PRESCHOOL DURING A PANDEMIC
It’s hard to believe this school year has come to a close. This has been quite a different year, as you may have guessed. With this pandemic we have faced many challenges and gave constant reassurance to concerned families. To say this past year has been a bit stressful to all of us is probably an understatement.
However, there have also been some really great things that have happened at Hazelwood Preschool. The mandated shutdown from mid-March to July gave our staff and families time to slow down a bit. They were able to spend more time as a family instead of running from one place to another. There was time to have dinner together at the dinner table and to share in their child’s day-to-day preschool learning experience as we provided opportunities for virtual learning.
Teaching took on a very different look for me and my teaching staff as we set up virtual classrooms in our homes. My experience in grant writing was taken to a whole new level. Weekly, and sometimes daily, grant-writing deadlines were essential to ensure my staff would be able to receive a much-needed paycheck every two weeks. I am so thankful that with God’s guidance, putting all the right people and information in my path, we were able to pay each employee the whole time we were off.
As we came back into the physical building there were many decisions to be made as to how we do that safely and still protect our staff and families. Once again, God charted the way and made it possible to re-open our ministry doors.
My goals this year was to love on our staff, children and families as much as possible and to bring the light of Jesus to a dark-feeling world at times. I think with your help, the help of the Preschool Team, and the help of the congregation we have done that to the best of our ability.
In closing, I would like to say thank you to the Preschool Team for their constant support and love for this ministry. Thank you to Hazelwood Church for allowing this ministry for all these decades. I can’t even fathom how many lives you have touched over the years by being here! Thank you to Hazelwood staff. A special thank you to Bill Ritchie and Jay Matchett for their weekly work in maintaining our building and property. Thank you to our teaching staff for staying the course in uncharted waters and continuing to make a difference in so many children’s lives.
Lastly, thank you to our preschool families for having faith in us to keep you and your children safe, for believing in what we are doing, and for your patience this year with so many changes. We love you!
~Angela Lopez
LOOKING AHEAD
May 21 – May Celebration, 6:30 p.m., 2-3 & 3-4 Classes
May 24 – Graduation Practice, 9 a.m., 4-5 Classes
May 24 – Preschool Graduation, 6:30 p.m., 4-5 Classes
May 25 – Teacher Work Day
June 1– July 2 – 1st Summer Camp Session
July 19 – August 20 – 2nd Summer Camp Session
