This book is dedicated to my 2019-2020 first grade class: Akhil, Anna, Ashley, Carys, Dante, Faith, Giovanni, Isabelle, Ishmael, Izzi, Jacob, Joseph, Lauren, Luca, Rian, Shane, Tanav, and Valentina. 

This school year is certainly one we will never forget, especially since it will be in history books one day.  But, also because of all the fun and exciting activities we did prior to school closing: a field trip up to MAPS, a trip to the Crayola Factory, making trail mix, building Oreo cookie moon phases and marshmallow constellations, conducting a bird beak experiment, playing math games, and participating in many other exciting learning experiences. I am so proud of each and every one of you for all your hard work.  You have been faced with some of the biggest challenges this year, learning new technology and programs to continue your education at home.  You all did it with so much success!  

I read a quote that made me think of all of you, “It is not superpowers that make one a superhero.  It is the obstacles and challenges he or she overcomes that make one a superhero.” You are all superheroes in my mind, and I couldn’t feel more honored to have been your teacher this year.  I wish you all the best in your future.

Love, Mrs. Miranda

Did you know how life in quarantine is different from regular life? We can't go to school, so I have to do school work at home. I don't get to play sports. We wear face masks in public. I don't like quarantine because I can't go outside and have to stay home all the time.

I want it to end and get back to

normal life.

-Akhil

Have you ever been in quarantine? Well I have and it's way different from regular life. When quarantine did not exist, I went to school and stores, but now we have to wear face masks. Also, we have home school. Last, we have drive by Birthdays!!!

-Anna

BOOM and my life changed!  Everything is different.  I have to stay home, and I can't go to school or to fun places.  I miss my friends.  I can't have play dates for a while which really stinks.  Lastly, with all the extra time at home, I learned how to ride my bike.  It only took two days!!  I hope I never have to experience quarantine again!

-Carys

Life is different in quarantine. I don't get to go to school and see my friends. I also don't get to play all the sports I love. I didn't have field day at school but I still had fun! I can't wait until things go back to normal, but I do love spending all this time with my family!

-Dante

Wow, being quarantined is very different, and an annoying way of life. I do not like it very much. Before quarantine, I was always very social with my friends and family. I miss cuddling with my grams and pops. Also, now we have to wear face masks to go to the stores, which makes me feel very uncomfortable, and it's hard to breathe. Lastly, we have no school to attend. Instead, my mom has to help teach me and it is not as fun. I feel like I am missing out on a lot of my education. The only good thing that came out of this was that I was able to spend a lot more time with my mom.

~Faith

I love you and

I miss you!

Read this book if you want to read the best book ever written about the crazy quarantine. Before the quarantine I was doing a lot of homework, but now I can go outside more. I wasn't able to ride my bike more. I have extra time outside to ride my bike now. If the quarantine wasn't here I would be able to see my new school. Since it is here, I am sad that I can't go to my new school. I am sad because I feel like I only have one friend. I moved far away from him and because of the quarantine, I cannot see him to play with him. I am also sad I can't make new friends in Mount Arlington because the schools are closed. When the quarantine is done, I can't wait to go to school, meet new friends, and play in the playground at recess. I hope the corona virus never comes back ever again.

Giovanni Mejia

  Who would have thought that we were writing history during this quarantine? We are now! No one I know has ever lived through a pandemic.  Things changed all of a sudden.  Everything was closed and we couldn't go anywhere, not even my favorite restaurant, and when we do go out to public places we have to wear a face mask, which feels really weird. Since I've been home, I have learned new skills, such as peeling potatoes while my mom cooks, and helping my mom clean the house. I have also expanded my creativity by creating toys using cardboard and canvas paper.  I also enjoyed spending time outdoors planting flowers and vegetables, going to the river, and riding my bike around the lake. It was also nice having more time to play with my dad, and cuddling with my mom every morning made it more special! Spending more time with my family was great!!

    There are some things I miss about going to school, like playing tag with my friends and playing Ten with Mrs. Miranda.  Hopefully next year I can see my friends again and everything will come back to normal.

By: Jacob Villalba

Have you ever wondered how it is being locked up? Well I am, Let me tell you about it...

First of all, we can only go out in our backyard, no shopping, no play dates, nobody coming over; kind of crazy.

Since we can't go to school, I can't see my school friends like Ashley and Carys.

Lastly, I can't see other family members, just the cousins we live with. That is how it goes in quarantine. It isn´t easy, but we still have a lot of fun because we have more time to play.

~Isabelle

Have you ever been in quarantine before? It's very different than our normal way of living. I get to spend most of the time at home with my family and learn from them so many things. I now have school at home and I learn from online. Also, I was not able to celebrate my birthday with all my family since everyone has to be in quarantine. Although some days are amazing to be with my family all day, I really wish we can go back to normal soon, so everyone can be happy.

Ishmael

Have you ever been in quarantine before? I have, and it is very different from normal life. We have to stay at home. I like having more time with my mom, dad, little brother, and our pet guinea pigs Janis and Zeppelin, and I also like having lots of time to read, but I don't like that I can't see my friends and grandparents! I miss them a lot. What has quarantine been like for you?

-Izzi

Have you ever been in quarantine before? I have, and life is very different than it use to be. Before quarantine, I use to be able to go to restaurants with my family and my aunts and uncles. Now, we get our food delivered. Also, before this started, I went to school at Decker. Now, I work at home and go on Google Meets and Google Classroom. I have learned new websites like IXL.com and Boom.com. Finally, in quarantine we can't go see friends. I really miss them! It can be hard but it will get better.

Lauren

Being in quarantine has changed everyone's life in so many ways! How has quarantine changed your life? Since quarantine, I can't play with my friends, also I have more time to go fishing. Lastly, I have to wear a mask when I go to the store. I don't like wearing a mask! I can't wait for life to be normal again so I can play with my friends.

Joseph Lima