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My name is Brenda Christopher and I am a Special Education Teacher at Cheektowaga Middle School. I co-teach several 8^th grade ELA classes with my partner, Jill Orlowski. One HUGE event for our 8^th graders is their “Moving Up Day,” a ceremony during which we recognize their accomplishments and celebrate their moving up to 9^th grade.�� Due to the pandemic, that too has been canceled. Some students had already bought their suits and dresses and would not get to wear them, and had been been voicing their disappointment. In an effort to still celebrate them and give them the opportunity to wear their new outfits, we organized a “Drive Up Moving Up Day.” Parents and their families drove up to the parking lot where they were greeted with balloons and music. Principal Handford announced the students’ names as they exited their vehicles to take a quick picture in front of our main entrance. Some students decorated their cars too!�� The one picture of the balloon with the “5 B’s” is the character traits we teach at our school: Be on time and ready, be kind, be safe, be responsible, and be respectful.�� After their picture was taken, students received a certificate of completion along with a “swag bag” complete with a “2020, the year I was QUARANTAUGHT” t-shirt, candy, and bags of chips.��

Christian and a colleague co-authored the lesson, which she shared with her students using an online student engagement platform suited for distance learning. She provided information about the museum, instructed students to visit it online, choose their favorite piece of art, and then recreate it using anything at their disposal from home. To provide an example, Christian recreated King Tut’s Golden Mask by dressing up as the pharaoh himself.

Christian was thrilled at how well all the students incorporated everyday objects into the task. However, what surprised her most was the positive responses she received from parents. “So many of them emailed me to say that the challenge was a wonderful family activity,” she said. “Students and family members took it upon themselves to recreate multiple images, which went beyond the scope of the assignment.”

Pictures, clockwise from top left:

• Isabella, Longwood CSD, sixth grade, recreated The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.
• Matheo, Bay Shore UFSD, second��grade, recreated Homage to Bonnard by Fernando Botero with the help of his father, who served as the model.
• Giovanni, Longwood CSD, second grade, recreated Royalty Dog by Romero Britto.
• Aiden, Comsewogue UFSD, third grade, recreated Jeanne (Spring) by Édouard Manet.

Anastasia Kokonis (Program Coordinator, Guidance Technology & School Counselor Support Services, Nassau BOCES) began collaboration with Gina Christel (President, Nassau County Counselors’ Association) and Mary Harrison (Nassau County Directors of Guidance), offering the “Open Forum for School Counselors.” By popular demand it is being offered weekly.��

The Forum offers school counselors the opportunity to share ideas, best practices, and challenges during this pandemic. It has also been requested that the meetings continue once schools re-open and for the 2020-2021 school year.