As the Hanover School Division enters its second week of one-on-one assessments since COVID-19 restrictions began lifting, Superintendent Randy Dueck says the process has been nothing but positive.

“It doesn’t matter if you are in grade 2, grade 7 or in grade 11, seeing your school, returning to where you belong, and connecting with human beings is just goodness.”

Superintendent Randy Dueck says the reopening of schools has been healing on the souls of students and teachers.Last week, Dueck says he toured many of the schools in his division and at each one, the story was the same. He would watch students gingerly navigate the familiar hallways now adorned with posters and banners welcoming them back. Then he would observe them approach their classrooms for the first time, both nervous and excited for their return to subnormal life. Finally, he notes, smiling teachers would warmly beckon them in all at once diffusing tension and reigniting a bond that had grown stale over so many months apart.

“Let me tell you, it’s so hard for the teachers not to be hugging the kids,” he laughs, “and the kids, they just want to run up and hug their teachers!”

Even in the older schools, Dueck sensed a genuine joy as senior students interacted with their educators.

Dueck is aware of the criticisms Manitoba schools have received for opening up on the cusp of summer holidays but feels many of those concerns are misguided. As Teachers spend intimate time with their students evaluating where each one is at in their understanding of reading, writing, and mathematics, Dueck says practical education is secondary to reestablishing the personal connection that has been lost over the past two months.

“Is there a ton of learning? Well no, not necessarily. But that is not what this is really all about. This is about reconnecting, person-to-person, and feeling that connection, so these kids aren’t going five full months without seeing their teachers.”

Though there are only two more weeks before classes end for the summer, Dueck believes these short meetings will do wonders on students’ desire to hit the ground running this coming fall. Dueck admits there will be catch-up in September and lots of it, but is confident that the recovery of knowledge needs to begin with the recovery of relationship.