Emotional. Inspirational. Exhausting. Invigorating. And most of all, OHHH SO MUCH FUN! These are just a few adjectives that describe my first week as a substitute elementary school teacher.
Emotional: The week started off with heart-breaking news. One of our first grade students had fallen into the Clackamas River over the weekend while playing in the snow with her parents and siblings, and was missing. Search and Rescue teams were scouring the water and surrounding area searching for Vinesa with no avail. Teachers and staff were notified, and the district’s “Flight Team” was already stationed at the school to help students and staff cope with the devastating news. No words can describe the atmosphere at the school that week. Although I never had the opportunity to know Vinesa, I did have the privilege of working with her older brothers and sister, and mourned for the family’s loss. No teaching prep class or book can teach you how to deal with the death of a student and the ways in which it impacts the classroom dynamic. The teachers at Mill Park handled the situation with tremendous sensitivity and professionalism, and demonstrated the great necessity of having close, open and trusting relationships with students. Although the event was horrific and heart-breaking, it was important to maintain a sense of normalcy and security throughout the week for the students in the school. The school will continue to deal with the loss in a myriad of ways, and there will surely be waves of emotions to follow. (Side note: If you’re interested in knowing more about Vinesa and ways you may be able to help her family, please visit http://www.helpfindvinesa.com/)