Creative Keepsake Gains National Attention
Posted on 11/16/2020
The thought of not having a class photo due to physical distancing and mask guidelines left PreK Teacher Danielle McGee feeling sad.
"I still look back at my elementary class photos and reminisce on old times," she said. "Our class is like a little family, and I wanted my students to have something they can keep and look back on as they get older."
Then her aunt posted an idea on Facebook "and I just had to recreate it!" said Ms. McGee. "It was simple to organize, and the kids loved it!"
Ms. McGee took each student's photo individually inside a box.
"We joked and said we were shipping them to California, they loved it! Their personalities just shined!"
She then used a free photo collage website to put all the photos together as a "COVID-style" class photo.
"My students' parents absolutely loved it and are very appreciative," said Ms. McGee. "Now they will have a memory from these unprecedented times."
This 'Inside the box' idea gained national attention when the TODAY Show messaged the district through Facebook to ask permission to use the Galway PreK photo on their website. The TODAY Show inquiry was quickly followed by requests from magazines Parents and Romper.
Superintendent Donovan and Joseph Henry Elementary Principal McDougall think this is "absolutely fabulous!"
The Galway Teachers Association said, "Your creative class picture was a wonderful way to provide your students and their families with a heartfelt keepsake during a time when so many school traditions have been cancelled. Your colleagues at Galway Central School appreciate your hard work and dedication to your students and are proud to teach with you every day."
The district's original Facebook post of the PreK class photo has now reached over 3,500 people!