HEARD ON CAMPUS

Reflections

Silver Linings in a Pandemic

There is no getting around how arduous the 2020-21 school year was. Yet in all that hard work, there were also some wonderful moments and some entirely unexpected silver linings. The Bell asked StM community members what silver linings they had found amid all the difficulty we have been through together.

“I got to spend more time with my family. My teachers learned more about Google Meet, so that I felt like I was in the classroom even when I was learning from home.”

— Sly Johnson, Class of 2029 Lower School “The way I was able to maintain and even build new bonds with students and teachers was something that was actually great about this year. Though I have always been able to do this at StM I feel like it was even more valuable because of the situation.”

— Christopher Catinis, Class of 2021 Upper School “During the lockdown period, our Cottage faculty went to incredible lengths to engage families, and grieved the loss of daily contact with their beloved students. When we returned, every teacher mentioned how grateful they were to be on campus and in person every day with ‘their kids.’ Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and for the Cottage teachers, it made their passions burn brighter!”

— Holly Dalferes, Director of George Cottage

“The extra time spent at home due to the pandemic allowed me to thrive creatively and gave me freedom to improve my skills in art, music, and poetry.”

— Isabel Lovera, Class of 2025 Middle School