Students at Whitaker this week chalked their block to show just how much they love their teachers who are celebrating National Teacher Appreication Week.
The celebration runs through Friday, but with students not able to thank their teacher’s in person messages of love and thanks will greet them as they arrive in the coming days to pick up their personal belongings on staggered schedules.
“Since we were not allowed to enter the school building, we had to figure out a way to recognize our teachers in a different way,” said Christina Fenstermacher, teacher appreciation committee chair.
The PTA reached out to parents to have their children drop by the front of the campus at their leisure to craft a special message to their teachers with their own chalk while keeping social distancing a priority. The PTA also donated family movie night gift bags for each of the faculty to take home and enjoy. Bags, which have been sanitized, can be picked up outside the school when teachers go to retrieve their things.
“We wanted to give something they could enjoy at home with their family while in quarantine,” Fenstenmacher said. “Even though our funds were limited, we did not want to forgo recognizing our faculty – who have been working diligently to keep students learning through EPISD@HOME.”
Teacher Appreciation Week and recognizing their dedication to their students is especially important this year during this transition to virtual learning.
“We have such a supportive parent community at Whitaker Elementary and an awesome PTA,” she said. “This transition has been rough on some of our teacher – some are enjoying the technology aspect, but many miss being in the building and all that goes with it. We are so grateful for the recognition from our families.”
