The sticky handrail
touched by the hands of
1500 middle schoolers
The rhythmic chime
of keys on a lanyard
as a colleague approaches
Second breakfast
with its mug of tea, a banana,
and a colleague with
her bowl of fruit and yogurt
The musty smell
of the locker room
as 120 sixth graders
leave for the day
The flow of students
up and down the staircase
at the beginning and end
of the day
The beep and buzz
of the lock
as you swipe your ID card
before the sun comes up
They joy in your heart
as you stand, before school,
in front of the building,
greeting families,
and one of your current,
or former students,
arrives
booksandbassets 
The joys of being in school. However it is much better to be safe. I know they keep saying kids don’t get as sick with the virus as adults, but they forget kids carry and teachers and staff are adults. Stay safe and have a good year whatever it may look like.
It will certainly be an interesting year.
Beautiful, Adrienne. You captured it! Cathie
Sent from my iPad
Cathie Padgett
I can’t help but notice that your handrail, locker room and staircase verses sound pretty darn germy!
In all seriousness, I do love how you took the time to celebrate those small moments that make up the days we love. I think I will try it as well. Then, after distance teaching for awhile, I think we should try the same exercise, and find new sources of small joys in that reality.
I agree, Fran–and I love the idea of trying the same exercise with what we want to hang on to from this time!
There are so many sensory images in this poem. Your love for where you work (and those you work with and teach) really shines through.
😔😊
Sent from Diane’s iPhone
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This is lovely, vivid images, from sticky hands to sounds that herald school life. Then here they come:the reason for it all.
We’ll have to look for different things to remember about this year.
This year will look and feel so different. I’m glad you wrote down the things that will be missed (though the sticky handrail would’ve grossed me out even before COVID). However, I think it’s good your district is starting out remotely. Seems like the only way to keep kids safe.
I could picture everything in your poem. Those are all things I miss about school too (well, maybe not the stinky locker room and the germy places!) It’s hard to imagine not going back. At the same time, I think this could be an amazing opportunity to make some real changes in an outdated education system and I’m excited for it. We’ll be back full time to start, but I bet we’ll be online again at some point.
Great reminders of all those little things that might seem annoying at the time but when not present garner more importance and become endearing. The images you create with your memories and words are relatable to many. Thanks!