Hello #PlumFamily,

Welcome to the 2020-21 school year! The reopening of schools has been on the minds of many of us as we continue to consider the physical safety, social, and emotional well-being of our students. Many of us had questions about how our students were going to attend school this fall—hybrid format, fully online, asynchronous or synchronous, etc. It all felt quite overwhelming.

Both cohorts and the Plum Digital Learning Academy had successful first days of school. The community is working together to make the best of the current environment, focusing on student success. With this, there’s one emphasis I would like to share—the continuous need for social connection, an activity that can help us build stronger social connections within our homes, communities, and abroad, the best way we can.

Research shows there are many benefits to building stronger social connections, including stronger immune systems, faster recovery from disease, and longer lives. Anxiety and depression rates decrease while reciprocal trust and cooperation improve, combating the tendency to isolate and be antisocial.

We are here to help each other along life’s journey. Peter Drucker, consultant, educator, and author, said, “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” Let’s confirm and connect with one another, building our community with each spoken word.