Remember-lutions jar

At our last SEL all staff meeting, Lisa, AJ, and Jackie spoke about the remember-lutions jars. It's all about finding the bright spots. Over the course of the school year, fill the jar with notes about your favorite memories and accomplishments. Make sure to include notes about what you feel proud of having done. There are two jars, one in each teachers' lounge. As I had conversations with you over the course of this week, I heard some incredible stories. Three stick out to me right now. There was the struggling Math student who volunteered to show how he answered a problem, and he did so correctly. Goose bumps. There are the students rushing to be outside for cross country skiing, and not even asking to come inside to warm up. And it was cold this week, especially in the morning. There was the student who struggled with his fruit snacks on Tuesday and was helped by a classmate. And then on Wednesday the student wanted to thank the student who helped by giving him fruit snacks the next day. The encouragement you all place on being kind really does work. I know for a fact that there are probably hundreds more of these stories from this week. Think about it. You interact with between 100 and 200 students and staff every day. You have an impact on them and they have an impact on you. Take a moment today and write down something for which you are proud. I know that I've said this before, but what might seem normal for you can be mind-blowing for someone else. Let's accentuate the bright spots!

Calendar

Tuesday, February 2nd    I leave early for appointments

Saturday, February 6th    EdCampMadison (online event this year)

Friday, February 12th    No School

Monday, February 15th    Professional Development Day (BLT meeting?)

Thursday, February 25th    Conferences

Thursday, March 4th    Conferences

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"For there is always light if only we're brave enough to see it, if only we're brave enough to be it."-

Amanda Gorman, National Youth Poet Laureate

"The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake.  You can't learn anything from being perfect."-

Adam Osborne, writer, book and software publisher, computer designer

"I remind myself every morning:  Nothing I say this day will teach me anything.  So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening."-

Larry King, TV and radio host

Onward, and adult SEL

As we continue to build our social/emotional resilience as educators, we hope to see our work transfer into our professional lives.  At team meetings for the next month, please take the first few minutes of your meeting to work through the following activity as a team.  Together we are stronger than individually apart!!

Look for the Light (pg 189, Onward)

In December, as the first half of the school year comes to a close and our planet cycles into winter, perhaps our school communities could gather to identify and celebrate bright spots.  We could name our own growth and surface the connections between our own learning and the growth of others.  I might say, "I'm proud of myself for...," and a colleague would add, "I also saw you grow when you..."  We'd look for the light--in ourselves and in others--being reminded that when the nights are long and the sun hangs low on the horizon, we just need to pay closer attention.  The light is always there.

Schedule update

Thanks for providing me with input, ideas, suggestions, and concerns as we move forward with determining a schedule for the 2021-2022 school year.  If you weren't able to join us after school yesterday and still want to talk about the student schedule, please let me know and we can set up a time to meet.  I'll be going over the schedule ideas with Ron, Mary, and Katie over the next few days to see what we can do to make some of the tweaks you've suggested.  As I've communicated, although the schedule will be ours, I'll be making the final decisions about the schedule and how we will staff the schedule.  I will be sharing staff schedules, without names attached for some of the schedules, some time in early to mid-February.  This is still a work in progress and I look forward to continuing this journey with you.

It's been a week of snow and cold, and this weekend looks to be more of the same.  Be safe this weekend, enjoy time with your family, read a book, binge watch a new show or movie series, and relax.  Can you believe next week is February?

Jay

Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Half time adjustments

Some of you know this, and for others you will know after reading the next sentence.  I used to be a high school basketball coach.  Here is some visual proof.  Yes my hair was that long and, thanks to my mom, I had a perm.  It was the early 1990s.

(from Historic Images.com)

Anyway, one of the things that our coaching staff needed to do at half time was to make adjustments.  We didn't adjust everything because some of the things we were doing were working.  But we did need to make some adjustments, whether it was on the offensive or defensive end.  I didn't suggest all of the adjustments because I had really good assistant coaches.  They saw things just a bit differently than I did so I had to make sure to listen and then decide whether the adjustment would be something we could do.  Play faster or jump higher wasn't a half time adjustment that could be made.  They were adjustments that we could work on as the season progressed.  Why am I telling you this?  Because when I think back to our meeting on Monday, and especially the marks on the papers, I saw and heard many of you talking about the kids and the best way to connect with them.  That was so great to see, and it's something we need to continue to focus on for the rest of the school year.  Let's help each other, and our kids, continue to make connections with each other and ourselves.  We'll all be better for it in the end.

