Cerro Gordo School Leaders Express Thoughts on Effects of Pandemic
By DORIS ELMORE
Staff Writer
As hard as we try, there are computer glitches that happen. When it is an important article that makes it even worse.
In last week’s Southern Piatt Record Herald Jodi Neavill’s response was inadvertently omitted and the article from Brett Robinson was published twice. We sincerely apologize to Jodi for the error.
Jeremy Rodebaugh, Cerro Gordo Jr. High/High School Principal, didn’t receive or overlooked his request for a response. We appreciate him reaching out to us and sharing his response this week.
Strange things happen at times, but we try to get it corrected, and that doesn’t happen overnight with a weekly paper.
We thank our readers for understanding. Please enjoy the correct responses from our Cerro Gordo personnel.
Jodi Neavill is PK-6 Principal for Cerro Gordo. This is her story on the school situation and the pandemic.
1. How do you think the students are coping/responding during this time of Social Distancing?
At CGES, we are focusing on remote learning via work packets. Many of the teachers are also using Zoom, Class Dojo, and Remind to connect with the students and their parents. We have had two distributions of work packets and both have been well received by our CGES parents. Students are getting work done and teachers are responding to all questions when they arise. It is a challenge for everyone, but we are doing the best we can.
2. Your thoughts on how this has affected the students and their learning?
Students are continuing to learn every day. It is more than completing the work packets from the school. Students are having the unique opportunity to learn from their parents. This might be a lesson on baking/cooking, doing laundry, or changing oil in the car.
3. What have you been doing as a family during this time?
I have enjoyed some extra time at home with my daughter, Lena. She is a senior at CGHS. We have been busy preparing for her to go to the University of Illinois in the fall. We have also been going on walks, baking together, and making music- I play the piano, while she sings.
4. How do you think this will affect next year?
I will be excited for school to resume and to see students and teachers in action in the classroom and to hear the students laughing and enjoying one another during lunch and recess. I think we will all appreciate things more and enjoy events in life a lot more–whether that be a family gathering, a dinner at a restaurant, or getting hair cuts.
5. Anything you want to tell the parents, along with the members of the communities in the school district?
I would like to say thank you to the parents and to the teachers and how proud I am to be a Bronco. This is an outstanding community and I am blessed to be a part of it. The teachers continue to amaze me during this time. I would like to say thank you to two fantastic educators–Mary Webb and Karen Wildman. Both teach at CGES and are retiring this year. I know this isn’t how they had hoped to end their careers, but I want them to know that they have touched so many students’ lives and continue to do so. They will be missed and I have been honored to be their elementary principal.
Jeremy Rodebaugh, Principal for Cerro Gordo High School. This is his story on the school situation and the pandemic.
1. How do you think the students are coping/responding during this time of Social Distancing?
This has obviously been very hard for students and teachers. The relationships the students and teachers build with each other and the school, it’s like family, and not having that closure to the school year with your family is just heartbreaking… I know we will all come back stronger than ever from this. It’s like my daughter said to me the other day, “Dad, I am never taking school for granted again!”. I believe there is a lot of that sentiment… Sometimes we all just need a refresher on the value of different things in our lives and we are getting that big time when it comes to how much the public school system means to our families, students, teachers, and communities…
2. Your thoughts on how this has affected the students and their learning?
There is no doubt this has impacted student learning. Our families, students, and teachers have all stepped up to the plate bigtime during remote learning, but to expect that same level of learning that we would have with the student and teacher in the classroom is just not reasonable. However, I do not anticipate this having a long term impact. We will have to spend a little extra time on review and new concepts in the Fall, but then I anticipate us being back to business as usual very quickly.
3. What have you been doing as a family during this time?
My wife and I have a little one on the way in August, so this “quarantine” has given us plenty of time to make preparations. I think we have purchased every onesie available on Amazon. It seems like everyday there is a new Amazon box coming to the door.
4. How do you think this will affect next year?
However, I do not anticipate this having a long term impact. We will have to spend a little extra time on review and new concepts in the Fall, but then I anticipate us being back to business as usual very quickly.
5. Anything you want to tell the parents, along with the members of the communities in the school district?
We miss you. We love you. We will see you soon.
