One Preschool’s Response to COVID-19

SPNDS teacher Maureen Rutkowski makes a special delivery to Ben Garfall. Photo: Jennifer Garfall

Editor’s note: This article was written while SPNDS was still in session. Families and teachers celebrated the end of school on May 19 with a drive-by parade.

The playground of Swarthmore Presbyterian Nursery Day School (SPNDS) had an unusual look on Friday, March 13. Instead of a horde of boys and girls tearing up the tarmac on bikes and scooters, climbing the monkey bars, and making mud soup, children were spaced thinly around, as a few parents lingered uncertainly, no doubt asking themselves if they made the right choice to bring their child to school. Later that afternoon, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf made the decision to close all Pennsylvania schools for two weeks. Eventually he would extend the order for the rest of the school year.

COVID-19 or not, school must go on. The following Monday, teacher Sheri Carney wrote to the parents of her students in the SPNDS kindergarten enrichment program, “Are you familiar with Zoom?” In the days to come, we all would become familiar with Zoom. 

Investigating digital platforms completely new to them, the teachers initially struggled. “I have spent hours and hours researching and sifting through tips and tricks on how to best begin virtual teaching,” said pre-K and kindergarten teacher Maureen Rutkowski. She ended up using a combination of platforms, and created her own videos to simulate favorite classroom activities. For example, her end-of-year “Trip around the World” unit typically includes parents visiting the classroom to make presentations about different countries — often bringing in a tasty dish for the children to try. This year, instead, Rutkowski made videos with colorful maps, stuffed animals, music, and photographs.

A Shift in Perspective

For a hands-on school, a shift in perspective has been necessary. “Taking an experiential curriculum such as ours to an online format is certainly a challenge,” Director Marjorie Adams wrote in an email to parents. “Our goal is to continue to nurture relationships while moving forward with class curriculum in a meaningful way.” In order to minimize both screen time for young brains and stress on families, the Zoom school day is shorter than the in-person one. But teachers supplement it by making on-demand activities available on other platforms, devising fun homework assignments, and even dropping off materials at students’ homes.

Teacher Jennie Hartley nurtures her relationship with the school’s youngest students by making videos for them such as ”Hello Friends,” an impromptu greeting she filmed in Rose Tree Park featuring her dog, Dodger, chasing her happily; “Circle Time with Miss Jennie” in which she feeds the class pet, Luna the fish; and “Treasure Hunt of Colors,” a hunt to find each of the colors of the rainbow in and around her house. “My intent is still the same as in my classroom,” said Hartley, “which is to celebrate both the curiosity of children and the wonder of nature.”

Music, Art, and Puppet Shows Go Virtual

To share favorite songs like “The Muffin Man” and “Zum Zum Zum,” music teacher Fiona Murray created her own YouTube channel.

Even the after-school Lunch Bunch teachers are continuing familiar routines using Zoom, including the Lunch Bunch cheer and reading stories that inspire art-making. Recently, instead of being together in the classroom and capturing colorful bubbles made from dish soap and tempera paint on paper, the Lunch Bunchers created bubble prints at home and shared them later on-screen. 

The SPNDS kindergarten classes were in the middle of studying rainforest habitats when school was shuttered. Carney’s class used Zoom to perform the rainforest play they’d written back in school, while Allison DeSalvo’s kindergarteners put on a rainforest puppet show in three acts, in which a harpy eagle preys on a turtle and other life-or-death mealtime dramas ensue. 

Kindergarten routines, including morning meeting and quiet time, are faithfully maintained using the online platform, but new activities have been added for the virtual age. On “Movie Mondays,” Carney’s students watch videos of one another doing chores, playing outside, and interviewing family members. Movement activities are crucial: 10-second sports, juggling, red light/green light, and the shopping cart dance with guest trainer Isabel Cardi are a few Zoom favorites.

Staying Connected

Parents have expressed gratitude for what SPNDS is offering. Phaedra Leslie feels that Rutkowski, her child’s teacher, is providing content and engagement that far exceeds what the public schools are providing. “What a gift it is for us to have her classes during this crazy, difficult time,” she wrote.

Most of all, the children love to see one another and their teachers on-screen. “I really feel what the kids like best is the opportunity to connect,” said Susan Williams of her class of four-year-olds. “They want to share what they are doing, like riding their bikes, or show us their toys and pets. I have come to believe that this is what they really need.” Making a judgment call based on decades of experience, Williams sometimes allows much of her lesson plan to go by the wayside. 

“Things have changed drastically for them,” Williams said. “But I want them to know I am still here for them, and still care about them, and we are still our class, even if we are not at school.” 

Reisa Mukamal is an assistant kindergarten teacher at SPNDS.