DAY 140

Foster Kitten

I had an online session with my therapist today. We talked about her foster kittens and the picture that I sent her of me holding my baby granddaughter. But mostly we talked about the issue of school.

I shared with her the fact that I had homeschooled my older kids for several years, and College Boy for kindergarten. I told her about my daughter in law homeschooling my grandson since kindergarten. He is three weeks older than Miss Ten and also a fifth-grader. I told her that I know deep in my heart that old school homeschooling is far better than any virtual platform they can come up with. Sitting in front of a screen for several hours a day cannot compare with real-world interactions with a teacher. And yes, parents are teachers. We began teaching our children from the day they were born and no one has a greater interest in their education than we do.

I don't know what it is about talking to a good therapist or sponsor, but I always end up finding my own answers when someone really listens and asks me the right questions. By the time we finished our call I knew exactly what I need to do. I have to trust in my abilities as a seasoned homeschool mom. I need to reach out to other homeschoolers and families who are choosing the virtual route for opportunities to work together. We can have an adventurous and exciting school year in spite of the challenges we are faced with. We can look at this like a gap year between high school and college, even though it is between elementary and middle school. We can go to the U.P. and visit waterfalls. We can go to museums. We can stay up late and look at the stars.

We are not choosing the classroom or the virtual platform, we are dropping out and forging our own path. Don't expect me to teach calculus, but I can certainly teach fifth grade.

DAY 139

Some of my fondest memories are of picking berries with my grandmother when I was young. We would head out early in the day to get to the berry patch before the sun was too hot. We took our sun hats and mosquito spray. When my kids were young we carried on the tradition. As grandma got older we would take a lawn chair for her to sit in while we picked berries. When my son was about four years old we were picking raspberries one July morning. He had his little berry basket and he was enthusiastically picking berries. After about half an hour he came to me and said "look how many berries I have mom." I looked at the six or seven berries in his basket and then looked at his face which was covered in berry juice. He was smiling from ear to ear. I told grandma that we should have weighed him before we started picking so that we could pay for the ones in his tummy.

When you are in a berry patch bits of conversation drift to you from all around. You hear little snippets of news from other berry pickers. I love trying to figure out who or what they might be discussing. I fill in the blanks to make interesting stories. I could write a whole book about the things I have overheard in a berry patch.

Miss Ten and I went out early today and picked four pounds of berries. She told me that her method is one berry for the bucket and one berry for her mouth. I think the bucket got cheated a few times on this trip.

DAY 137

Last Friday we received notice that school will be resuming on August 19th. We are faced with two options - in classroom learning or a virtual platform. I have spent the last several days agonizing over the choices we have to make. Today I attended a two-hour question and answer Zoom meeting with the superintendent of Howell schools and about 400 other parents. We were asked ahead of time to submit any questions that we had so that they could be addressed in the meeting. I had plenty of questions but only submitted a couple.

Mr. McGregor started off by talking about the Michigan Safe Start phases of reopening. We are in phase four, which allows for in-person learning with a whole list of precautions that must be followed. He went on to say that he fully expects us to fluctuate between phases. If we slip back to phase three the schools will close again. If a classmate or teacher becomes ill the whole class will have to quarantine. They will enforce social distancing as feasible. I have seen how feasible it is to expect kids to social distance. Not likely. The kids cannot share school supplies such as pencils, scissors, etc. Also seems unlikely.

They don't even have a clear idea of what the beginning of the school year will look like. They will possibly be restructuring the first week of school with a gradual start, maybe four days a week until mid-September. They sure aren't making it easy to plan for anything. Whichever path we choose, we are expected to commit to it for the first semester. Who knows what January will bring?

All I can see is the clear potential for more disruption of the learning process for these kids. And, although the virtual platform is much better than it was in the spring, I don't feel that it is the kind of learning experience that I want for Miss Ten. We have until noon on Monday, August 3rd to sign up for the virtual platform if that is our choice. No pressure there. I watch the number of cases rising every day. Things could look very different by August 19th, for better or worse.

All of the parents that I have talked to are planning to send their kids into the classroom, even though  they admit that they fully expect school to close again at some point. These are parents who have to go to work so it's daycare or school. I would choose the classroom too if I was in that position. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I do not have to go to work. This leaves me to carefully weigh all of the options and make the best decision I can for our family.

It all sucks. All of it.

