Whatcom class’s response to coronavirus closure has ‘silly, loud and chaotic’ results
Gov. Jay Inslee’s order for all Washington state schools to close during the COVID-19 pandemic has forced Whatcom County school districts to get creative to find new ways to stay connected with students who will be out of class for at least six weeks.
Sumas Elementary teacher Maricruz Zarate and and her fourth graders gathered together Friday, March 20, while still adhering to Whatcom County Health Department advice to keep social distance, as they met via Zoom — an online-based remote conferencing service.
“Our first class meeting went great,” Zarate said in the release on the Nooksack Valley School District website. “The students were so happy to see each other. They were silly, loud and chaotic. I loved it.”
Zarate and her class met one week after Sumas Elementary had its last in-class meeting.
Teachers throughout the district are looking into ways they can stay connected with kids and keep them involved in academics from home during the school closure, according to the district website.
Inslee ordered all Washington schools closed March 13 in an effort to slow the spread of novel coronavirus. The school will remain closed until at least April 27.
