing and illustrating her Young Author's book. She was the Top Winner out of the entire Kindergarten! She came up with the story and drew the pictures. It was a wonderful book that she was so excited about! She worked so hard on this book and was proud. She was supposed to have a big ceremony with a trophy and everything until this virus began spreading, then everything was cancelled. We try and remind her how very special this accomplishment is but it just isn't the same without acknowledgment that was supposed to happen.

We will continue to do what we can as parents and teachers and remind our students and children just how much they mean to us and how important their accomplishments are, even if we can't celebrate them just yet.

Thank you,

Holly S