As the threat of COVID-19 spread across the globe this spring, schools everywhere had to make difficult decisions and implement rapid changes. Adventist schools across the Iowa-Missouri Conference met these challenges head on.
In the St. Louis area, Hillcrest SDA School identified three goals for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.
The first and most important goal was to help students continue to grow spiritually. We determined that it was imperative our three classes continue to meet every day via Zoom to open God’s Word together and pray with and for one another. We also met on Zoom once a week for school-wide worship.
The second goal was to maintain community. We accomplished this through daily virtual classes where students were given the opportunity to interact with each other during their lessons.
Our third goal was to provide our students with a sense of normalcy. In a world that’s been “turned upside down,” as one student put it, we wanted them to be able to count on a consistent routine to finish out the school year.
Regardless of where they were studying, we wanted them to have assurance that they could rely on their teachers for the same support and positive affirmations they were used to receiving in a physical classroom. We maintained our high standards of education and were pleased when our students rose to the challenge.
We are so proud to be a part of Adventist education in Iowa-Missouri and to know and teach that no matter what is happening in the world, God is in control and He has us all in His loving care.
Melissa Morris is principal and grades 7-9 teacher at Hillcrest SDA School in Olivette, Missouri.
