Teachers Send Video With Messages Of Love To Kids: 'We Miss You'

AQUEBOGUE, NY — With all schools closed statewide at least until April 15 due to rising cases of the new coronavirus, teachers have been left scrambling to acclimate and teach children in new and innovative ways. But beyond being busy, educators say, quite simply, they miss their students — and along with lessons, they're worried if the kids are fed, safe, and happy.

In a message of pure love, teachers, staff and administrators at Aquebogue Elementary School came together to create a video to send home to children. Jennifer Simoes, a first grade teacher, thought of the video and enlisted all of her colleagues to send in photos of themselves and their pets and loved ones at home, holding brightly colored signs with messages to the children.

The messages ring out with joy and love: "We miss you." "You are braver than you believe. Stronger than you seem." "I miss all of your smiling faces." "I love you all."

The notes urge students to "look out for robins," to sing, draw, dance around, read, write, go for walks and play outside, to enjoy family time, to stay safe and healthy — and to learn.

"Make the world a better place, the Aquebogue way," one message read.

When the video, which is posted on YouTube, was finished and all the message stitched together into a beautiful missive of caring, Simoes said: "We all cried watching it, and making it. It has been a very emotional time for us."

Beyond "working feverishly" to implement new distance learning plans, Simoes said, there is another aspect that touches teachers and students alike. "Those plans never really address the connection that we have with the children, the relationships that we have spent to much time building. We miss our kids," she said.

Aquebogue is only one school across the Riverhead Central School District to send a message to students. Teachers at the Pulaski Street Elementary School teachers sent a shout out to kids during their first virtual faculty meeting, the district said.

"During the meeting, they dedicated time to waving hello to all of their students and letting them know how much they are missed. Teachers and administrators have also been checking in with students using apps such as Class Dojo, Google Classroom and Twitter," the district said on social media.

Other videos have been made, a "drive-by" parade was organized, and teachers have been reaching out with phone calls, Simoes said.

"As teachers, there is so much emphasis on testing and performance that the social and emotional piece often goes unspoken. We are just trying to reach out to our kids and let them know that even though we are not in the classroom right now, they are in our hearts, and we are there for them — even in hard times. Whatever we can do for them, we will do, even from a distance," she said.

Once the video was complete, it was posted on the district's Facebook page.

And already, the video has touched hearts. "I got a note today, a message from a parent saying her child was singing along and crying," Simoes said. "It made me cry, too. We spend so much time developing these relationships at the beginning of the year. It's heart-wrenching. We have no idea if we will have the time for proper good-byes. It's emotional for the kids, and for us."

Simoes, who has three children, said beyond lesson plans, teachers are worried about their young charges once they say good-bye at the end of the day. "We've really made a big effort to reach out to kids and make sure they are okay," she said. "If they have food, and if they are safe. We'll muddle through the academic, as well, but it's important to make sure they are emotionally okay."

When the teachers were told that schools were closing due to coronavirus, all were left to navigate unchartered waters, Simoes said.

"When we closed the doors Thursday we had no idea if we were coming back Friday," she said. And now, the future remains uncertain.

But even though they are apart, the bond between educators and their students is strong. "It may sound like a cliche but they have a piece of your heart," Simoes said. "As a teacher, there's room for every little human you touch along the way. It's pretty amazing, and what I absolutely love about what I do."