We Are Here for Such a Time as This

I was inspired by the thoughts and ideas I heard on our call Friday.  Absolutely inspired.  Each team had obviously carefully considered the ideas I asked you to weigh in on for "catchup" next year and the discussion points on grading and progress reports. 

I want to reiterate what I shared in last Friday's Weekly email...

Later, in October when we look back at this time this is the story I want us to tell—that we grew, that we connected, that we made the most out of a crazy time. When our students come back we will be ready. We will be stronger and we will be prepared....You are here with Paint Lick Elementary for such a time as this. What we do now WILL SET US UP FOR SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE. What we think of now and plan for now can help our students not just catch-up when we get back, but come out better on the other side of this. Let’s make this our finest hour. We aren’t just surviving this. We are thriving because we are using our time to do whatever it takes to make our students’ lives better. We are redefining what it means to #levelup.

After this Friday's meeting, I believe this now more than ever.  You have what it takes inside of you to make ours a story of success and strength.  Don't get stuck in the negativity and the worry.  In my conversations with you this week, I noticed that most of you are worried about the students you haven't been able to reach.  Keep trying, don't give up trying to reach them, but you can't let disappointments with your success rate get you down.  When you reflect on the impact you are having right now, don't base it on the ones you haven't reached. Base your definition of success on what you can do now to ensure that your students will get the content in the fall.  

Anyone like baseball? This week I read something about baseball that I found interesting. Baseball is a game of failure. If you are an amazing hitter you still fail 70% of the time.  Success on defense can also be tied to how you respond to failure.  Check out this guy:

Everyone is going to mess up in baseball at some point, but they have to bounce right back and keep trying to make the play.  The same is with us.  If our minds keep focusing on what we don't have control over or the times when we weren't able "catch the ball" we will most likely mess up again or stay in that low place.  

If you rated yourself low this week is it because what is creeping in your mind you have no control over?  Try focusing on what YOU do have control over.  You have control over your classroom.  The plans we are making now will set us up for success in the fall.  You set up a time for a zoom call and only 4 kids show up?  Shake it off and talk to the grade above you about the content you aren't sure your class learned and how that teacher can teach it in the fall.  

I am a big believer in positive affirmations and self-talk.  As we make our plans for the fall and you wonder what school is going to look like find a simple phrase that you can say to yourself to take control and block out negative thoughts.  You may want to try to envision what your classroom will be like for your students when they come back.  Perhaps something like this:  My class will be a safe, motivating, and engaging place.  

You got this.  Hang in there.  I believe in you and I have full confidence that not only will we survive this time as a school, but that it will truly be our finest hour as we ensure our students know we love and miss them and that their learning will not suffer because of what we plan for them this fall.