Calendar

Friday, January 22nd    Packers Day!

Monday, January 25th    School board meeting 6PM

Wednesday, January 27th    Workout Wednesday/ 10 minute video assembly from Jay for SEL

Tuesday, February 2nd    I leave early for appointments

Saturday, February 6th    EdCampMadison (online event this year)

Friday, February 12th    No School

Monday, February 15th    Professional Development Day

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

(from a blog by @JessicaCabeen)

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."-

John Wooden, college basketball coach

Team meetings next week

I look forward to meeting with you next week about our kids.  Let's use the photo sheets from Monday to guide our conversations.  You do such a great job connecting with our kids so bring some ideas of ways that we can meet with some of those kids who need more connections.

A-team updates

• COVID Update: Waukesha County working on vaccination sites. County numbers are down overall. The state still has not authorized teachers in the 1B group to get vaccines. There is still more to come for Merton Staff. Mask mandate has been extended.

• IS Remodel: Things are going out to bid- still on track with the timeline.

• Ideas for Community Newsletter- please let Jay know if there are things as an option to highlight. I have suggested a few already.

• Open-enrollment recommendations for the 2021-22: Unlimited for general education; Special Education no seats available beyond Speech only

• Celebration Day- Continue with the planning of this for the Spring. Activities can continue- adjust to physically distanced and safety measures.

• Biometric Screenings: February 23 from 6:30-9:30 library @ PS; February 24 6:30-9:30 @ IS Little Theater

• January and February Discussion around enrollment and staffing.

• 2nd Grade Chromebooks are up for replacement at the end of the year for the 21-22 school year.

Schedule update

Next week Thursday, January 28th, we'll have our next schedule meeting after school. I will share a possible schedule with you next Wednesday so that you have a chance to check it out before the meeting. There will be more to come on the meeting agenda when I send out the schedule. All are welcome to attend the meeting whether or not you attended the first meeting.

Thanks for an awesome week, for caring about each other, for helping each other out, and for always being there for our kids. Go Pack Go!

Jay

Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

It's half time!

Today ends the first semester, and I can hardly believe it.  When we started in August, I can honestly say I didn't know how long we would last in face to face learning.  I'm so happy that we are still face to face.  It's important for the curriculum, but it's more important for the relationships.  I'm hopeful that you feel the same, and the activity we will participate in on Monday morning, as well as our grade level meetings, might make you feel this even more.  I didn't coin the phrase but I use it often when discussing our school.  I let others know that we are all about the 3 Rs- relationships, relationships, relationships- and the stronger those Rs are the more our kids will learn.  Let's keep focusing on the kids as we continue the school year.  It's why we're here!

Calendar

Friday, January 15th    Half day noon release

Monday, January 18th    PD day (see schedule below)

Thursday, January 21st    I start the day with a dental appointment

Monday, January 25th    School board meeting 6PM

Wednesday, January 27th    Workout Wednesday!

Tuesday, February 2nd    I leave early for appointments

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."-

Will Rogers, actor, performer, humorist, columnist

"The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces."-

Will Rogers, actor, performer, humorist, columnist

Professional Development Day (January 18th)

8:00-10:30  Team/Curriculum/Planning time (I am attending an IEP meeting)

9:00-10:00 Katie/Carey/Heidi meet to discuss Social Studies

10:30-11:30  Student SEL discussion and activity (meet in the gym)

11:30-12:30  Lunch provided by the district (see April’s email)

12:30-1:00 5th grade meeting

1:00-2:00 Science meeting with Mary

2:00-3:00 6th grade meeting

2:30-3:00 7th grade meeting

3:00-3:30 8th grade meeting

Onward, and adult SEL

As we continue to build our social/emotional resilience as educators, we hope to see our work transfer into our professional lives.  At team meetings for the next month, please take the first few minutes of your meeting to work through the following activity as a team.  Together we are stronger than individually apart!!

Look for the Light (pg 189, Onward)

In December, as the first half of the school year comes to a close and our planet cycles into winter, perhaps our school communities could gather to identify and celebrate bright spots.  We could name our own growth and surface the connections between our own learning and the growth of others.  I might say, "I'm proud of myself for...," and a colleague would add, "I also saw you grow when you..."  We'd look for the light--in ourselves and in others--being reminded that when the nights are long and the sun hangs low on the horizon, we just need to pay closer attention.  The light is always there.

