Hello Southwood Families,
First, let me say I hope you and your family are safe and healthy. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding as we have been adjusting, like you, to the drastic changes in life during the last few weeks. I am extremely appreciative of our students, parents, teachers, and staff for their positivity, flexibility and resilience during these challenging times. A huge debt of gratitude also goes to all of our doctors, nurses, hospital employees, first responders, and our leaders for all they are doing to keep us safe and healthy.
As you know, distance learning for Southwood is in full motion. Our goal is to provide continuous educational opportunities and practice for our students while our campus is closed. While it is our responsibility to continue to educate our children, we also want to compassionately take into consideration the variety of difficulties that our families are enduring during this time.
We often reflect in life about not having enough time to spend with our children. If possible, take this as an opportunity to do so. Use life skills to teach your children. Cooking together reinforces reading, writing, and following directions. Reading a book together and talking about the story reinforces reading and listening comprehension. Keeping a daily journal of this experience will support writing skills and provide a log for what will surely be part of our history. Family game time can reinforce several skills such as reading, math, taking turns, following directions, problem solving and critical thinking skills. Going for a walk, bike ride or playing outside reinforces physical fitness. Drawing pictures, singing songs, building, and creating together gives an opportunity to be truly present with your family. You were their first teacher and now they need you more than ever before to provide the safe, secure and comforting environment they are accustomed to. We will likely never experience something like this again, so take advantage of this precious time with your families. As it is stressful for you, it is likely just as stressful for them.
Please know together we will get through this. Our school community will come back stronger. I believe we all will be stronger when we come out on the other side of the COVID-19 Pandemic! History is being written! We hold the pen! Together, we will write the BEST story for our children!
Sincerely,
Stacey Tanenbaum