Sara Sandstrom, Nederland. As I sit here recollecting what has happened in Nederland schools in 2020, I am forcing myself to think of something positive. There are positives, but there is no way around the fact that it has been tough for schools and everyone involved in them since March. 

I, like most people, believed we would be out of school for a month or two and then be back to the regular school routine. 

Administrators, teachers, students and parents did their best to change to all online learning. The learning curve was at times overwhelming and the toll on families has been immense. As the months passed it became clear that school plays and sports events would go from postponed to cancelled. 

Teachers who normally end the school year with a graduation had to rethink the traditional way to honor their students. The Class of 2020 at Nederland High School patiently waited for a small socially distanced ceremony in July. Although it didn’t have all the traditional graduation elements, everyone was thankful for the ceremony and the chance to celebrate the milestone of high school graduation for 23 Nederland seniors.

At Nederland Elementary (NES) the search was on in the summer for a new principal. Boulder Valley School District Northwest Area Superintendent Dr. Sam Messier and district staff as well as a few teachers interviewed qualified candidates. Caleb Melamed was selected, and he accepted the position to be the next principal at Nederland Elementary. Mr. Melamed grew up in the Nederland area. He attended Nederland Elementary as a kid and is a graduate of Nederland High School. He came into this position at a particularly challenging time and is excelling in the new role. 

At Nederland Middle Senior High School Principal Rick Elertson and staff have worked tirelessly to bring in a Career and Technology program to the high school. This is an amazing opportunity for students to take classes not always found in traditional high schools. Recently the program was awarded a grant of $80,000 to put it firmly in the school curriculum. 

In the fall, when parents are usually thinking about getting kids new shoes and tackling the list of school supplies, difficult decisions were being made about whether to keep their kids learning online the whole year or switch to in person when the schools opened again. Every family has had to make the decisions the best they can not knowing that the future held.

Teachers had to learn how to use new technology to teach classes and students, parents and grandparents had to learn how to use the technology at home. 

At the end of September and into October the families that chose to have their students return to the school building did in fact return. Even the very youngest students diligently wore their masks and washed their hands. So many students need to be in school for the academics as well as for their mental health. 

School buildings closed again as the number of Covid cases rose in Boulder County in November. Even though going back and forth between in person and online learning is not ideal the connections made with teachers and school staff during those weeks was crucial. It was wonderful to have kids in the classrooms again and hear the laughter on the playground and in the hallways. 

Nederland schools ended 2020 with online learning as students, parents and all school staff now take a much needed break from the cameras and Chromebooks. 

Boulder Valley School District has announced that students and teachers will return to in person learning in January 2021. 

Since March 2020 I believe schools and parents have learned how essential their partnership is for the well being of our children. We have learned how invaluable school is for so many students and their families. We are hopefully learning perseverance, flexibility and resolve…skills that will serve our children well in their futures.

(Originally published in the December 24, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)