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Thread. For the first Sunday in a long time, I don’t have a pit of worry in my stomach. Tomorrow, our students are learning from home. COVID has debilitated Alberta’s school system and we need a reset. /1
A year of half measures has got us nowhere. It has divided our province in a way I’ve never seen before. Yesterday, two high profile freedom protesters were arrested publicly. Again, I’ve never seen anything like this. /2
I’ve heard unsettling tales from colleagues. A school staff member died of COVID. In that same school, a group of parents are lobbying for students to not wear masks at school. In another school a parent sent a student to school after they received a positive test result. /3
In two separate communities, principals have pulled together trespass notices against parents threatening to defy school and AHS regulations. One was a “guest speaker” at the Bowden rodeo. This is a small set of examples from one school division. /4
Meanwhile, our provincial COVID numbers remain extremely high. These numbers are going to affect us long past the end of the new restrictions. While deaths and hospital admissions remain steady, they place huge pressure on hospital staff. I’m concerned 2 weeks won’t be enough. /5
This week was another roller coaster. I didn’t sleep well Monday, worried about what Tuesday’s announcement would bring. I stayed at school to watch the announcement so we could be prepared for whatever curveball got thrown. When I got home that evening, I was exhausted. /6
On Wednesday, we had meetings and prepared for yet another round of at home learning. I could see the upset on students’ faces all day long. This year has been incredibly hard for them. I’m sincerely worried for their wellness. Many of them are not going to return on May 25. /7
Thursday was our last day of in person learning and it was a typical busy day in our school. Our grade 5’s were swimming, our YES success coach had classes put positive messages on sidewalks around town, and we had our monthly virtual awards ceremony. /8
We do our awards as a Facebook live - I run around the school to recognize our kids, with a crew of students and staff who help out. Every class in the school watches, and many parents watch it live or after it’s posted. It’s not the same as our usual assemblies, but it works. /9
We finished the broadcast and when the adrenaline wore off, I crashed. I was in so much pain that I sat in my truck in tears before heading home. It was the worst gout flare up I’ve ever had. This one hit me in my fingers, knees, shoulders, and wrists. It was debilitating. /10
I consider myself lucky - my family has been healthy and mostly employed throughout this situation. I remain hopeful that science and common sense will help get us back to normal, because politics certainly have not helped. /fin
