Teacher Spreads Cheer From Home

Since the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District announced all schools’ closures on March 13, some teachers are taking it upon themselves to personally keep in touch with their students. English 2 Honors teacher Maria McCloud tries to keep her connection with her students by assigning daily check-ins, as well as letting students document how distance learning and quarantine have affected their everyday lives. She has also been mailing cards and messaging her students on their birthdays to continue her traditional celebration for her students that she used to do in-person.

“I wanted to let my students know they were not left out of the birthday honorings I do each month,” McCloud said. “I figured celebrating their birthdays during this time of isolation is [not ideal], so I just wanted to send a little recognition to help people feel special and remembered, despite not being able to see them in person.”

McCloud’s promised custom to celebrate each student’s birthday has given a sense of comfort to many students during this time, for the teacher-student dynamic has been greatly modified during distance learning. Many students felt that this gesture made their birthday memorable and were glad that a teacher reached out to them. 

Sophomore Yumin Kim was one of the recipients of McCloud’s cards. Kim was appreciative when he received McCloud’s birthday card and felt a sense of comfort since the school closure prevented him from being able to celebrate his birthday with friends and extended family.

“Since I was not able to go to school or see any of my friends or family, it was comforting to have [McCloud] reach out to me,” Kim said. “Although she stays very connected with her students by conversing daily, this was different. It shows how much she cares about her students and their well-being.” 

Sophomore Harley Johnson is another student who received a birthday card from McCloud. Johnson is very grateful that McCloud took the time to make one for her because it is one of the activities she enjoyed the most in her class.

“McCloud is an outstanding teacher and it is [comforting to know that she] takes the time to write us cards,” Johnson said. “This act of kindness represents [McCloud’s] character because she always emphasizes that she looks after us and cares for us. Although we had a short year with her because of the closure, her selfless actions to care for her students still continues.”