A Note From Michelle...

Presently, life as a teacher regularly feels like a game of chicken with no defined repetition in anything other than uncertainty. We do what we can with what we’ve got. We embrace the change, preserve, give grace, check the boxes, and still something is missing. 

In a recent blog post, A.J. Juliani, founder and CEO at Adaptable Learning, did an amazing job of highlighting why the struggle is real. 

“And you are exhausted. 

Not so much by the students, although they have changed over the years.

Not so much by the parents, who have definitely changed over the years. 

But mostly by managing all of this, picking yourself up every day, and believing you’re doing good work, with good people, for the right reasons.” This is hard. — A.J. Juliani (ajjuliani.com)

After a few years of shift and change, I think we all find ourselves doing our own version of coping. Many times this looks like dissociation or pulling back to preserve what we can for life outside of school. A much needed reset during our off time, as Kevin pointed out on his Vlog, helps keep us afloat. This attention to our physical and mental health is of crucial importance.

 Yet, even pulling back with full efforts in preserving sanity, I still feel a school wide struggle.

 Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve all been fighting a force that separates us. 

Let me be clear, I do not have the answer to overcoming the struggle. In my observations though, it feels as if what we are trying to do right now in survival mode is also not working. If pulling back isn't  the answer, then can we try a different approach? 

My call to action for myself and anyone willing to jump with me, is to lean in a little more. Lean into the human connection in our building and in our classrooms. Less emails and more conversations as we make it a norm to touch base with our colleagues.

Lean in. Venture is a place in which fostering connection in the classroom comes first and foremost. This year, let’s take that to another level. Offer and seek out help brainstorming what will work best in our classrooms. Allow for the human experience to breathe and leave room for the messiness of human existence. Create safe spaces and days that just allow for humans to exist as they are. 

Each of our classrooms are a direct reflection of the outside world and these past two years have been doozies. Let us not forget that if WE are struggling due to the current world status WITH every bit of support we have built for ourselves in our own lives, our students, who often do not have the same opportunities, will be struggling at another level. 

As teachers, we are masters of adaptability. Let’s shift our lens, embrace the changes that have been thrown our way, and do what we do best. Meet our students and colleagues where they are and rise up. Connect with the human first. We find each other's strengths and utilize teamwork to push forward in our collective goal to do more than just survive. 

Xello:  Are you assigning lessons to students in Xello?  The district is sending out regular reports of the lessons that are assigned, and there are still several advisories that have not assigned any lessons to students yet.  Please assign at least two lessons by the end of November and follow up with your advisory students to ensure they are completed.  

Student Exhibit Night:  Are you thinking with your students about what they will have for  student exhibit night?

Bus/Parking lot duty: Pavlik and Penski

Monday 11/8:  PD day Agenda

Tuesday  11/9: 

Wednesday  11/10:

Thursday 11/11: Certified work day

Friday  11/12:

Bus/Parking lot duty:  Gonzalez and Gaynor

Monday 11/15:  Non Work Day

Tuesday  11/16: Picture makeup day

Wednesday 11/17:

Thursday 11/18:

Friday 11/19:

November 22 - November 26:  Thanksgiving Break

Bus/Parking lot duty: Higgs and Levy

Monday 11/29:  Non Work Day

Tuesday  11/30: 

Wednesday 12/1:

Thursday 12/2: New Student Orientation

Friday 12/3: Last day of Trimester 1