Lawrence Elementary School students miss their friends, like increased relax time

Updated April 16 at 10:15 a.m.

With schools physically closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, students are being educated at home by their teachers, and with help from their parents, using a variety of computer platforms for what has been called remote or distance learning.

Five Lawrence Elementary School students and their mothers responded to the Herald’s post on the LES Parents Facebook Group page that asked what the children like and do not like about learning from home? Are they having fun?

Alana Fuchs-Fishman, president of the LES PTA, has fifth-graders Erin and Ian at home. “Erin misses seeing her friends, even though she has been talking to them,” Alana said. “She is sad that see is missing out on fifth grade activities. She likes making her own schedule, and having more time to play on her phone, iPad and watch movies. Ian, “Likes being home with mom and spending more time together. Hates not being able to go places and misses seeing his friends,” she said.

“I miss my kids being in school,!” Alana said. “I’m hopeful that they will get to finish their year off in school. I’m grateful for the time we get to spend together. We are going for walks and watching movies at home, we often don’t have the time to slow down and enjoy each other. We should be thankful for health and what we have. Hopeful that we can get our end of year activities and graduation. Missing all our school friends and hope to see you all in person soon!”

Maritza Carire said her son, Matthew Arce, also in fifth grade, “Likes being home schooled especially lunch break, lol. We get to spend time together since I’m working from home, but he misses his friends. We have a schedule so he likes ending his day earlier, also.”

Carire said that Christina Foster, Matthew’s teacher, “Has been great with providing work every day in each subject. She set her class up with written work for the first three days and once the stay at home got extended they have had work every day on Google Classroom even when iTutor hasn’t worked. They haven’t missed one day of not having school work.

“I get him up at 8:30 a.m. He has breakfast and we split the day in half. So, he usually chooses two classes in the morning and tow in the afternoon and when he has a special [class] we squeeze it in after lunch. The idea is to try and not be doing school work past 3:30 p.m.

Third-grader Eitan Kisheev said he, “Misses seeing his friends, and he misses his teacher.  He loves play Nintendo switch, iPad and watch movies,” according to his mother, Irina Kisheyeva Asheulova.

Derya Tanguner said that her daughter, Azra, who is in pre-K, “Misses her friends and the fun in school. She wanted to celebrate her birthday yesterday (April 14, she is 5) with her friends and was sad that she couldn’t.” Fourth-grader Eray told his mother he, “Misses school and his friends. He was looking forward to his role in drama club this year. He is happy that he gets more time on his tablet to play games. I am happy that I get so much time with them and that we are all healthy and safe.”