Counselor’s Corner Issue 26

Dear Fence-Jumpers,

This past week I sat in the backyard watching my two daughters play outside. Given the great spring weather, the neighborhood kids from two-doors down sauntered over. They, like my girls, have been schooling from home, faithful mask-wearers at all times, and conscientious social-distancers. Whenever they interact, it is with much consideration for the other, sensitive to their parents' cautionary reminders.

However, on this sunny day, with daffodils waving in the breeze and robins hopping about, the dynamic was different. In happy dismay, I watched as two towheaded little girls climbed one side of the wooden fence, while a strawberry-blondie brother-sister pair climbed the other side. The result was four happy little heads bobbing atop the fence line in chatter and connection after a season of detachment.

Several of you during Thursday's Small School Connection Circle expressed a similar feeling -- disconnect from everyone outside of the young people you daily serve. As you shared, it occurred to me that I, too, feel severed in my relationships. Aside from my family unit and caseload students, I am disconnected from all else. The thought occurred to me that, after a season of intentionally pulling away, it is now time intentionally meet one another at the fence line.

What does this look like for you and me in Illinois Conference Schools? It means climbing over the barriers of school locations and district boundaries to reach for connection. Swing a leg from your one-room schoolhouse to the same grade-level Academy teacher. Holler at your neighbor colleague from the same state region as you. Trek from the lower-level side of your school building to the upper-grade educator's room. For more ideas, click the button below to learn how to collaborate with your fellow teachers during this pandemic. In short, pull down whatever barriers stand in the way between you and your fellow comrades to build true connection and companionship. My guess is that the fence that once seemed high is pretty easy to climb when you meet each other at the top.

Warmly,
Mindy