Sherman, a Golden Doodle, takes a brief nap break in the arms of his owner, teacher Jordan Monica, amid Sherman Elementary School’s goodbye-for-the summer event Tuesday evening. Sherman, who marked his four-month birthday Tuesday, will be trained to be a therapy dog at Sherman. His role will be to help put students at ease. There were
waves, music, colorful signs and a bit of irony on the long sidewalk in front of
Sherman Elementary School Tuesday evening.
Teachers and
other staff members called out their wishes for a happy summer as parents and
students drove by between 6 and 7 p.m.
It was an ironic end to a school year that began much the same way on the morning of August 26 when teachers and staff lined the same sidewalk, waving signs and cheering students’ arrival on the first day of school.
No one had
heard of COVID-19 that day. No one could have guessed that the virus threat
would close schools on March 17 for the remainder of the year, forcing distance
learning in the form of lesson packets sent home.
“Our teachers have missed the kids so much,” Principal Amy Bradley said. “They had been wanting to do something for them. When we got permission to have this parade for students and their families to drive by, the teachers were all into preparing for it.”
Bradley took
over as principal in mid year when Michael Brennan was reassigned to be the principal
at the Spanish Immersion School.
The Sherman staff cheered each car that passed by. They called to students by name as they waved signs that read “Have a great summer” and “We have missed you.” One sign proclaimed, “Thank you, students and families. We’re all in this together.”
For teacher Kevin Stone, the shutdown of schools was particularly painful. His third-grade leadership team, comprised of about 30 exemplary students nominated by teachers, got to make only one of four annual visits to Richland County’s Dayspring Assisted Living and Care Facility on Olivesburg Road.
“We had our Christmas party with the residents in December, but we couldn’t return for Valentine’s Day, Easter or our end-of-the-year cookout,” Stone said. “The residents and our kids really look forward to those visits. Who knows what the coming year will bring.”