Oct 15, 2021 3 min read

Back-to-school supplies were a bit different this year for students throughout the greater Pittsburgh area.

 

Along with a day planner, an array of pens and thick notebooks, Canon-McMillian High School students Kelsey and Raïssa Lovet added face masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes.

 

“It was a very difficult decision for us to send them back,” admitted Kelsey and Raïssa’s mom, Priscilla.

 

Like many across the country, Kelsey and Raïssa spent the last school year in a virtual classroom, interacting with other students and teachers only via a computer screen. Going back to in-person learning with potential restrictions only added to the normal anxiety that comes with a new school year.

 

“As students prepare to return, they will be facing a host of intensified challenges,” said Anthious Boone, an elementary school principal in Pennsylvania. He cited mask-wearing and learning how to socialize again with peers as some of these challenges.

 

“It is scary for them,” said Jenny Vargo, a teacher at Gwen’s Daycare & Montessori School in Washington. Vargo recalls one student who was afraid to return to school after contracting COVID-19 last year because she worried how others would treat her. “The situation has created a new level of bullying.”

 

But parents can help prepare their children for what may be a tough transition.

 

“As parents endeavor to help their children cope with potential back-to-school anxiety,” Boone said, “it is absolutely imperative that they stay well-connected with both the school and their children.

 

Vargo agrees that communication is vital..  “Last year, we were able to have in-person learning. Teachers explained that was only possible because we were wearing masks.”

 

Kelsey and Raïssa’s parents, Daniel and Priscilla, are proactive about keeping the lines of communication open with their girls. They designate time each morning to talk as a family. As Jehovah’s Witnesses, they incorporate spiritual things into these discussions. “We read a scripture together as part of our morning routine,” said Daniel. “It really helps start the day on a positive note.”

 

While coronavirus variants have stoked pandemic anxieties, the Lovets have endeavored not to overlook other challenges their daughters may face.

 

Shortly after the school year began, Kelsey and Raïssa’s school received a bomb threat. Focusing on a biblical verse highlighted at their congregation meetings about keeping calm as well as following directions helped the girls deal with a chaotic situation.

 

The Lovets also use the resources available at jw.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses, to prepare their children for situations they may face. JW.ORG covers many subjects that address the concerns of parents, teenagers and children. For example, topics like “What’s a Real Friend?” and “Beat a Bully Without Using Your Fists” are addressed in a video series for young people.

 

“As parents, you’re like a therapist. When you see your children are nervous about something, you try to help put them at ease,” said Priscilla.  “For parents who are looking for resources, I encourage them to go to jw.org.”