Faculty Focus
3/13/2020
Update on NTI Days
Hello team! I will continue to update with you on what I know. Please remember things are changing minute by minute as we are all navigating this for the first time.
- All Staff (certified and classified) will report Monday and Tuesday at regular time. Clock in as normal.
3. Counselors report to RR for meeting with school Psychologists Monday 8:30 am (This could change).
4. School Nurses 11:30-1 District Office
5. SROs report
6. Working remotely from home is an option the district is highly considering for certified staff, possibly starting on Wednesday. In light of this, we need to develop a school-wide plan on what that looks like to have two way communication with students. For example, this might be a team having each teacher schedule a daily 9:00-10:00 Google Hangout with students. This is just an example.
7. As Dr. Poe explained to principals today, classified and certified job laws are very different. However, people are working at the district and state level on some possible and viable work options for all employees during this time of crisis. I will keep you updated as soon as I know anything else.
From Your Principal, Mrs. Pass
Today I was reminded of a quotation I discovered while studying war literature at Ole Miss. Sun Tzu was a military leader and author in Ancient China. He wrote the book The Art of War , which is still renowned as one of the best books on the topic. Tzu once wrote “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity."
While I would not quite describe Thursday as chaos, it felt pretty crazy. We had a large task in front of us, and we wanted to make sure we got it right for our parents and students.
Challenges can have one of two effects on communities. They can divide people or unite people. This challenge presented our school community with the opportunity to come together and make this situation the best we can make it for our kids.
I was overwhelmed with gratitude for our staff, our students and our community for the way we responded together. I could not have been prouder to be a part of it. Our students were incredible all day. Our teachers taught, planned, prepared, copied, developed and calmed our students with a positive outlook and a solution-oriented attitude. Our staff pitched in all over the building wherever needed to ensure the students had a normal day and that all aspects were taken care of before we launched our plan for Non-Traditional Instruction. Our parents buzzed in this morning and afternoon ready to copy, staple, count, label, deliver- whatever the staff needed to ensure the plan would be ready by the end of the day. The STCs sprang into action ensuring that all students had devices and all students and parents had the technology information and access they needed.
It would have been easy for us to complain, make excuses or not get the job done. But this community came together, and we are stronger because of it. Thank you to all who helped, encouraged or even just sent us positive vibes. Together, we can rock some NTI days!