A Reflection from Principal Mona Passman

April 1, 2020

I have been searching for the right words to share with all of you. Unfortunately, nothing prophetic or inspirational comes to mind. Instead, I keep thinking, “This is hard. Not impossible—but really hard.”

We are all learning as we go, without the luxury of hindsight. I don’t know about all of you, but I don’t need one more social media “how to” post. At first, I thought they were helpful. Now I find them stressful because I cannot possibly meet all these expectations. “Twenty items you need for your pantry during a pandemic.” “Seven ways to parent your kids while they are learning at home.” “Ten insightful messages for surviving every relationship during a pandemic.” “Six essential skills necessary to work smarter from home.” “Four things every teacher should know to prepare the perfect online lesson.” Enough already. I need to figure out what works for me.  

Similarly, we are deciding what works for our community and our school. We are referencing external resources and experts, but the best wisdom comes from within. We have phenomenal teachers who know how to teach and reach students. Yes, the methodology changes, but their expertise and compassion are abundant. Our counselors, deans, learning lab teachers, and other staff members are also able to utilize their talents to help their students. Parents, you also know your own children best. Follow your instincts. They won’t always be right, but I bet you are doing a better job than you might think or than the experts could advise.

Even though we are staying home, it doesn’t mean we are facing this in isolation. God created us as social beings. We need each other and our communities now more than ever. COVID-19 is interrupting our day-to-day routines and relationships but it is also strengthening many of the bonds that matter. I find myself talking on the phone to my mother now more than ever. I have more interactions with my neighbors, albeit at a social distance, because we are all outside trying to get some fresh air. I miss our students, teachers, staff, and community, but the connections we share have become more meaningful.

Cretin-Derham Hall is truly a special community. While I don’t have any research to back this up, I do have faith that we will emerge an even stronger community when this is over.

God’s blessings and peace to each of you.