DAY 136

College Boy is turning twenty-one in September. He received a notice in the mail to renew his driver's license. Until you are twenty-one in Michigan you have a vertical license. After that, you get a real adult horizontal license. The notice said that he had to go in person to the Secretary of State to get his new license. I figured it was not going to be easy in these days of Covid-19.

Back in the olden days, you would go to the DMV and wait for hours until your number was called. Then half of the time you would be informed that you did not have all of the correct paperwork to complete the task at hand. You would go back another day to wait some more. Now you have to make an appointment to go in. No one is allowed in the building without one, and you are required to wear a mask. So, you have to go online to their website and make an appointment. Your choices are future or same-day appointments, which can be made 24 hours in advance. It seems to me that they are all future appointments since I don't ever need to make one in the past. Whatever, I got online to sign him up. First I tried a future appointment. The first available was November 4th. Not going to work since he has to do it before his birthday. Next, I tried a same-day appointment but since it was Friday there was nothing available. I went on again yesterday and scheduled one for 4:00 today.

We arrived a little early. There were a couple of people waiting outside the door. College Boy masked up and stood six feet behind the last person and waited. He was inside the building and back out within ten minutes. It was like a DMV miracle happening right before my eyes.

I guess there are some advantages to this virus.

DAY 133

The long-awaited announcement regarding a return to school was sent out today. Here is the e-mail that I received late this afternoon.

Dear Families,

The process of developing our Return to School Plan has been a long and difficult one. Several committees have spent countless hours reading and rereading Michigan's MI Safe Schools Roadmap as we have worked to build a plan that not only meets the requirements of the roadmap but also meets the expectations of our families. These committees have looked at every aspect of our district as we have adapted, revised, and created new procedures designed to keep both students and staff safe as we reopen our schools. They have also reviewed our family and staff survey results and used those to help inform the plan. In addition, dedicated teams of teachers have been working incredibly hard to develop Highlander Virtual, our new virtual school, to be a robust learning experience and a viable option to in-person teaching and learning. We have worked to prepare for the known and unknown and around what it looks like should our region move down to Phase 3 of the MI Safe Start Plan, which will trigger mandated distance learning for all students. Currently, our region is in Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan, allowing for in-person instruction. As a county, our school districts have collectively decided to move forward with in-person instruction for the fall. I fully understand that with the release of our Return to School Plan, our families will be making very difficult decisions regarding how to proceed with their child's education. I hope that our learning options and plans will meet your family's needs and expectations. 

Our Return to School Plan outlines what teaching and learning will look like across Phases 1-6 of the MI Safe Start Plan and what safety precautions will be taken to ensure students and staff are safe while at school. To provide a high-level overview of our plans:

• Phases 1-3 Mandated Distance Learning - In Phases 1-3, all school buildings are closed for in-person instruction. This will be a much more robust experience than what we saw during crisis learning in the spring. Students, teachers, and families will utilize the district's new Learning Management Systems (SeeSaw and Schoology) for a more streamlined learning experience. All extracurricular activities will be suspended, and our food service department and technology departments will activate plans for meal and device distribution. Students enrolled in Highlander Virtual will continue their schooling as planned.
• Phase 4 In-Person Instruction with Strict Safety Protocols - In Phase 4, schools are open for in-person instruction. This phase requires facial coverings to be worn by students in 6-12 grade and staff while in the buildings and highly recommends that begindergarten-5 grade students also wear facial coverings. Facial coverings  are also required when utilizing district transportation. Additionally, efforts will be made to follow social distancing recommendations to the extent practical. Extracurricular activities can occur with strict attendance limits, and facial covering  and social distancing requirements. Visitors to buildings will be limited, and when allowed, visitors will be required to wear personal protective equipment. Students enrolled in Highlander Virtual will continue their schooling as planned.
• Phase 5 In-Person Instruction with Relaxed Safety Protocols - In Phase 5, schools are open for in-person instruction. At the same time, we will continue to follow many of the safety recommendations outlined in the MI Safe Schools Roadmap. Students enrolled in Highlander Virtual will continue their schooling as planned.
• Phase 6 In-Person Instruction, Normal School - In Phase 6, schools are open for in-person instruction, and we begin to return to normal operations. Students enrolled in Highlander Virtual will continue their schooling as planned.

