Dear TIME 2000 Seniors, I hope you and your family members continue to be well. Since I do not "see" you in class as Dr. Artzt does, I miss seeing you all and what would have been our normal interactions - hearing about your day, your student teaching experiences, and your excitement about graduating. Things changed awfully quickly. As you may know, CUNY has officially delayed graduation ceremonies although diplomas will be on time. The Interim President of QC, William Tramontano, wrote, "These developments are both regrettable and necessary, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The end of May is usually the time of year that all members of the Queens College community look forward to as a time of wonderful celebration, the start of new beginnings, and expressions of appreciation to families, faculty, staff, and friends. This year, however, we are obliged--due to circumstances we are all too familiar with--to postpone to a date to be determined, when health circumstances permit and the prohibition on public gatherings is no longer in effect." Brianna has been in touch with me about the options for your graduation celebration. Dr. Artzt and I have discussed this, as well. Please know that we think about you constantly and want what is best. We'd like to know your preferences and suggestions. The two main choices are holding a virtual event or delaying the event, possibly to the fall. For a virtual event, we could all meet via Google Meet, you could have your guests join in, give your personal speeches and make speeches about the professors who do join in. If you wish to wait until we can all be together in the same room, we can schedule an evening after the fall calendar is set. Would you all commit to coming back while teaching? These are just some ideas to get the conversation started. Let me know your thoughts. It is important that we keep in touch and write journals to remember what our thoughts and feelings were at this historic time. This journal assignment is for you, the seniors, who are in a very different situation than the other undergraduates. Please email both Dr. Artzt and me your honest reflections. Although you are meeting with Dr. Artzt later today, there are personal things you may not want to share in a group. Journal Assignment: The Spring 2020 semester is unlike any we have experienced before! We are interested in knowing how you are doing. Please respond to the following in as detailed and honest a manner as possible. 1. What is your name? How are you and your family? How is life at home? Are you or your relatives essential workers who are still reporting to work outside of the home? Let us know how you feel. 2. How are you coping with the covid crisis? How are you handling the changes in your life caused by the coronavirus pandemic? What challenges are you facing? What are your successes? 3. Describe your experiences this semester thus far. How is student teaching going now? In what ways, if any, are you involved with your cooperating teacher and/or your class? 4. a) What suggestions do you have for the graduation celebration? Let me know your preference! b) Describe any other thoughts and feelings you would like to share about the TIME 2000 program now that you are graduating. 5. Describe any other thoughts and feelings you would like to share about yourself that you did not mention above. What would you like us to know about? Be safe and stay well! Mrs. Weinman Naomi Weinman TIME2000/SEYS Queens College, CUNY | 65-30 Kissena Blvd | Queens, NY |11367 (w) 718-997-5377 | (f) 718-997-5173 time2000.qc.cuny.edu<https://www.qc.cuny.edu/Academics/Honors/Time2000/Pages/default.aspx> | Donate to TIME 2000<http://bit.ly/time2000>