Virtual spirit weeks — with dress-up days, reading — unite NC schools during pandemic
Wake County students and teachers are dressing as superheroes, reading books to their pets and finding other ways to stay connected even though schools are closed.
Several Wake schools held virtual spirit weeks last week or are doing it this week to try keep school spirit alive amid the coronavirus pandemic. They’re putting a digital twist to the long-time tradition of having students and staff participate in spirit week by doing an activity each day based on a new theme.
“The purpose of these virtual spirit weeks is we’re trying to provide students with a quote unquote sense of normalcy and to feel connected to their teachers and the schools and one another,” said Matthew Scialdone, an English teacher at Middle Creek High School in Apex.
Scialdone wore a dress shirt and tie along with pajama pants and slippers Monday for the school’s pajama formal start to virtual spirit week.
“We need fun right now,” Scialdone said. “It’s a very difficult time for all of us.”
Schools have been looking for ways to maintain ties with families knowing that school buildings will be closed through at least May 15. Some elementary schools have held parades going through the neighborhoods of their students. But those are expected to become less frequent due to Gov. Roy Cooper’s statewide stay-at-home order.
Spirit weeks build ties with community
Over the course of this week, schools will ask students and staff to do activities such as share TikTok videos, do workouts and share pictures wearing school gear. Dressing up is a popular activity during digital spirit weeks.
The theme Monday at Green Elementary School in Raleigh was to dress as a superhero.
Panther Creek High School in Cary asked people Monday to wear their favorite team jersey or shirt.
At Garner High School, people shared their favorite meme.
Reading was the online activity of choice Monday at some schools.
Families at Yates Mill Elementary School in Raleigh shared their favorite book.
Richland Creek Elementary School in Wake Forest asked families to read a book to their pet or to a stuffed animal.
Amy Craddock, a fourth-grade teacher at Richland Creek, and her two sons did their part reading and posting pictures Monday.
“It’s a fun way to say we’re here and we miss them,” Craddock said. “For the students, it’s a great way to see their friends and what they’re doing.”
