VIRGINIA
GARDENS | With pots, pans, and noisemakers, enthusiastic teachers and members
of the home and school association welcomed students and parents back to Blessed
Trinity School — sort of.
Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ | FC
Blessed Trinity School kindergarten student Lucas Cambert holds one of the gift bags handed out to students at the "Cougar Care Caravan," May 14, 2020. Parents took their children on a "drive-by" to the school where they were given bags filled with surprises.
On
May 14, 2020, the school and HSA coordinated a “Cougar
Care Caravan” in which parents took their children on a “drive-by”
to the school, where they were given bags filled with surprises.
“Our goal was to create a care package for every
student from PreK2 to eighth grade as a heartfelt message of love from their school
family during this pandemic,” said Jannet Sanchez, HSA president. “Each grade received a bag with different items catered
just for their age level.”
For
example, eighth-graders received graduation-themed items and second-graders
received religious tokens since this is the year they will be making their
first Communion.
The
event took place over two days, May 14 and June 2. One by one, students began
arriving. Parents honked their car horns and the teachers waved and blew
kisses.
“The biggest challenge I have faced is not seeing the
children every day. I miss the smiling faces, the ‘good mornings,’ and mostly
the big hugs,” said Deborah Ayash, interim principal. “Seeing
the students today was emotional. I was so excited and happy to see them, but
at the same time, it was heartbreaking not knowing when we would be together
again.”
“It was really cool to see all the teachers,” said
Damian Navarro, a fifth-grader. “It was fun
and it made me feel special that they did this for us.”
In
addition to this event, the school, like many others throughout the
archdiocese, has come up with creative ways to stay in touch with students, despite
the obstacles and social distancing. For example, they had yard signs made for
the new inductees to the National Junior Honor Society and those who made the
principal’s honor roll, known as Cougar Distinctions.
“A
handful of the faculty members delivered them to their homes with treats from
our local bakery,” said Ayash. “We also
delivered honor roll pins to about 75 students. Our eighth-grade parents
organized caravans each weekend to visit each graduating student. They are also
leaving a yard sign and a goody bag. The eighth-graders wear their cap-and-gown
as the parents, faculty, and students drive by.”
Decisions
about how the following school year will proceed have not been determined yet
but one thing is clear, Ayash said. “We may be social distancing, but our
hearts are united more than ever.”
Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ | FC
Blessed Trinity School students Valentina Hernandez, left, and Evelyn Veiguela participate in the "Cougar Care Caravan," May 14, 2020. Parents took their children on a "drive-by" to the school where they were given bags filled with surprises.