MIAMI (WSVN) - The principal at an elementary school in Miami has created a unique tool to remind students about social distancing: a rap video.
Christopher Simmonds, the principal at CARE Elementary School, is putting the “cool” in school. He recorded the clip as something fun for the children to engage in while also adhering to safety guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I know you’re happy and you really want to see me, but no contact is promoted on the TV,” Simmonds raps in the video.
Simmonds said he was looking for a fun and effective way to keep students safe when they returned to in-person learning.
“With the social distancing, we needed to make it fun,” he said. “We needed to make it something that they can really just say, ‘You know what? I really want to adhere to these rules.'”
That is how the social distance rap came to life.
“Stay 6 feet. Yeah, it’s easy-peasy, and put your mask on when you’re in the building, wash your hands, sanitize, 20 seconds a sitting,” Simmonds raps in the video.
To get the message across, Simmonds decided to remix the catchy hit 2014 song “Teach Me How to Dougie,” only this time, it’s “Teach Me Social Distance.”
Simmonds said his students are fans of the social distance rap song and dance, and they ask to listen to it on a daily basis.
“They love it. For a lack of a better word, they really, really love it,” he said.
How much? He said they ask to listen to it on a daily basis.
“Every day, every day. Some teachers are saying they play it three to four times a day because the students are actually asking for it,” said Simmonds.
Behind the fun tune, the principal said, the purpose is clear: make sure proper social distancing and safety guidelines are easily remembered and followed.
“We wanted to make sure that our dance, which is keep that 6 feet of space, was the primary highlight there,” he said.
Simmonds said the song and video were a collaborative effort. One teacher wrote the hook, and the kindergarten teacher directed the entire production.
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