What We Learned
And What We May Keep From This Year It was a school year like no other in our lifetime. The entire CA community was tested in many ways—including more than 5,000 COVID-19 PCR tests that were performed to keep the virus from spreading. Families lived through illness, sadness, and untold loss—of plans, jobs, and loved ones. Is it possible that any good could come from so much grief?
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hat’s what we wondered when we asked a sampling of students, faculty, and administrators what they learned from living through a school year dominated by a pandemic. And, we wondered, is there anything they might keep after the end of the year? Their answers range from pragmatic, to personal, to profound. But they all demonstrate support for the future of CA and reinforce the heartfelt wish of Head of School Dr. Mike Davis: “I hope this generation holds on to the resilience they demonstrated during the past year. Some students faced life and death issues. They showed how amazingly adaptable they could be. They reminded us of our mission— to create ‘curious, kind, courageous, and adventurous learners and leaders’—and how we are going to live that mission moving forward.” n
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Colorado Academy Journal
What we learned… I learned the kind of person I want to be from watching other people, especially my parents. It’s amazing how much people care about each other, and how they tried to support each other. They wear masks to protect themselves and to protect others. I know now that what I do affects other people.” Lillian Ormes, Grade 5 “Because of COVID, all of our speakers— including speakers on the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion—had to be virtual this year. By using CA facilitators for those speeches, they felt more like conversations. It felt like the audience was experiencing a dialogue, and I found that to be an unexpectedly enriching experience.” Sarah Wright, Director of Inclusivity “I have new respect for rules. During COVID, it is important to respect the guidelines, because they are made by experts. They are doing what’s best for the common good and greater community. We need to honor the rules when we make decisions, because it’s for our own safety.” Charlie Rakowski, Grade 8 “I have been teaching for 20 years, but this year, I felt like a new teacher. This was my mantra: ‘I am going to try every method to build community and connections, so students know I care about them and want them to learn.’ I wanted them to learn history, how to be individuals in a society faced with challenges, but most
of all I wanted them to feel invested in school and connected to each other.” Liz Sarles, Upper School History Teacher “I learned to expect the unexpected. You never know what’s going to happen, so don’t get hung up on the little stuff. In a way, it was like a physical and mental test. I had to stay safe physically, keep my family safe, and mentally be able to go through so many months of not knowing what will happen. I would give myself a good grade on this test. I learned how strong I really am, and how strong the CA community is.” Ana Yáñez, Sophomore “This was a year when we had to use our imagination. We had to reimagine all our processes and procedures—the way we travel inside and outside the school, what kind of games we can play at recess, how we interact with each other to be respectful of each other’s space. Extroverts learned self-control. Introverts felt they had their safe space. Many of the strategies we developed to keep students safe turned out to be ideas everyone loved!” Angie Crabtree, Lower School Principal “During COVID, I learned to take initiative, because we were working more by ourselves, so I told myself, ‘You have to be more responsible for everything—your choices, your grades.’ I also learned to be better at advocating for myself and asking for help when I needed it.” Gabriela Gonzales, Grade 8