Update on the schedule

A number of staff got together to talk about next year's schedule on Wednesday.  I'm still collecting thoughts about these two topics- what's one thing we need to have in a schedule for our kids and what's one thing we need to have in a schedule for you.  Once I have more ideas, I'll share them with you all.  If you weren't at the meeting and want to share your thoughts with me, please do.  My plan is to take these ideas and put together a schedule to share with you by the end of January.  That won't be the final schedule, just the first schedule to discuss.  If you'd like to talk about the schedule, please see me.  I'd love to chat!

Educator Effectiveness

Please make sure to set up a mid-year meeting with me before the end of next week.  Check my calendar for an open spot, sign up, and let's have a chat.  There's no need to have anything prepared, except reflecting on the year so far.

Thank you!

I appreciate you more than you can know.  This week has been one that was full of meetings and workshops and conversations, some of my own doing and others not.  After reflecting on the week, what I remember most is the number of you who asked me how I was doing.  I know that I don't ask each of you that enough, and after this week with you checking in on me, I realize I need to check in on each of you more often.  Some of you may think I'm naive when I send emails that start out, "Good morning, Merton family!", but I really feel that about our school.  Families have their ups and downs, and we will too, but ultimately a family has a focus on relationships.  As the year keeps moving forward, let's remember to find ways to lift each other up, support one another, and keep a focus on the kids.  And let's check in on each other more often.

Have a great weekend, and Go Pack Go!

Jay

Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Happy New Year!

What an amazing week!  It was great to see you back on Monday, reconnecting with our kids and each other.  I even think I was able to stop by and see you, even if just for a moment, throughout the day on Monday.  Tuesday came and went with the chance to continue to get back into the swing of school life and the chance for me to visit more classrooms.  Wednesday was the chance to remind students of so much during our Second Step lessons and provided some photo opportunities with anti-bullying posters in the 6th grade hallway.  After that I witnessed some incredibly resilient staff and students power through Wednesday and Thursday, making the days seem as normal as possible.  The entire week gave me yet another reason to be proud to serve you as principal.  We were never promised an easy road when we chose education.  We did promise ourselves that we would make a difference in the lives of kids.  This week you all showed that, and for that I will be eternally grateful.  Thank you!

Calendar

Monday, January 11th    Global Awareness Committee 1PM/ BLT meeting 4:15PM

Wednesday, January 13th    Adult SEL 7:45AM (Chapter 7 Onward)/Scheduling meeting 4:15PM (see information below)

Thursday, January 14th    Spelling Bee 4:30PM

Friday, January 15th    Half day noon release (Please get your schedules to Barb and me)

Monday, January 18th    PD day (see schedule below)

Thursday, January 21st    I start the day with a dental appointment

Monday, January 25th    School board meeting 6PM

Wednesday, January 27th    Workout Wednesday!

Tuesday, February 2nd    I leave early for appointments

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."-

Bill Vaughan, writer, columnist

(I sure hope you were the first one!)

"People learn something every day, and a lot of times it's that what they learned the day before was wrong."-

Bill Vaughan, writer, columnist

20 Inspirational Quotes to Start off 2021 (from George Couros)

"Do the best you can until you know better.  Then when you know better, do better."-

Maya Angelou, poet, writer, screenwriter, educator

"This is a wonderful day, I have never seen this one before."-

Maya Angelou, poet, writer, screenwriter, educator

Scheduling meeting (January 13th at 4:15PM in Room 106)

As many of you are aware, we are looking at developing a schedule for next school year.  We have parameters, which are non-negotiable, for time by content as well as levels of staffing.  Our first meeting is on Wednesday, January 13th at 4:15 in Room 106.  If you are interested in joining us, please come with ideas, an open mind, and the realization that as of right now there isn't a specific schedule that will be shared.  Don't feel as if you need to stay for the entire meeting as I know that after school times, especially with daycare, can be difficult.  We will meet as often as is necessary, probably every two weeks.  My goal is to have a schedule prepared to share with our School Board by Spring Break.  Ideally, I'd like to have a schedule "skeleton" developed by the end of January so that we can spend February having discussions.  I've heard that some of you don't feel that your thoughts and ideas will be taken into account during this process.  Please trust me when I say that I am looking forward to you sharing your thoughts.  I also must say that decisions will need to be made and some thoughts and ideas will not be able to come to fruition.  If you have questions about the schedule or the process, please set up a time to discuss these questions with me.  Ultimately, I am will make the final decision.

