Teachers were no doubt celebrated across the district the week of May 3 for Teacher Appreciation Week, and at Hawley Elementary School there was a noted “river” of support on display when students and educators arrived the first day of the week.

According to Hawley Principal Christopher Moretti, the school’s PTA made sure there was a message near the main driveway entrance, facing Church Hill Road, and the group coordinated sidewalk chalk images to be drawn near the main entrance for the school building.

The message facing the street, “We Love Our Teachers,” was spelled out in individual letters, and stars, balloons, and more decorated the scene.

The sidewalk chalk images included a depiction of a lazy river, complete with kids in tubes.

For the 2020-21 school year, Moretti explained, he has been using the analogy of a “lazy river” with the school community.

“This year is just a lazy river ride,” he said in a phone interview on May 3, “and when you are on a lazy river ride, sometimes you get hit with rapids, sometimes you hit a rock, sometimes you get stuck on a branch, and sometimes you get smooth sailing.”

Moretti said he also explains to students that sometimes when they feel stuck, others may be experiencing “smooth sailing.”

“You just have to roll with it,” said Moretti.

And the entire school community has been doing that, according to the principal.

“Everybody has been amazing,” he said, noting the supportive environment and emphasis on social and emotional learning.

“It’s not the year we wanted it to be, but it is the best year we were able to have,” he said.

Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.