Although life is nowhere near normal right now and we’re sure we’re all going a little stir crazy in quarantine, one positive thing that this situation has given
us is time.

We can’t remember the last time we have had this much free time! Fortunately, we have been utilizing some of this time to our benefit: we’ve been able to finally take a breath, sit down, and think.

Specifically, we have been thinking about how one of the biggest changes for everyone
has been the shift from the classroom setting to remote learning. It is quite obvious that this shift affects teachers and their lesson plans, and that it also influences the students’ learning process, as most are now forced to rely on iPads for all of their
work and cannot even see their teachers or classmates.

However, something that cannot go unnoticed is the fact that many parents may be struggling with the change in learning style, which can, in turn, negatively impact their children.

Many students, especially younger ones, are not used to learning via technology, but iPads
have been thrust into their hands in the haste of the crisis.

Naturally, mothers and fathers who have to work won’t always be there to help their kids adapt to these technologically advanced ways of learning.

Unfamiliarity with remote learning can definitely cause students to get stressed out and fall behind on their work. In addition, students might need extra homework help due to their parents and teachers not being on hand at all times.

After putting all of this information together and doing some brainstorming, we have come up with a solution: Virtual Help and Hugs. Virtual Help and Hugs is a program that we’d like to offer to all third to eighth-grade Great Neck Public School students.

Essentially, we provide free, one-on-one, virtual sessions in which we’d give homework
help, tutoring, and just a friendly conversation platform to younger students in our district. We are utilizing social media and other methods of communication to generate publicity for Virtual Help and Hugs, and interested parents sign their kids up by emailing virtualhelpandhugs@gmail.com.

We do have a lot of free time, but of course, our time is still limited, so every
week we will provide interested parents and students with a list of 30-minute time slots available for our homework help sessions. As we hope and anticipate that the response is very high, we have also started gathering a network of virtual tutors (other high school students)  in addition to ourselves who will help out.
Together, we will be giving our time in times of need and will help lessen the uncertainty with friendly faces and conversations!

We are super excited to give back to the community through Virtual Help and Hugs!

Alexandra and Juliette Ahdoot
11th and 9th graders at Great Neck North