Professional Development Day (January 18th)

8:00-10:30  Team/Curriculum/Planning time (I am attending an IEP meeting)

9:00-10:00 Katie/Carey/Heidi meet to discuss Social Studies

10:30-11:30  Student SEL discussion and activity (meet in the gym)

11:30-12:30  Lunch provided by the district (see April’s email)

12:30-1:00 5th grade meeting

1:00-2:00 Science meeting with Mary

2:00-3:00 6th grade meeting

2:30-3:00 7th grade meeting

3:00-3:30 8th grade meeting

Bonus personal day

The bonus personal day is now available for all applicable employees in Skyward.

A-team updates

Covid Updates: School Staff currently are in a 2A grouping for vaccines. Further/decisions are being made on this directed by the health department. County/State looking to rollout an App that would assist with contact tracing. 

Staffing Update: Welcome Amy Huck to the Math Intervention role (IS &PS). At this time we will not look to add a building substitute with the shifting of roles. We will always assess needs in the future as well.

Summer School Dates: June 14th-July 1st, July 6th-July 22nd, Camp Invent July 26th-30th, August 2nd-13th. Face-to-Face (possible Virtual too)

Supervision and Evaluation- Instructional Support Staff: Discussion on the rubric used & edited. Becca and I will be meeting with staff this upcoming month.

After a 16 day Winter Break, it was great being back together again in school. As I traveled the building, I notice how much you care about our kids, the learning activities that you have created, and the interactions you have with one another. What I also know is that I still have a lot to learn about each of you. I have more listening to do. I have to reflect more on what I say and how I say it. I need to continue to build your trust in me, in each other, and in our kids. I know that sometimes you might come to the office looking for me and when you get there, I'm not there. It can be discouraging because at that moment you may really need to talk. Before you come to the office, just send me a text or an email. Most of the time I'll be able to meet you but if I cannot, know that I will connect with you later that day either in person or by phone. Thank you for taking the time to read this late Thursday night ramble.

See you soon, and make sure to take some time for yourself this weekend!

Jay

Take care of the kids. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

R-E-L-A-X

No, I'm not referring to Aaron Rodgers famous quote.  I'm referring to what we should all do over Winter Break.  We made it!  Winter Break is just a day away.  My hope is that you find time over our break to detach from school altogether.  Unless it's an emergency, you'll get no emails from me until maybe Sunday, January 3rd.  If you need something from me, email or text me or send me a direct message on a social media platform.  Above all, make sure that you find ways to relax over break.  You deserve it!

Calendar

Friday, December 18th    Polar Express Pajama Day/Raffle drawing/ Material pickup

Saturday, December 19th-Sunday, January 3rd    Winter Break

Monday, January 4th    School resumes

Wednesday, January 6th    Intermediate School staff meeting in the gym/ Wear Merton gear

Friday, January 8th    Materials pickup

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"Failures are infinitely more instructive than successes."

George Clooney, actor, director, producer, screenwriter

(from George Couros' blog)

"If you try desperately to hang on to something that used to be a success for you, it's going to go away.  You have to change."

George Clooney, actor, director, producer, screenwriter

Say I Won't (by Todd Nesloney)

"It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams."

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, writer, journalist, Nobel Prize winner

"What's in front of you is a whole world of experiences beyond your imagination."

Phylicia Rashad, actor, singer, stage director

This is from an email from A.J. Juliani (@ajjuliani on the Twitters).  Please take this to heart.

In a recent article, author Thomas Oppong wrote:

According to research, the brain gradually stops registering a sight, sound or feeling if that stimulus remains constant over time. You lose your focus and your performance on the task declines.

When faced with a long creative problem, it is best to impose brief breaks on yourself. Brief mental breaks will actually help you stay focused on your task and improve your idea generation approach. A structured downtime can help you do your best work.

We tend to generate redundant ideas when we don't take regular breaks. If you're hesitant to break away because you feel that you're on a roll, be mindful that it might be a false impression. Your brain needs downtime to remain industrious and generate better ideas.

So, please, don't forget about rest this break.

