Outdoor Braves Days starts virtual La Conner school year

Outdoor education took on a whole new meaning when La Conner students and parents went back to school for Braves Days campus orientation last Thursday and Friday.

The two-day event, held outside beneath canopies and shade trees, reflected adjustments being made by school officials this semester in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Families registered on-line for 30-minute outside appointments with teachers prior to the launch of distance learning instruction Sept. 14.

While the coronavirus has created myriad inconveniences for public education, at least the weather cooperated for a first-ever outdoor Braves Days program designed to minimize COVID-19 exposure.

Temperatures were unseasonably warm and conditions dry throughout. The only drawback was smoke from regional wildfires.

“A lot of planning went into it,” La Conner Schools Special Programs Director Andy Wheeler said of Braves Days. “But we had a backup plan in case it rained.”

Wheeler said those participating received health screenings, were directed where to park and assigned stations to meet with faculty advisors.

As they walked to their respective meeting areas, school staff delivered each student’s textbooks, school supplies, and laptop computer, the latter of which will be essential with classes being taught on-line for at least three months.

Every logistical detail was covered.

Traffic safety cones were set out on North Sixth Street leading to the health screening and parking areas. Crossing guards were placed along the street between the elementary and secondary school campuses.

New La Conner Schools Superintendent Rich Stewart filled a crossing shift.

“It’s great to see people again,” said Stewart, who since assuming the La Conner Schools helm in July has conducted meetings and communication via the Zoom video-conference platform.

Stewart made the most of his opportunity, engaging in light-hearted banter with all who came his way.

A few yards distant, middle school teachers Scott Novak and Vince Cicotte teamed up to assist students with start-of-school paperwork and navigating their laptops.

“It’s kind of a rush,” said Cicotte, “because this is the one time when we can see the students before school starts. But we’ve set up multiple ways for them to reach us.”

Bright sunlight led Novak and Cicotte to move their station from the sidewalk along the bus lane in front of La Conner Middle School to a shaded areanearer the street.

“We had to move up to the shade,” Cicotte said, “because there was too much glare. We couldn’t see the computer screens.”

In all, more than 450 Braves Days appointments were scheduled over two days.

“We tried to minimize the number of people being there at the same time,” Wheeler said, explaining why Braves Days expanded from a single day.

The format received mostly two thumbs-up.

Parent Kara Stamback praised La Conner Schools Executive Assistant Cherri Kahns for reaching out to her directly to make possible a requested appointment time change.

“Such an unbelievable commitment from the entire educational community,” Stamback said. “I’m so grateful.”

Parent Heidi Hayes agreed.

“We were so impressed at Braves Days,” she said. “It was a pretty amazing set-up.