When Fayette students left their classrooms on the afternoon of Thursday, March 12, they were looking forward to spring break. The four-day weekend was supposed to provide a welcome break from routine. Instead, that break will last for the remainder of the school year. 

A break from the school classrooms, but not from schoolwork. 

Fayette schools, like others around the country, have transitioned to assisting students in learning online and at home.  

“Overall, I believe that everyone is adapting well,” said Fayette superintendent Jill Wiseman. “Teachers are used to having a plan in place, but they are also quick to adapt.

“Our goal is to keep caring for each other, learning from each other, and helping our kids to continue learning even when they aren’t in our buildings. It’s not the same, but we are doing everything we can to try to provide some continuity for our kids and their families.”

Teachers are using online resources like Google Classroom, Zoom, Freckle, and Seesaw to assist children in learning from home, along with packets of paper materials. It has been a learning experience for students, teachers, parents and administrators alike, although familiarity with one of those online tools was a bonus for some teachers. 

“We didn’t necessarily have a contingency plan in place for a world-wide pandemic causing a social, economic and educational shut down, but with that said, at the high school level we had several classes already utilizing Google Classroom,” Wiseman said. “I would say at that level we were semi-prepared without knowing it.”

Torey and Jinger Felten have a child in high school, one in middle school and two in the elementary school. They’ve enjoyed the extra family time. There have been challenges with the transition, but they’re grateful for the help they get from the school.

“All of the teachers and staff are going above and beyond to reach out to their students,” Jinger said.

Liam Felten, a first grader, said, “I just want to be at school!”

He feels like he does more work at home than he did in the classroom, but he enjoys seeing responses from his teacher, Stacie Beaman, when he turns in work on Seesaw. Beaman also reads to the students almost every day.

“My favorite story was when her dog, Bosco, read the book,” Liam said. 

Logan Felten is in Adrian Stumbaugh’s third grade class. When he isn’t doing his school work, he enjoys spending more time with his steer and goats and building a farm on farming simulator. 

“I hate not being at school,” he said. “We do more work at home and at least at school the teacher is there to help us!”  

Stumbaugh also uses the Seesaw app, which allows parents to upload pictures of the work they've done. Stumbaugh uses the app to deliver assignments, to view the completed work, and then comment on it as well. 

“I think the biggest challenge is not knowing how they are doing every day,” Stumbaugh said. 

“I don't get to see them and say ‘hi,’ I don't know if they have questions, or if they are not understanding something. I'm not getting to really ‘teach.’ There is no sense of closure, everything feels unfinished. That has been really hard.”

Stumbaugh enjoys seeing her students around town and seeing their comments and notes on Seesaw. She scheduled a Zoom meeting with the entire class as well. She appreciates the effort that parents have made to help their children in this situation. 

“They have asked questions, they are trying hard, they are working to keep the kids on track as best they can, and I am so impressed with that! I am also blown away by the efforts of everyone at school. We have really come together to find new, innovative ways to stay in touch with our kids and their families.  

“Finally, I have gained knowledge of new resources such as the Seesaw app and Zoom, and I see ways to implement them into my teaching even once we are back in school. It has pushed me out of my comfort zone and I've learned new things in the process.”

Kaylea Felten said that all of her eighth-grade teachers have reached out and have been helpful when she has questions, but being at home all the time is boring. She likes everything about school: her friends, her coaches, and her teachers. 

“I have got to spend more time with my dad and learn more about the farm but I'm ready to get back to my friends and for softball to start,” she said.

Kenzie Felten is finishing her freshman year. 

“I like being able to work at my own pace but not having a teacher to actually to teach a lesson makes it very hard,” she said. “Algebra especially, is hard not being in a classroom setting. Mrs. Hudson really explains things so I understand.

“Right now, I miss my friends and just being at school.”

While the current situation has given many people a deeper appreciation for some aspects of socialization that are missing right now, there have been positive moments as families spend more time together.

“We are all learning to help each other, and my girls deserve a special thank you,” Jinger said. “They are helping their brothers, babysitting, and keeping up with homework. As we are ready to play some sports and get back to socialization, we are enjoying family time and I hope through this experience that we will not get so busy again to stop and enjoy us.”

Stumbaugh also has seen encouraging responses to the current situation.

“I am really proud of how the kids, their families, our school, and the whole community have come together in these very uncertain times,” she said. “We have found ways to stay connected and to stay positive, and that's definitely something to remember.”