Back to School

from Anna Living Magazine Issue 3

by Anna Living Magazine

Anna gets a Freestanding Emergecy Room

Emma Martinez, Age 7, Second grade & Natalie Martinez, Age 4, Pre-K Judith Harlow Elementary.

PHOTO CREDIT: JOYCE GODWIN/ANNA LIVING MAGAZINE Sophia Giron is ready to start school in kindergarten.

Makayla Robinson, 15 and in the 9th grade at Anna High School, stops to give her mom a chance to snap this photo as she is ready to head to school.

Anna Coyotes head back to school for 2020

By Joyce Godwin

It’s that time of year when youngsters get new clothes and backpacks and sometimes new shoes and then… new teachers and new classrooms and this year… MASKS.

It’s back-to-school days. Of course, a cloud over these days is a virus seeming to run rampant around the world and school has a different look for the 2020 semester. Social distancing is a new common description in today’s culture and everyone wears a mask. Hopefully, it won’t last long.

But because of the COVID pandemic, school has a new and different look and style for everyone. Students have the choice to go to the classroom with other students or stay at home and connect with their teachers on the computer.

Gracie Boldrey, age 11, sixth grade.

For Geanie Giron’s children, Sophia, in kindergarten, and Kamilo, a second grader, are doing in-person schooling and they could not be happier. “They were missing the interaction with other kids and doing their school routines,” Geanie said. “We do worry a little, but trust that our school district is doing everything that’s in their hands to keep our kids safe.” She said at home she and her husband make sure they all use good hygiene and take vitamins to try to boost their immune systems.

Eydie Robinson and children are having similar experiences. She described the first weeks as… Challenging. “My girls initially started off with virtual learning,” Eydie said. “The first couple of days were okay, but as the days and weeks went by, it became more challenging, especially when they had questions and I was trying to navigate being on zoom calls (for her job), handle escalated issues, keep up with their calendars and mine. Eydie works for Abilene Christian College and does much of her job on the computer “which is why we decided that in-person learning would be the best option for all of us,” she said.

Lindsey Johnson is an ESL Coordinator at Judith-Harlow Elementary and Joe K. Bryant Elementary schools in Anna.

She said wearing masks has become a habit in her daily life inside and outside of teaching. “I am in several classrooms a week, so I am careful to wear my mask and distance as much as possible,” she said. “It has been helpful that I’ve worn them the last few months and am used to it. The only challenge I have had is that I am constantly smiling at the students, and I forget they can’t see through my mask!”

Johnson has been teaching at Anna ISD for 11 years. “I love my position because it is unique in the sense that I’ve gotten to be a part of the students’ lives for the past four years, and even longer for some,” she said. “It’s amazing to see them grow, and see how resilient they are! The students seem to be handling the changes so well, and inspire myself and our staff daily to be as flexible as they are.”

Johnson said she’s really enjoyed helping parents during this time with everything from enrollment to bus transportation routes to answering questions about back-to-school plans.

She added, “I feel we have the most supportive staff, students, and parents at Anna ISD, and this year has really proven that!”

Parents have submitted photographs of their children on the first day of school and Anna Living Magazine has ten some and we are publishing as many as we can get in these few pages. Thanks to all who participated.