For Our Teachers, Thank You……

For our teachers,

Two months ago when lock down was first announced, I’m sure each of you felt just as overwhelmed and scared as we all did, maybe even more so. With many of you looking after families of your own, juggling small children or caring for elderly parents, I’m sure, like me, your natural reaction was to do whatever it took to keep them safe. And yet when it was announced that schools would remain open for the children of Key Workers, I’m sure you didn’t even hesitate to go into work the next day and do your job so that those on the front line could do theirs.

And I’m sure every cough and sneeze had you on edge in those early days, desperately trying to work out how to keep small children apart, to supervise hand washing and oversee scabby knees. I’m sure it was incredibly difficult not being able to comfort little ones with a cuddle, to navigate new rules and routines, to work out how to meet guidelines without instilling fear. I’m sure it was hard to sacrifice your Easter holidays and your half terms, to leave your own children at home whilst you cared for someone else’s; I’m sure there have been days when you’ve struggled with the enormity of the situation, or the pressure to meet targets has felt overwhelming.

And so at a time we are hailing the heroes of 2020, I want you to know that we recognise you for all that you do and we have never been so grateful.

The truth is, over the last nine weeks, each and every one of you has gone above and beyond your duty to make sure that not only are the children in school staying safe and secure, but that every single one of your pupils at home are too. From the children’s home learning packs you put together with just a few days notice, no doubt working late at night as the daily broadcast shared those harrowing statistics in the background, to the support you offered every single parent at school knowing how difficult this must have been for many of us – you have been there from the outset. 

Every single morning we have logged on to social media to see your happy smiling faces setting fun and exciting tasks for the children, giving us some much needed relief from the strains of lockdown life. We’ve watched your videos, played your games, laughed at your jokes and bonded over your challenges, and the looks on the children’s faces as they’ve read your messages or seen your familiar faces on our screens have been priceless. At a time when their whole world as they know it has been turned upside down, when they are missing family and friends and their school routines, that sense of familiarity and connection has been exactly what they’ve needed. 

And for us parents trying to do the best we can in a situation we never dreamed we would encounter, you have been wonderful. From the weekly newsletter keeping us all up to date, to the late night response to emails when we’ve simply needed some advice. From the personal telephone calls to touch base with the children, to the constant reminders we are all doing our best – it has been so very appreciated. But mostly I want to say thank you for simply understanding, for knowing that each of us have very different situations at home, and very different children too, and for never putting us under pressure, never laying down any rules, any requirements, any judgement.

I love that whilst you have welcomed every single piece of written work from the children with nothing but enthusiasm and positive feedback, you’ve also encouraged them to put down their books and get busy with junk modelling, play-doh, paper and paints. As much as you’ve sent home worksheets for fractions, multiplication and long division, you’ve reminded us of the importance of getting outside in the garden and enjoying the sunshine while it lasts. As much as you’ve provided resources to meet the national curriculum guidelines, you’ve encouraged our children to learn through countless ways such as baking, playing games, learning new skills and being silly together.

Never once have you questioned our methods, or our madness, never batted an eyelid when our children have worn their pyjamas for three days running in our photos, never noticed when we’ve slept through the daily challenges, or missed them altogether. Never once have you made us feel a nuisance for asking too many questions, or feel awkward should we ask nothing at all, never once have you commented when the children’s scores remain static on Mathletics, or leapt up by 5000 on the days we just needed to resort to the iPads. You’ve instinctively known, as teachers and as parents, that the most important thing in all of this is that our children are happy and healthy and safe at home. And they are.

By some miracle, throughout all of this madness, you have kept us all going, even on the days when perhaps you were fighting your own battles, dealing with your own families, and juggling like crazy. Somehow you have managed to continue to school our children, albeit at a distance, and motivate us all with your kind words and your fun ideas. Somehow you have made a very difficult situation so much easier and I think every single one of us will agree that we have never been more grateful or prouder to be part of our school.

And whether we see you in just a few weeks or a few months time, I want you to know that our children are the luckiest children in all the world to have such wonderful teachers to love and miss.

Stay safe and thank you so much from all of us.

xxx