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Now is the time when graduations are normally in full swing.
Commencements are occurring, parties are happening and the graduates are getting ready to embark on a whole new world.
While our graduates will still be preparing for their whole new worlds, a lot of the other stuff that usually coincides with it won’t be taking place.
It’s disappointing and upsetting, but thanks to caring educators and family members, celebrations are happening in other ways.
If you saw the front page on Thursday, you saw a story and photos of GAR Memorial High School teachers delivering graduation signs and well wishes to students.
It’s happening in Wilkes-Barre City and all around the Wyoming Valley.
From Tunkhannock to Drums similar scenes played out recently as Holy Redeemer High School teachers delivered yard signs and gift bags to graduating seniors.
Twenty faculty members visited the homes of 114 seniors as part of “Operation Graduation,” which was the brainchild of principal Doreen Dougherty and Dean of Students Colin Martinson, who were looking to honor the seniors.
When I spoke with Mary Humiston, a 41-year veteran science teacher with Holy Redeemer and the former Bishop Hoban, she said, “Not only were the kids glad for the recognition but many said it was just so nice to see their teachers face to face (even though it was behind a mask) after seeing them only in their weekly Zoom classes the last several weeks.”
Distance learning has been happening for years across the country, but never has it been so prevalent – especially in our area – with so many teachers and students forced to end their school years via remote classes.
We’ve been profiling and chronicling these teacher/student/parent situations in our ‘Learning Curve’ series, which launched in the paper two weeks ago and is running every Wednesday through June.
In it, we’re sharing stories like this: educators, parents, and teachers forced to learn in different ways, using different methods and on different platforms.
It’s crazy, but also very empowering to think of how much we can still educate ourselves if we apply ourselves.
The educational adjustments have been as much work and sacrifice for the parents as they have been for the students and teachers, with many parents taking active roles in supporting their children’s studies and new schedules.
While delivering the yard signs and gifts, Humiston witnessed parents just as thrilled as the students, with many taking photos of the special deliveries and interactions.
Still, many – from the parents to the teachers and students – will be excited when everyone returns to classrooms in the fall.
Humiston, however, won’t be returning since she’s retiring at the end of this school year.
While it was a difficult ending to a most unusual year, she’s focusing on all the good times.
“I have been very fortunate to have worked at two great schools, Bishop Hoban and Holy Redeemer,” she said.
She, like so many teachers this past year, adjusted their teaching models for the good of our students.
Thank you to all of them for their service and sacrifice.
And this week, I’d like wish Mrs. Mary Humiston – and all those retiring from our school systems – an especially happy retirement. After your years of dedication, you deserve it.
Mike McGinley is the Times Leader Media Group’s major accounts executive. Reach him at [email protected] or 570-704-3945.