Cape Cod Hill School students were encouraged to dress up as a teacher or their “favorite book character” for “Teacher/Staff Day” on Monday, May 3. First-grader Annie Tracy dressed up as Miss Frizzle from “The Magic School Bus” and pre-kindergartener Jameson Tracy dressed as a gym teacher. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Tracy
NEW SHARON — Cape Cod Hill School (CCHS) highlighted the hard work of its teachers and staff after a year in the COVID-19 pandemic that presented new and often-intensifying challenges for people who work in schools. The CCHS Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) marked Teacher & Staff Appreciation week from Friday, April 30 through Friday, May 7 with a week of dressing up, days that honored specific positions, and giving gifts to the teachers and staff members.
Each day of the week was named to highlight various teaching and staff positions in school: “Principals Day,” “Teacher/Staff Day,” “Gym & Music Teacher Day,” “School Nurse Day,” “Lunch Hero Day,” and “Art Teacher Day.”
Cape Cod Hill School students in kindergarten, first grade and second grade dressed up in sports and music regalia in honor of “Gym & Music Teacher Day” on Tuesday, May 4. Photo courtesy of Krystal Soule
Each day also corresponded to a different theme in which students were encouraged to dress up. Throughout the week, elementary school students dressed up in the school colors to “show [their] school spirit,” as “a teacher or [their] favorite book character,” for their dream career, as a super hero, and more.
Students dressed as art teachers and farmers, singers and doctors, veterinarians and Miss Frizzle from The Magic School Bus.
Third-grader Morgan McKay dressed up as a singer for Career Day on Wednesday, May 5. Photo courtesy of Nicole McKay
“This year has been very abnormal,” said PTO co-president Elizabeth Tracy. “We wanted to do something special to recognize our teachers while including our kids as well.”
Alongside dressing up, parents were encouraged to donate KCups for the teachers and staff to “help make this week a success.” And to involve the children, the PTO suggested students “write a note” or “draw or color a picture” for the CCHS teachers and staff members.
Tracy said that the week was a reminder to teachers and staff that “we are here” despite the limitations presented by the pandemic.
Principal Lisa Sinclair wrote that the week was intended to “appreciate all of our staff as they are all teachers in some capacity whether they are driving the bus, serving food, or giving a math lesson.”
“We are a team!” Sinclair added.
Though the week honored workers at CCHS, Sinclair extended her appreciation to the “amazing PTO” for their coordinating efforts.
“In this difficult year, we really appreciate the support from our parents and the PTO,” Sinclair wrote. “They have lifted our spirits and provided students with fun activities during this challenging year!”
It was also Teacher Appreciation Week across the United States. Over 50,000 people in Maine work in schools, according to the Maine Department of Education. The Maine DOE encouraged people to thank Maine educators on Facebook and Twitter at #ThanksforTeachingME and #TeacherAppreciationWeek.
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