CONNOR TOWNSHIP, Maine — Kids jumped up and down and screamed in excitement while others were moved to tears when Connor Consolidated School staff dropped off treats as part of their socially distanced Easter egg hunting activity.
With the COVID-19 pandemic closing down schools throughout the country, staff at Connor Township planned the Easter egg hunt as a way to maintain their connection with students who have been learning from home for nearly a month.
Connor Consolidated School Principal Heather Anderson said the student response was fantastic.
“They said it was the best day they’ve had since we went out of school,” she said. “My email has been flooded with thank yous and messages asking that we do this again. The kids were so excited and so happy to see us.”
Anderson said she and staff at the school have already discussed holding another event around Memorial Day because of the overwhelming response.
Like many schools, Connor Consolidated School is sending home weekly packets of homework and communicating with students either through the Zoom app or through phone calls.
Anderson said their last assignment was to color an Easter egg and put it in a front-facing window.
School staff went out in seven vehicles and visited every student’s home — a total of 20 houses — stopping by the road and honking their horns. Students and teachers were excited to see each other again, Anderson said.
“It was so inspiring,” she said. “We needed that. The community needed that.”
Before the Easter activity, teachers have been working to remotely contact students three times a week, which Anderson said is just not the same as having face-to-face interactions.
The transition has been rough on both students and staff at the school.
“I think it’s been harder on some students than others,” said Anderson. “All the responses from all of our students, even ones that said they didn’t want to come back at first, is that they can’t wait until school is back in session, that they miss their friends and teachers.”
And while many kids were excited to see some familiar faces, Anderson said quite a few were moved to tears.
“There were lots of tears, even from some of the kids who say they don’t like school,” she said. “It’s really hard for kids, especially those who come from trauma. It’s just one more connection taken away from them. It’s hard for parents too, because they’re learning to homeschool and juggle that with their jobs.”
Staff at the school are also pushing themselves and adjusting throughout the closure.
“We’re working harder than we ever have in our whole life,” Anderson said. “I have one teacher who is excellent, but technology has never been her thing, and she has really pushed herself and is doing a remarkable job adapting to conducting lessons with students through Zoom each day. It’s pushed us all out of our comfort zones.”
The principal said she has been grateful for everyone in the community working together throughout the pandemic, and that parents have been incredibly supportive and cooperative.
“The main thing we’ve realized is that trying to maintain education isn’t actually the most important part of this; it’s maintaining a connection and letting kids know we’re still [here], we can still help and that we still care,” Anderson said.
