Geneva D-304 3rd grade teacher thanks students for working through COVID year

GENEVA – Third grade teacher Toni Blaszynski spoke to the Geneva District 304 school board to praise and thank her class and their parents for working hard to make the past school year a successful one.

Countering parents who complained to the school board about how difficult distance learning was during the COVID-19 pandemic, Blaszynski said she wanted to thank her Heartland students and parents at the meeting.

“I wanted to say thank you to my students who worked really hard each and every day,” Blaszynski said at the June 21 meeting, her voice breaking with emotion. “People come here and complained … I know that my students learned this year. They knew my expectations and arose to the challenge.”

Blaszynski said they started every day at 8 a.m. whether it was hybrid, online learning or in person.

“They were eager to learn and adapted with ease,” Blaszynski said. “I could not be more impressed with this group of students when they supported one another and also supported me when technology wasn’t working too well.”

She thanked their parents as well for supporting their children to be ready to learn, for setting up quiet areas for their online learning with supplies, books, few distractions and whatever they needed.

“I say thank to my students for making this year a year to remember,” Blaszynski said. “I am truly grateful for each and every one of them and look forward to seeing them grow as lifelong learners and to cheer them all along the way.”

Blaszynski also thanked Donna Potaczek, the district’s Common Core Math Facilitator and Jill Marsh, the district’s Science Implimentation Facilitator, for their support.