(Just wondering if any of you feel this way after this week.)

"The fact that you can only do a little is no excuse for doing nothing."

John le Carre, writer

Growing from What We Know During Times of Uncertainty (from George Couros)

A reminder from Ron...

I know every larger break our Buildings and Grounds crew begins a deeper clean over the few days we have no students.  We need your help with a few things:

• Classrooms - Please push the furniture to the sides of the classrooms. We will be shampooing carpets, placing new blue dots, etc...
• Desks/tables - Please have the student areas clear if at all possible. Staff desks/tables, if you could clear off what can be placed away as we will be disinfecting and cleaning over break as well.
• Primary School - If kids can clean out their cubbies as best as possible. Things that can be taken home: Art Smocks (could be washed at home), lunchboxes, papers not needed, etc... Anything kept, please have it in the "second/big" section of the cubby. We will be cleaning the bottoms and the tops of all cubbies.
• Holiday lights - please take them down before you leave.

Not sure if staff plan on coming in over break, but if we do happen to get winter precipitation, please understand that lots will not be cleaned at the same pace/speed as we would during student contact days.  If we do get snow, please be very careful coming onto campus.  Our buildings will be completely closed with no snow removal for sure on December 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, and January 1, 2, and 3.  

Thank you everyone for your help in our cleaning preparations! 

Any questions, please let me know!

Ron

I'm not planning on sending any emails during break, but I will be checking emails.  If you need me for anything, you can send me an email or a text and I'll get back to you as soon as I am able.  I'm going to be taking some time away from school work to spend with Jen, Lauren, my parents, and other family, and you should, too. (Yes, I know this is an almost exact repeat from the opening paragraph, but it's worth saying more than once.)

Enjoy your Winter Break!

Jay

Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Keep connecting!

You amaze me. I can stop in and watch a lesson and see the amount of thought and preparation you put into what you are doing. That's the curriculum part of your class. But the real amazement is the connections that you make with the kids. Just think about it. I could ask you about any of your kids and you could tell me something that no one might know about them- their successes, their struggles, their interests, their dreams. Those connections are where the learning starts. Please keep making those connections with our kids, and with each other.

Calendar

Friday, December 11th    Wear flannel/ Material pickup

Monday, December 14th    Holiday Colors Day/ BLT meeting 4:15PM/ Board meeting 6PM

Tuesday, December 15th    Holiday Hat Day/ PTO brunch

Wednesday, December 16th    Homeroom Pride Day/ Workout Wednesday/8th grade PreACT at 9:15AM in the gym

Thursday, December 17th    Throwback Thursday

Friday, December 18th    Polar Express Pajama Day/Raffle drawing/ Material pickup

Saturday, December 19th-Sunday, January 3rd    Winter Break

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

Fake it until you make it or Face it until you make it? (from Allyson Apsey)

"For me, being an innovator doesn't mean being more intelligent, more rich, it's not a word, it's an action."

Ornette Coleman, jazz musician

(from @Toups_J. He thinks about this as he creates lessons for his kids, and I know you do, too!)

This is a link to a new resource, Education Blueprint, shared by the Teach Better Team. Looks pretty cool, and it's free!

"I never decide if an idea is good or bad until I try it."

Rick Rubin, record producer

"If you want to grow old as a pilot, you've got to know when to push it, and when to back off."

Chuck Yeagar, US Air Forcce officer, test pilot, first pilot to break the sound barrier

A couple of nuggets from George Couros- the quote and the short video.  Please know this will be my focus with each of you next week, and I hope that you are able to do the same for and with each other and our students next week, too.

A thank you from Donald Driver...

Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act Extensions for COVID FMLA/Sick time

The bill ends on December 31, 2020, and the federal government has not agreed upon an extension.  If you have a determined school-based exposure, Merton SD will continue to provide COVID sick time. More to come on other non-school based exposures due to the expiring federal laws.

Here are some suggestions from our guest teachers.

Please consider adding these items to your guest teacher plans.

- Sign in info (Envisions, 2nd Step, etc..)

- Links in the lesson plans are AWESOME!

- Mark places in texts that they want to highlight or to be discussed in the lesson

- Provide examples in the lesson when applicable

- Provide names of teacher helpers

- Note any students that may need extra guidance/support

- Include classroom behavior plan or incentives (punch cards, clip charts, fill jar, etc...)  I like to use positive reinforcements!

