It’s official for Schuylkill County. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has added it to the growing list of counties with stay-at-home orders. In other words, no travel unless it deals with life-sustaining matters — food, medical, medicine, essential work, getting school materials. Need walk? That’s OK, too. However, maintain that all-important social distance.
Speaking of school materials, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced that “All schools in Pennsylvania will remain closed until further notice as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Ugh. Ugh. One more … UGH!
Complain as we might that statistics pale in comparison the flu, the coronavirus numbers seem to pile up quickly, as the illness jumps from person to person. As a result, we need to “shelter in place” to keep it from spreading. Or as health officials say, we need to do our part to help “flatten the curve.”
This marks the start of a third week of no school. At first, it might have seemed like fun, a spring break, a few snow days.
Fast forward to this week, it isn’t.
From this mom’s perspective, it’s overwhelming. Questions remain unanswered about my children’s education, questions that school officials are working hard to answer. Their school district is getting an educational plan together to keep learning going in lieu of classroom instruction. That’s wonderful. For that valiant effort, I say thank you to all the teachers and administrators who are striving to figure out how to help our students cross the finish line of another academic year.
So we will embrace school on the home front as I continue to work and take care of things at home. To all of you facing the same music, let’s play this symphony the best way we know how and finish with a big crescendo.
The mom of a dancing teen and a tween who enjoys scouting and hockey, Katie Campomizzi-Clews is a copy editor at The Republican-Herald. She began her career at The RH as a staff writer following graduation from Lycoming College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a minor in psychology. She shares her experiences of balancing work and parenting and takes a look at issues, events and trends concerning parents and children.
