Another summer has come and gone, and the new school year is here to greet us again!
Many student services professionals worked this summer, pouring into backlogged special education evaluations and/or summer social-emotional learning (SEL) in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS.) Others enjoyed the quiet of the summer time or the company of family and friends as they lounged at home or traveled the country.
Regardless of how your summer was spent, it's important the note that the next few workdays are being spent gearing up for the return of students IN PERSON! Many of our children have not physically been in a school building since March 2020...let that sink in...March of 2020. 18 months ago...that's a substantial amount of time without "traditional" learning.
However, what we do know is that although things didn't look traditional over the last year and a half, there was much our students DID learn. Students learned technology; students learned how to advocate for themselves via email and other tech tools. Although many may choose to focus on "learning loss," remember there was so much that was gained during this time, such as time with loved ones and time to stop the "rat race' of the regular school year.
But, for those who struggled finding solace and only found stress during the school year, know that school psychologists and other school professionals are working to make things better. Again, this school year may not look like others...but, it will be school AND there will be learning, believe that!
Have a great school year! Check back periodically for updates on how to care for self, and other strategies for coping over the course of a school year that is surely different from others. Take care!
Jo Ellen
Many student services professionals worked this summer, pouring into backlogged special education evaluations and/or summer social-emotional learning (SEL) in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS.) Others enjoyed the quiet of the summer time or the company of family and friends as they lounged at home or traveled the country.
Regardless of how your summer was spent, it's important the note that the next few workdays are being spent gearing up for the return of students IN PERSON! Many of our children have not physically been in a school building since March 2020...let that sink in...March of 2020. 18 months ago...that's a substantial amount of time without "traditional" learning.
However, what we do know is that although things didn't look traditional over the last year and a half, there was much our students DID learn. Students learned technology; students learned how to advocate for themselves via email and other tech tools. Although many may choose to focus on "learning loss," remember there was so much that was gained during this time, such as time with loved ones and time to stop the "rat race' of the regular school year.
But, for those who struggled finding solace and only found stress during the school year, know that school psychologists and other school professionals are working to make things better. Again, this school year may not look like others...but, it will be school AND there will be learning, believe that!
Have a great school year! Check back periodically for updates on how to care for self, and other strategies for coping over the course of a school year that is surely different from others. Take care!
Jo Ellen