Summer School, a Respite

Yes, a sixth grade boy, who should be sleeping in, playing video games, swimming in a pool, and enjoying his summer, voluntarily filled out the online Google doc to sign himself up for summer school.

I was floored. As a summer school teacher, I often see kids who would rather be anywhere but - those who need extra academic help, those whose parents need the childcare, and those who are anxious to learn a new middle school building. Historically, the student has very rarely been a participant in the decision-making process involving summer school attendance.

While the rest of the class chatted amongst one another, I prodded to learn a little more about him. His mom is sick and his dad is doing his best to manage the house, working full time, all the while raising two boys. The boy takes care of his younger sibling, does laundry, makes dinner with whatever he can find in the house, and has responsibilities well beyond those of most sixth graders.

His safe space, his respite, his break was school. A place where he could just be a kid, be around his peers who couldn’t care less about how to fill the detergent compartment of the washing machine. School was his soft landing spot where he could get some food he didn’t have to prepare himself. A place where his main responsibility is remembering to bring his water bottle from class to class.

He remains on my mind. I intend to check in on him throughout the year, providing both academic support and small comforts like granola bars and Easy Mac. This young man changed how I view those I meet—what if each person we encounter is present for a reason? Like they filled out a Google Doc to specifically be with me? Perhaps they are here to teach us, to pause our busy lives, and to open our hearts to the world’s beautiful, inherent brokenness.

Holy One,

Open our eyes to all the beauty around us. In the people, places, and things we see.

Amen

Kelly is enjoying summer vacation and gearing up to teach sixth grade math and science. She also does the wife and mom thing.