May 1, 2020
By KEITH RYAN CARTWRIGHT
Rutherford County Schools
Teachers and students have utilized technology and social media to remain in touch with one another ever since classes were canceled seven weeks ago in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Although nothing can replace, much less replicate, the firsthand experiences of being in a classroom, administrators and educators along with parents and students have made the most of the challenges facing school systems throughout much of the world, including right here in Rutherford County.
“They want to be in the building,” said Kittrell Elementary Principal Ynetia Avant, of her faculty and staff, who have been home since March 13. “They want to see their students and they want to keep students engaged.
“We have to find other ways to keep them engaged.”
That is what weighed on Avant’s mind last week when she challenged her related arts staff to develop a series of five projects — one for each day of the week — that allowed parents and students to enjoy collaborating together.
And in turn the engagement would be enjoyable and lead to laughter.
“I was like, ‘Yeah, lets do that,’” said Rachel Davenport, an art instructor at Kittrell. “She gives us an idea and just kind of lets us make it our own, so that’s what she did.”
Avant added, “In like 30 minutes, they had challenges for the week.”
On Monday, the school library and media specialist, Jessica Bloom, created a “bookface” challenge to start the week in which students took selfies with book covers replacing their own faces.
Davenport’s art challenge, on Tuesday, called for students and parents to create a “house animal” using materials found inside or outside of their homes, while Jennifer Melton came up with a physical education challenge combining yoga poses and their pets.
Stephanie Oakes and Tina Smith closed out the week on Thursday and Friday by finding a “kindness rock” and painting it with their favorite emoji on one side and a positive message on the other, and a “steady beat” challenge that parents might recognize as Simon Says from their own childhood.
The challenges were posted every morning using the school’s dojo app.
“I think they’re really enjoying it and they’re getting creative,” Davenport said. “During this time, I feel like a lot of people are relying on their creativity right now because I know I’m getting kind of bored being at home all the time, so I’ve been doing all kinds of different projects and I think the kids are enjoying this because they get to use their creativity. They get to problem solve and it’s just a fun thing to do with their families.”
Davenport is hoping Avant will let the related arts team — art, music, counseling, physical education and media center — continue with daily challenges throughout what has now become the summer break.
Avant recognized her entire staff is “not sitting back and waiting to see what’s going to happen.” Instead, they have risen to the challenge under difficult circumstances.
Each of them is missing the students as much or, perhaps, more than the students miss being in school.
“We see these kids every day and we know them,” Davenport said. “They’re like our own kids and we miss them. And, as an art teacher, I really get to know these kids because they come in with their feelings and everything that they have at home and they create with all of that. You get to know them on a really deep level, and you miss them. You’re worried about them when they’re gone, so I just hope they’re all doing OK and I just wish I could give them all a big hug and tell them it’s going to be all right.”
When they return in the Fall, Davenport concluded, “Oh man, I don’t think we’ll take any of the time for granted. I think every second will seem more precious than the last one. When we get to see these sweet babies again, I’m sure there’ll be lots of hugs and tears.”
PHOTOS PROVIDED