‘Bittersweet’: She’s a York principal, and a mom celebrating daughters’ graduations
As a principal, Rebecca Dover has watched students grow as they moved from kindergarten through sixth grade.
This year, Dover got to celebrate that milestone with her own daughter at the school they share.
Dover has led Hickory Grove-Sharon Elementary School in the York school district for five years. Dover was also assistant principal at the school for two years.
Dover attended Hickory Grove-Sharon and was part of the first graduating class after the two original elementary schools merged to form the current facility.
Dover’s six-year-old daughter, Piper, finished kindergarten at Hickory Grove this year.
Ella, 12, graduated sixth grade this year. So the princicpal will celebrate in a different way than years past due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
“It’s been pretty surreal as a mom to have been here and be their principal and have two children in milestone graduating years in a covid time,” Dover said.
Like students before her, Ella chose to stay at Hickory Grove for her sixth grade year before moving to middle school, Dover said. Her school allows students to choose -- stay or move on to the middle school -- after finishing fifth grade.
Hickory Grove has traditionally marked graduations for four and five-year-old kindergarten and sixth grade students with ceremonies and a party attended by families, students, staff and community members, Dover said. The annual celebrations draw hundreds.
“To not have that ... that was definitely a disappointing change,” Dover said. “Those kids become your kids; it becomes a tight family.”
Like other local schools this year, Hickory Grove-Sharon held farewell parades. Children and their families waved from their cars to teachers as they celebrated moving to the next grade, she said.
The parades gave Hickory Grove-Sharon staff a chance to connect with the students they were missing, Dover said.
“It’s been bittersweet. We thrive on our children being in our building every single day,” she said. “When those smiling faces come in every day, they brighten your world. When they aren’t here anymore, it’s an emotional roller coaster.”
Dover said all schools are preparing for August and hoping students will return. She said teachers will work with students.
“Let our kids know if they didn’t learn everything last year they were supposed to, it’s OK,” she said. “We’re here for them and we’re going to take them where they are and support them mentally, academically.”
“We are all in this together” Dover said.
This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 11:50 AM.
