Straight From The Lions Mouth
January 22, 2021
We've had another great, busy, and productive week at school. Time is certainly flying by, and today, as I drove home, it stroke me that our days are getting longer..... what a relief! It is hard when it is 4:30pm in the afternoon and it feels like 8 o'clock at night. It is nice to get home from work and be able to send the kids out and even join them for some fresh air and physical activity.
As we look ahead to the next few weeks, upcoming holiday (Valentine's Day), and other happenings at our school and district, I would like to provide you with some important information to keep it in mind:
** Superintendent Search: Focus Group Registration
The Amesbury School Committee Superintendent Search Subcommittee invites APS parents, guardians, and community members at large to participate in a series of focus groups as part of the search process for a new school superintendent. Focus groups are currently scheduled for the following days/times:
* 1/25 at 9am (parent/guardian)
* 1/28 at 6pm (parent/guardian)
* 2/2 at 7pm (parent/guardian)
* 2/4 at 7pm (community-wide)
If you are interested in participating in a focus group please follow the link below to fill out a brief registration form. These focus groups will be conducted virtually and only those who have pre-registered will be sent a link to participate.
Registration: https://forms.gle/bTJBomH2WGpNJisLA<https://forms.gle/fUuVvTaFeDNRArjw7>
For those unable to attend a focus group there will be a community-wide survey published to allow those interested to share their thoughts on the needs of the district, as well as the qualities and attributes they desire of a superintendent. This survey will be shared on the school Facebook page and website, as well as communicated by various other means.
A survey is also available for those who cannot attend a focus group or want to share their preference in another way.
That survey can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DVQ3SJG<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DVQ3SJG?fbclid=IwAR1JENtIhBpmuity31Dws_q4A9_u2PXq87jrdXQsSvDP4TdikwMtogBy7g0> (Survey is open until February 8th)
For questions or help registering for a focus group please call Daniel Grayton at 978-388-0507.
** VALENTINE'S DAY CELEBRATION: One more custom/celebration that we will need to change this year -- it is disappointing to ask that students do NOT exchange valentine's day cards. I will encourage our teachers to find ways for students to create virtual messages for their classmates and friends, but respectfully ask for no distribution of gifts, bags of treats, or cards in school. I am truly sorry. I am hoping we will be able to resume to some of our typical celebrations next year -- fingers crossed!
** Synchronous Teaching: all of a sudden, education invited everyone to "everyone else's" home. It is a bit bizarre to think that we are not supposed to interact in-person, but now, we are "in" other's people's home on a weekly basis. The virtual world has expanded exponentially, and teachers are now on stage. To speak openly, schools have always been a place that "failing": was an expectation in order for one to grow. Things not working out the way we predicted or planned, was somewhat expected, and in the event it did, it felt like a great accomplishment. Today, things are very different. We have to allow ourselves and our students to "fail" inside their classmates' home. Teachers have to manage their high expectation of teaching with the unexpected virtual difficulties, technology mishaps, and so much more. We talk about an environment that feels safe and with no judgement, but as adults and human beings, having to adjust to this new reality is extremely hard. So I will ask, that all of us be kind, non-judgemental, and inclusive of our new reality. I want us to be strong in working together, collaboratively, knowing that everyone is doing the best job they can to continue to live a healthy lifestyle while educating our children. I see the remote learning weighting on many and would truly encourage us to take a step back and be grateful for the learning curve we've been through. We will come out of this stronger, and with so much more knowledge predicted or planned for. It is a hardship that we are enduring together, and I hope that you, like me, can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I hope you have a warm winter weekend with your family!
Sincerely,
Principal Mascia
Charles C. Cashman Elementary School
Email: karina.mascia@amesburyma.org
Website: https://schools.amesburyma.gov/Domain/454
Location: 193 Lions Mouth Road, Amesbury, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 388-4407