Love in the time of COVID is complicated, even at the elementary school level.

Forget searching in the store for those cute little Valentines and placing candy in the envelopes to surprise classmates. Bringing anything in from outside the school to hand out is forbidden. Even passing a Valentine made in school directly to a classmate is a no-no.

But, kids are resilient and have adapted to changes in traditions with their indomitable spirit, according to two elementary school principals at the East Lycoming School District in Hughesville.

“We thought it would be devastating for them,” said Jill Warg, principal at Renn and Ferrell Elementary schools.

Addressing how kids have reacted to having different celebrations for holidays throughout the year instead of the traditional events, Warg said, “They love them. They’re different…the teachers have been very creative.”

Because not even grade mothers were allowed in school buildings, Warg said they have been ordering things and having them mailed directly to the schools.

The schools that Warg heads are smaller and observe traditions from year to year. This year they’re revamping the activities so the kids can participate but in a different manner, she said.

“It has been working,” she added.

Sherry Cowburn, principal at Ashkar Elementary, admitted that it has been a challenge this year with the pandemic to find ways of celebrating the holiday most associated with love while keeping students safe.

“It has been a challenge this year to find ways to think outside the box and find ways to celebrate the normal holidays with the kids. We certainly want to try to create as much normalcy as possible,” Cowburn said.

Since the school year began in the fall, elementary students in the district have had in-person instruction for most of the time with restrictions such as social distancing and mask wearing in place.

Cowburn noted that one of the other challenges the schools have faced is the exchange of goods, such as not permitting items to come into the buildings from homes or not allowing children to exchange things with each other. Which is why this year, elementary students are celebrating Valentine’s Day in a different way.

“Our PTA is a huge supporter of our school and all the things we do. Our parents really support coming up with ideas that are really outside of the box to make sure the kids get a little something,” Cowburn said.

She explained that this year the students will be getting a little treat, a chocolate cupcake–prepackaged and Valentine-themed–and a small packet of Valentine-themed pretzels as well as a milk.

“When we do anything like that we have to quarantine the items first. Just to make sure they’re okay,” she noted.

This year, each of the students at Ashkar is making a Valentine for another student in their classroom. They exchanged names in each class and then the Valentines will be displayed throughout the school.

Cowburn created different projects for each grade to use in making their Valentines.

“For example, for fifth grade, their Valentine challenge was to create a crossword puzzle about fun things about their Valentine. Another grade level did an acrostic poem about their Valentine,” she explained.

Cowburn gave the students templates to use in creating their Valentines so that fifth graders would have a crossword puzzle in the shape of a heart to use for their project.

Some students created a Venn diagram where there were four sections that they were instructed to fill with kind words about the person whose name they had chosen.

The art teacher joined the process by helping the kids accessorize their Valentines. All the projects have been hung in the hall at Ashkar.

If students wanted to make additional valentines, their creations were collected to share with “Valentines for Vets.” This year the students are also being encouraged to be more community minded by making valentines for area nursing homes.

“What will happen in the end is that every student in the whole school will have a valentine about him or herself and it will be hung in the hallway. So every student will have a valentine they just won’t be trading valentines,” she said.

“We have just been trying to avoid the exchanging of things,” she added.

Cowburn admitted that there was a certain level of disappointment because things were different this year.

“Anything is different because you’re accustomed to just getting the valentines and exchanging them. It has been a year of really having to accept change, I guess is the best way to put it, but our kids are incredibly resilient,” she said.

“Even though there was some level of disappointment, we have tried to find ways to do some other things so that they’re not feeling that,” she added.

Warg agreed that the younger, elementary age children have been more willing to accept change, particularly at adapting better to the health and safety restrictions, than maybe their older counterparts.

“I think the people that were more concerned were the adults, including myself. We were afraid that the kids won’t keep their masks on, or they’re going to think they’re not having any fun,” she said, adding that has not been the case.

“They love school beyond a whole new level. I think a lot of that has to do with missing school last spring. They make it very vocal that they never want to have to do that again because they love being here. The teachers are the same way. Remote is a great opportunity, if it’s your only option, but nothing beats in-person instruction,” she continued.

“There are so many things we are never going to change again. I guarantee you. Thinking outside of the box, we probably would never have done, hadn’t we been kind of forced into it, but now that we’re doing it. A lot of the changes we have made has made things to the benefit of school as a whole. It’s amazing,” she added.