To The Editor,
My name is Rebecca Goddard. I am the new but proud principal of the Assumption School in Ansonia. Although I am not a native, I have been welcomed as if I was born here by the Assumption families, Ansonia PD and the Board of Education.
I am not an expert in education as education is my second career. I am a retired New Haven police Lieutenant, having served 20 years. I do know people and I do know children. The children attending Assumption School are incredibly happy to be in school with their friends.
The smiles under the masks and the sounds of pure joy coming from each classroom keeps us going.
The teachers here were initially frightened to teach in the pandemic. Who wouldn’t be? The first time they saw their students, all hesitation disappeared.
Am I a Covid-19 expert? Not by any means. I do know how to follow guidelines, wash my hands and wear a mask. I do know how to socially distance at school and in my personal life.
Want to know who is also good at wearing masks and washing their hands? All of my students and we are growing every day. We still have room for more!
I am also lucky enough to have custodial staff that cares about our health and safety and helps us achieve our goals. I also have wonderful Assumption parents that are honest with symptoms and travel plans. They keep their children home from school when they are ill. They bring their children to the doctor and have them tested when advised.
I also have a wonderful part-time town school nurse to help keep us safe. I am not downplaying the virus, it is a horrible and deadly virus. We pray daily at Assumption for the health of our community.
Do I know if we will be in school for the remainder of the year? Can I guarantee that we will not have a positive case? Only God knows the answer to that question. I pray we will remain in school. If we don’t, we are prepared for the possibility of remote learning.
We began school on August 27 and I do not regret a minute of it. We are in-person five full days a week. The Archdiocese of Hartford also helped us with a safe opening. Children need to be with other children. Teachers need students. Parents are not teachers but they do need a safe place to send their children to learn, academically and for social-emotional learning.
As Halloween is soon upon us, my faculty and staff do not need to dress up. They are the real superheroes. Our teachers are the heroes to the children that were suffering at home in the spring during the pandemic. Father Jeff and I hope you will continue to pray for us and if you don’t pray, send us good thoughts!
The writer is the principal of the Assumption School in Ansonia.