In recognizing that not all families will be comfortable returning to in-person instruction at this time, we have developed Highlander Virtual, a robust virtual learning experience. Highlander Virtual is designed to closely mirror the teaching and learning that occurs in the classroom. Howell teachers have developed the core content area/Michigan Merit Curriculum courses, and Howell teachers will deliver this instruction. At the secondary level, families may choose to have their children attend select, in-person elective courses or choose elective courses offered by Michigan Virtual. Since Highlander Virtual was created locally, it will allow students enrolled to remain connected to a local school system opening up access to support systems, athletics, clubs, and other opportunities. To learn more about Highlander Virtual, please visit https://bit.ly/3fXgAwj. To allow us to adequately plan for Highlander Virtual and our school building staffing, we are asking families to make their decision by Monday, August 3, at noon. To enroll your child in  Highlander Virtual, please visit https://bit.ly/30xh5Xo. If you plan to have your child return to in-person learning, you do not need to take any action.

You can find our full Return to School plan at https://bit.ly/30OmR70. We have also created a Return to School Plan Quick Reference Guide, which touches on the plan's highlights. The Quick Reference Guide can be found at https://bit.ly/2ZZMvXv. Additionally, we have built a Return to School webpage to serve as a one-stop reference area. On this page, you will find a FAQ, links to resources, and submit questions about our plan. The Return to School webpage can be found at https://bit.ly/3eZral7. 

Knowing that there will be many questions about our Return to School Plan, we have planned three question and answer sessions next week. The schedule for these sessions is as follows:

• Tuesday,  July 28, Zoom Meeting, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Click here to register for the meeting
• Wednesday, July 29, Freshman Campus Cafeteria, 10:00-11:30 a.m. Seating is limited, click here to sign up
• Thursday, July 30, Freshman Campus Cafeteria, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Seating is limited, click here to sign up

Our Return to School plan is still in draft form. As we finalize the plan and our return to school, there may be minor changes to the plan, the daily school schedule (class times, not school hours), or the approved school year calendar. We still plan to start school on Wednesday, August 19, however, we may adjust the schedule slightly to allow for an easier transition back to school. Any changes will be finalized by Monday, August 3, and will be communicated to you.

In closing, I would like to thank everyone who has helped develop our Return to School Plan and Highlander Virtual. I would also like to thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education. 

Sincerely, 

Erin J. MacGregor, Ed.S.

Superintendent

Howell Public Schools

DAY 129

We heard that the elementary school that my husband and I attended here in town is going to be torn down in the next few weeks. Yesterday we gathered in front of the building with a few old classmates and my husbands siblings to reminisce and take some pictures. We talked about old teachers and classmates that we have lost touch with. My husband, the ex safety patrol boy, tried to keep us all in line but we weren't having it.

My brother in law lowered the flag to half-mast, as we are all mourning the loss of a piece of our childhood.

DAY 128

Every summer on two separate weekends a local landscaper opens up their property for a "Hosta Walk." They live on a beautiful shaded piece of land in Hartland. You can walk the paths they have created through the woods, enjoying the plants, birds, and many fairy hideouts. Poking out from under their garden shed are pair of legs clad in striped stockings and black pump heels, Wizard of Oz style. They sell Hostas and other shade-loving plants at the local farmer's markets and have them available for sale on these two weekends at their home.

My cousin, who just moved back here from California, wanted to know what she could plant in her shaded front yard. I gave her a few ideas and said, "we need to go on the Hosta Walk." She said, "I don't know what that is but I want to go!"

We both spent quite a bit of money.

DAY 127

I went to visit my daughter and her family today. The baby was sleeping when I got there. My daughter and my two-year-old granddaughter sat out in the yard and visited. When my daughter heard the baby starting to wake up she told me to go wash my hands. She was going to let me hold the little critter. I cried like a baby.

I held that little chick for about ten minutes. I walked around the yard with her, showing her the leaves on the trees and talking to her about the color green. She was reluctant to look me in the eyes because she does not know me. Having to talk to her through a mask is not the ideal situation, either, but I will take what I can get at this point. It felt so wonderful to finally have her in my arms. When this insanity is over we are going to have some serious catching up to do.

DAY 126

Way back on March 14th when I wrote my first post in this blog I could not have imagined that we would be facing another school year with this virus hanging over our heads. But here we are. I have been getting emails from our school district about every week. They vaguely discuss what might be happening in the coming school year. We have gotten two different surveys to fill out and return letting them know what we plan for our kids. Will we be putting them on the bus? Are we in favor of in-person classes? How comfortable are we with a mask requirement for BK - 5 students in the hallways? And a whole lot of other questions. I have filled out these surveys and returned them. It is mid-July and I still have no clear idea what they plan to do, or when.

