Layton Elementary Staff Update!
May 16, 2020
But What If...
Melissa Pendergast sent this to me the other day and gave me permission to send it to you. I have felt this way all along. What has happened was not ideal, messed up all our careful plans, and put kids out of school. All that is not okay.
BUT WHAT IF ....
What if instead of falling “behind", this group of kids are ADVANCED because of this?
What if they have more empathy, they enjoy family connection, they can be more creative and entertain themselves, they love to read, they love to express themselves in writing.
What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own garden and sitting near a window in the quiet.
What if they notice the birds and the dates the different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower?
What if this generation are the ones to learn to cook, organize their space, do their laundry, and keep a well run home?
What if they learn to ride a bike, play a board game, do simple crafts, learn to bake, climb a tree, play without a screen?
What if they learn to Understand the value of money, what’s important and to live with less?
What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home.
What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the everyday?
What if they learn to just be, to be more resilient, to be content?
What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and educational professionals, librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, logistics, and health care workers and their supporting staff, just to name a few of the millions taking care of us right now while we are sheltered in place?
What if among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in this life?
What if they are AHEAD?
What does the end of the year look like now?
Expectations for the Rest of the Year
Teachers will be working on preparing for device check-in this week as they wrap up classroom learning with their students and make sure they gather up student belongings to get them back to families. Teachers are welcome in the building when they need to be, but be sure to practice social/physical distancing, despite the YELLOW designation. We are being held to strict guidelines in the building, including wearing masks when face to face. If you are handling items that have been recently brought into the school, you may want to wear gloves to protect yourself and others. With 164 new cases since Thursday, May 14, we are far from out of the woods. Teachers will spend the rest of the year wrapping up this year and planning for the next.
Teachers, you will need to be out of the building by 1:30 pm each day so custodians can clean up and sanitize after you leave. They need to be out by 2. If you finish before 1:30 each day, let us know so we can let them know. Remember to use the office doors to enter and exit, checking in and out.
If you are a classified employee who has completed contract days, except those reserved for device check-in, please accept our sincere appreciation for your support during this crisis. You have been so much help in keeping in touch with our families.
If you are 65 or older, I have been advised to let you know that you may be excused from further service if you have concerns about your health. We have a family in our boundaries with COVID in the home, so it is in our neighborhood. If you feel that you would like to be excused, please let me know.