By AMY DAVIS
The Progress
The Virgin Valley community found ways to thank local teachers last week during Teacher Appreciation Week, despite school closures and social distancing recommendations.
Students have been home since mid-March and parents have discovered a whole new level of appreciation for the work done in the classroom. Meanwhile, many teachers have been working harder than ever. Many have had to step out of their comfort zone to learn new technology in an effort to stay in contact with their students during the closures.
While teachers couldn’t be celebrated in the classroom this year, students, parents and faculty have done their best to think outside of the box to let teachers know just how much they are loved.
“I am who I am because of the great teachers I have had,” said Jayci Johnson, freshman at Virgin Valley High School in a video tribute that her family created for teachers.
Jayci’s brother, Derrick Johnson paid homage to his teacher Mrs. Potter at Virgin Valley Elementary School in the video. “A good teacher helps you see the world in a different way,” he said.
The PTO at Virgin Valley Elementary School delivered homemade signs and goodies to their teachers.
Joe Bowler Elementary in Bunkerville delivered little gift bags with goodies and well wishes. Facebook was flooded with videos and pictures expressing gratitude to teachers, aids and principals.
“On Wednesday, we supervised the seniors as they came in and cleaned out their lockers and had senior pictures taken,” said Christy Lindberg, a teacher at Beaver Dam High School. “We had a staff meeting where we were provided lunch and we were gifted a teacher bag. We were able to see each other face to face and socialize at a distance within the same classroom rather than on computer. It was a good day.”
Mesquite resident Wes Boger said that his kids love their teachers. “It is so hard to pick a favorite as ALL of my kids’ teachers at VVES were so wonderful!” he said. “Support staff is great too. Diana Frehner, for example. Along with the other specialists, she sees nearly every student in the entire school every week.
She takes the time to actually speak with each student as they check books in and out of the library. She spends her talents and time helping teachers with various projects. She is an unsung hero to those kiddos”
Castina Woolsey, Kindergarten teacher at J.L. Bowler Elementary, posted a message online.
“Virtual teaching will never replace the love, the laughs, the learning, the smiles on the students faces, the ‘aha’ moments that happen in an actual classroom,” she said. “The quarantine isn’t a break for teachers and students it is a heartbreak.”