The more I listen and read about the possibilities and talk to other parents about what they think, the less inclined I am to send Miss Ten into a classroom this fall. I am honestly more concerned about the effect of the stress and anxiety of being in a classroom under the conditions that they are planning than I am about the actual virus. With a teacher who is stressed out to boot. I have seen first hand that kids will not social distance themselves without constant reminders. They will share materials and germs at will. Classrooms are Petri dishes on a normal basis, and I can't imagine the frequent cleaning and handwashing will make a big difference. Many children were already stressed out in school. Adding a whole new level of stressors cannot be a good thing for them.

I am also not enthused about whatever distance learning plans the school district might be putting in place. I know that they did the best they could in the spring on the spur of the moment, but it was less than impressive. As an experienced homeschooler, I can come up with far more engaging ways for her to learn, without relying on a compute/tablet/whatever. Kids showed up on the planet ready to learn. As long as they are exposed to a rich variety of experiences, they will learn.

I think that we have a real opportunity here to re-imagine and reinvent the way we educate our children. Warehousing them together for many hours five days a week is not the most effective way to encourage learning. I know from experience that two hours a day spent on academics is plenty. Throw in some art projects, physical activity, and music. Read and write something every day. They need no encouragement in the technology department!

My heart goes out to the parents who have to leave home for work, who have to choose child care or school, who will have to try and guide their children through online learning while trying to maintain their careers. The choices and sacrifices required of us all are incredibly difficult. To all parents, whatever choice you make is the right one for your family. Know that you are doing your best under ridiculously horrible circumstances. You and your kids will be stronger for going through this. 

DAY 113

Independence Day, 2020. We didn't do much of anything. Not much to do. We hung around the house and ate dinner on the deck. When it was almost dark we went to Page Field and lit some fireworks that my husband procured from a local stand. We drove around through the cemetery and watched a few fireworks displays that people across the lake were having in their yards. Then home to bed. Definitely not our usual 4th of July, with a family picnic at the park, parades, and a big fireworks show.

Nothing is usual anymore, is it?

DAY 111

It is Miss Nine's birthday. She is now Miss Nine Plus One. Or as she insists on calling herself, Miss Ten. Double digits, growing up too fast. She told me in January that she wanted to camp for her birthday, so I made a reservation at a kid-friendly campground close to home. With the quarantine situation, I was not sure if we would still be able to camp, but when I called them a few weeks ago I was told that we were good to go.

We have a 27 ft. Jayco travel trailer, our home away from home. I hauled it out to the campground and parked it. Voila, we are camping. I used to be a tent camper. I made fun of people with RV's and such. I thought that they might as well just stay home. I was much younger and did not mind sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag. Now I am old and want a real bed at the end of the day. And my own toilet in the middle of the night.

Miss Ten invited a friend to come camping with us. She came to stay last night and her mom picked her up this afternoon. This campground has a beach, a splash pad, putt-putt golf, playground, basketball court, and lots more. I prefer a quieter camping experience but this is a fun place for the kids. The girls swam and played, we made s'mores on the campfire, and they giggled like girls until late last night. Today my oldest daughter and daughter in law came out to have a birthday lunch with us. This evening my husband and two grandsons joined us for dinner and a swim. And of course cupcakes and presents.

Social distancing while camping should be relatively easy. You are outside and everyone has their own allotted area. When you are a kid, though, your boundaries are pretty flexible. I cautioned the girls to play a safe distance from others. I asked them not to climb on the floating rafts in the water. I had them wash their hands often. Mostly I just let them enjoy themselves. And I sat in my lawn chair and read an entire book.

DAY 110

Since early June when businesses started slowly opening, the number of Covid-19 cases has increased considerably. Who saw that coming? Outbreaks in the last few weeks have been linked to bars and other large gatherings. Young people, in particular, are gathering in large crowds, ignoring social distancing recommendations, and are spreading the virus among themselves and to their families.

Governor Whitmer signed an order today closing all bars in Michigan once again. These businesses can have outdoor service and are now allowed to sell "cocktails to go." I imagine drunk driving tickets skyrocketing.