As an elementary schooler, the best part about Valentine’s Day was going to school and finding a personal, decorated box filled with cards and goodies from classmates. Some classes would throw parties to celebrate the acts of love, kindness, and friendship towards others, as it was a day to honor those feelings. What was once seen as harmless celebration now has the potential to be a recipe for disaster. In the elementary level, districts have taken new levels of precaution this year due to the coronavirus, so is this just another one of the joyful activities being taken away, or are students still finding a way to celebrate safely?

For years, students everywhere looked forward to in-class parties; Valentine’s Day was just one of the holidays every kid could not await. Exchanging handmade cards and gifts with friends, the amusing games, and the pleasant smell of freshly baked goods was just the thing to get everybody into the holiday spirit. Class parents would come in, and students wouldn’t worry about getting sick from once seen as harmless activities. 

According to the CDC (cdc.gov) in an article entitled, “Cleaning and Disinfecting your Facility,” for the safety of everyone, citizens must maintain six feet from one another and reduce sharing of common spaces and frequently touched objects. This is for the protection of the community and to reduce the spread of the virus. As Valentine’s Day was just around the corner, classes around the district approached the holiday with alternate ways to celebrate. Sophomore Ava Murello commented, “Valentine’s Day was one of my favorite holidays. My favorite part was bringing in cards and watching everyone fill up my decorated bag with candy. I am really sad that because of Covid, it is harder for kids to celebrate holidays like we used to do.” 

At West End Elementary School, each class was allowed to do its own activities, and the school allowed a card exchange; however, students were required to bring their cards into school prior to their Valentine’s Day activities in order to quarantine the cards prior to distribution. One fifth grade class even sent virtual cards to St. Jude’s Hospital. 

Students engaged in educational activities around the history of Valentine’s Day, and classes still threw class parties with the class parents via Webex. Laura Greene, a third grade teacher at West End, explained, “During my class meet up, the parents will read a book and show students how to make a craft. Things are different now since we are dealing with COVID-19 because we must quarantine our cards and can only do independent projects since we are not allowed to do group work. Each class is participating in different activities and many classes do have Webex parties; however, if the Internet is down, we must have a ‘Plan B.’”

Students from West End Elementary School were grateful that their teachers provided ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day under these circumstances, and their families were happy that a part of their children’s lives was “normal.” Sophomore Makayla DiGiacomo, who has a younger sibling in the district, said, “My sister Julie was able to have a card exchange in school with her friends, and I am glad that she was able to enjoy this day that only comes once a year. They did Valentine- related activities, and she came home filled with excitement from her day at school.”

Most classes were able to exchange cards with their classmates, but this was not the case for some students. Some classes prohibited the exchanging of cards for the safety of their students. Even though many families knew it was for the best, many pupils were let down. According to Sophomore Bridget Rudolph, her brother Owen was not allowed to do a card exchange with his friends. Rudolph commented, “Owen was looking forward to Valentine’s Day this year but was let down due to Covid. He participated in Valentine’s Day activities, but he really missed getting cards and candy from his friends. I know that it is for the safety of the students, but I wish that kids today would have the experiences we used to have when it came to times like these where we should be celebrating and not worrying about a virus.”

Due to Covid-19, many activities that were conducted prior to the pandemic are now having to be adjusted. Situations like these must be looked at from different perspectives in order to find ways to enjoy moments like Valentine’s Day while being safe and cautious. Valentine’s Day was a holiday that every kid looked forward to, but holidays today come with questions about whether we are being careful enough.

Ultimately, Valentine’s Day can still be celebrated with card exchanges and activities, but it depends on the personal preference of whether teachers would like to take part in these festivities knowing there is still a risk of contracting Covid-19.