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[VIRTUAL] SCHOOL PARENTS SHARE GLIMPSES OF THEIR STUDENTS’ DAY-TO-DAY AFTER CLASSES RESUMED AT HOME IN AUGUST My daughter, Jordan Foege, just entered kindergarten. Sitting in front of a computer is not something a 5-year-old is wired for. But the teachers at Pittsboro Elementary School have made the classes as engaging and light as possible to help the kids succeed. I think my daughter will be successful in kindergarten because of the flexibility and adaptability of the teachers! Lord knows it’s not easy for anyone, but we’re all trying!” – from Maggie Foege
Our third grader, Emmet (pictured right), and kindergartener, Arley (left), were disappointed to not return to Perry Harrison Elementary School in person, but our family understood and supported the school board’s decision to keep students and staff safe via remote learning. When explaining what the start of school would look like to Arley, she said that was OK because with online learning, she ‘would be able to see 58
CHATHAM MAGAZINE
everyone’s smiles.’ The positive attitudes, flexibility and resilience of everyone, including my own children, have been helpful as we navigate this process. Before school began, our family discussed that we needed to extend lots of patience, grace and gratitude to one another at home and in our classrooms.
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2020
We all have our moments of struggle, but we are off to a good start. Teachers and staff have been creative with their virtual classrooms, and they extended warm welcomes to students and families from the start. I have been impressed at the ways they go above and beyond by fielding questions, offering tech support,