May 20, 2020

Dear Families,

The city closed off nine blocks of West End Avenue from 95th street to 87th street, a bit south of where I live. Every afternoon I take a long walk, either with David and we talk, or alone and I listen to musicals, or call friends, or just think. Last Thursday I was walking on the sidewalk down West End. Not until I was down to 91st Street did I even realize that the street was closed. And still I stayed on the sidewalk. Talk about a creature of habit! It took me until 88th Street to walk in the middle of the avenue. WHY?

I think I am not alone in looking for normalcy. I mean how much more adapting can any of us do at this point? I actually love the idea of streets closed for pedestrian recreation and I was fine being a spectator. I simply do not want any more new experiences, regardless of how banal they are. LEAVE ME ALONE.

And then I thought about all of you, our children, and the staff. My attitude was a temporary and grumpy reaction because in truth, I should have taken advantage of a wide open street. All of us need to embrace and take advantage of what this time during COVID-19 is offering to teach us. While we look for recognizable experiences, we may miss the newness, possibilities, and expansiveness of what we can do in education in the present. Rather than try to replicate school at home, we are being pushed to redefine school while achieving the same goals.

What does engagement look like? What does connecting mean? How is a community built remotely? When are the traffic lines in open streets transformed for scooters?                       

We do not know what September will look like, but we do know that these past months are teaching us to look up, get off the sidewalk, take to new spaces, and move forward.

We also know that the DOE intends to cut our budget DRASTICALLY. If you haven't already, PLEASE read this letter from the PTA and click here to donate whatever amount you can. Every bit will be gratefully received and put to good use.

With Respect,

Jacqui