It's been such a wonderful experience working with the awesome staff and students in this district so far this year!

Global Awareness Committee

The Student Achievement Committee met to discuss how to bring Global Awareness to our staff and students. The end result of the work will be to make staff and students more Globally Aware. Global awareness encompasses many aspects and the work will continue to be refined.  Our first step is to identify how to begin developing our staff.  The team of admin, specialists, guidance, and board members will be examining different ways to engage our staff in this work. Later in January, we will be engaging other staff members to assist in learning more before bringing something to the entire staff.  Our next meeting is set for January 11. More to come!

Thanks for another great week.  Enjoy the weekend, and maybe some snow, relax, and come back next Monday ready to take on one more week before Winter Break.  We've got this!

Jay

Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

We are our best resource!

I'll tell you this.  I really needed the Thanksgiving Break to take some time for myself and my family.  When Monday came, I was ready for school to get started again.  My trips into classrooms and the conversations that I was a part of were invigorating and made me realize just how fortunate I am to go to school with each of you every day.  Your willingness to share on Wednesday was so appreciated.  I spoke to a couple of you later that day and you had already tried one of the tips or were going to try it.  When you take risks it gives your students permission to take risks, too.  Keep connecting with one another.  Visit each other's classes (and if you need coverage, just let me know).  There is so much we can learn from one another!

Calendar

Friday, December 4th    Material pickup

Monday, December 7th    Donuts

Tuesday, December 8th    Wear an ugly holiday sweater

Wednesday, December 9th    Wear blue/ Staff SEL meeting 7:45AM in the gym (read chapter 6)

Thursday, December 10th    Wear red or green

Friday, December 11th    Wear flannel/ Material pickup

Monday, December 14th    BLT meeting 4:15PM

Wednesday, December 16th    8th grade PreACT at 9:15AM in the gym

Friday, December 18th    Material pickup

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

Leaders, how do you break over a break? by Amber Teamann (This is a post for all educators!)

(from School Leadership 2.0)

"Open, honest communication is the best foundation for any relationship, but remember at the end of the day it's not what you say or what you do, but how you make people feel that matters the most."

Tony Hseih, entrepreneur, former CEO of Zappos

(from Dr. Bryan Pearlman @DrP_Pearlman)

"There were certainly things I was scared to do, but I never thought I wasn't up for the challenge."

Rooney Mara, actor

(from @mellowdoodles)

"It's not about what it is, it's about what it can become."

Theodor Seuss Geisel, writer known as Dr. Seuss

Know that you are all a "Mr. Jensen"!

(Yes, you have all probably seen this before but it's just too good not to see again!)

A-team topics from Wednesday

• Health Department/Local Discussions: Some schools in the area went virtual to see if that would allow for a decrease in the spread in schools that could not space out. CDC released new guidelines for quarantine (direct contact in quarantine 1)10 day infectious period 2)Negative test & 7 days. States/County need to decide whether to adopt that recommendation.  WE WILL WAIT TO HEAR FROM THE COUNTY AND THEY MAKE THE CHANGES. Until the county health department gives us the directive, we will hold tight. More to come. Vaccines - The recommendations from CDC for Health Care and Essential Workers completely out number the number of vaccines in our state. For the general public and schools maybe by April if lucky. You need 2 doses so that means half needs to be saved.  Once completed, about 5 weeks then the vaccine will be effective.  NO STUDIES ON CHILDREN as it is not being recommended for kids. Teachers/Educators are not considered “Essential.”

• Substitute Update: Feedback discussed from teachers and building subs on + and opp for improvement. Principals will follow-up with building subs and work with staff to leave detailed lesson plans.

• IS’s Remodel Update: Design plans will be completed at the end of December. Remodel begins in the Spring of 2021 after break.

• 1202 Staff Report for DPI: We are required to obtain updated license information for staff. If we need anything from someone, Ron/Jay will reach out.

So about Wednesday...

I hope that you were able to make a connection with someone (remember the text?). If you weren't able to connect, or just forgot about it when you left the gym, why not try and reach out this weekend. You might have a little more time or you just might be on a car ride, hear a song, and make a call. You never know what song might make a connection with one of your friends or colleagues.

Have a great weekend! So many of you said, "This week has really flown by!" I hope this isn't a jinx to make today the longest day of the week, but at least we know it will be the best Friday of the week!

Jay

Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell