Empty cafeteria filled with student voices again through virtual lunch
“It’s surreal, the school is surreal.”
That’s the way Barbara Bush Middle School Principal Stuart Guthrie described the feeling inside the empty cafeteria.
“It’s different; like right now, I can hear the ice machine in the kitchen which is something you’d never hear when the kids are in here. We miss them; we miss them a lot,” he said.
So, Guthrie and Bush Middle School Assistant Principal Victor Saldana decided to serve up lunch in a different way.
“In this new way of learning, it just made sense that we would do something similar and Zoom in on their lunch. It’s been a lot of fun,” Guthrie explained.
“I love how our technology these days, even though we are far apart, we can still see each other. I think it’s honestly really amazing to be able to see everyone during this time,” Bush student Zoe said.
“It’s good to see everyone, not like in person, but to see their faces,” Bush student Bailey said.
Many of the school’s teachers, like Samantha Hopkins, also make sure to pull up a seat for the virtual lunch time.
“I have a 6th grader and I also teach 8th grade and as far as being able to connect, I think this is vital for our students and for my son. We are not having playdates; we aren’t seeing other children beyond waiving at them across the street when they walk by. To have this format, think it’s so important for their social emotional wellbeing,” Hopkins explained.
Parents also said they’re excited to see North East ISD using innovative ways to keep kids connected to their schools.
“They are kind of developing some life skills that they will use later in life because I don’t think the virtual world is going away. Tt’s exciting to see that we embraced it so quickly,” a parent from Bush explained.
“We have to adapt and that’s just what this time has asked us to do. You guys, you students are fantastic at that,” Saldana added.
Even in the most uncertain of times, we’re all in this together… because #NEISDcares!