Kleckner's Korner
March 8, 2021
You Just Have to Laugh (or maybe cry)!
I got a laugh out of this and thought I’d share! I couldn’t decide if my laughter was because it was funny or the laughter that’s on the verge of tears because of the truth!
We SEE you all working SO hard!
- What it feels like to be a teacher during these COVID/Hybrid-Remote Learning times:
- Imagine hosting two dinner parties at once: a BBQ in the backyard with an open fire-pit, and then the roast in the oven to be served on fine china to guests in your dining room. Now, also imagine finding time to make doggie bags for those who didn’t show up.
- Imagine, as well, Your electric company cutting power at times briefly, where lights go off and on, and the in-house guests have to make their way back from any confusion or missed courses of the meal. Some of them joke about it. You settle them down.
- Some of the dinner guests don’t know how to use utensils, or clean up after themselves, are still hungry but are afraid to ask, or refuse to eat. Some complain about the food. Or claim they ate it last year. Or claim they never saw other parts of the meal before.
- Some in the dining room have requested to be outside at the BBQ. Some at the BBQ now want to be in dining room. You have to keep track. Sometimes new guests arrive, sometimes guests unexpectedly leave.
- The fire department might also, at any point, ask everyone to evacuate from a threat — either real or imagined. The police also expect us to huddle guests into the windowless garage, in a corner, six feet apart, in the event of an intruder — either real or imagined.
- Your entire dinner party could be told at any moment to go home, and you need to quickly wrap up everyone's meals.
You do all this, while wearing a mask. While remembering to wash or sanitize hands several dozen times throughout the day. While hoping and trusting that the guests come in without any unseen illnesses brewing.
You also have to answer the phone and emails while all this is going on. Plus keep detailed records of your guests and what they ate.
The guests leave. You catch your breath. And you think about tomorrow’s menu...which has to be totally different than today’s.
And while you catch your breath and anxiously take inventory of ingredients for tomorrow, you know in your heart why you chose to cook for others.
-Kristine Ackerman
Weekly Administrative Information Packet
1. Carter BloodCare Blood Drive - March 10th - Information
2. Employee Vaccination Booster Clinic March - Information
3. FinPath Financial Wellness Program March Virtual Workshop - Information
4. GISD SEL Week Celebration March 22-26 - Information with Student Activities!!
5. Required Cybersecurity Awareness Training - Required for everyone if you have not done it yet.
6. Save the Date Summer Learning Opportunities - REQUIRED FOR ALL TEACHERS - JUNE 9TH OPPORTUNITIES
7. Spring Testing Parent Letters and Logistics - ALL STAFF MEMBERS please read to know what testing will look like this year. I'll print once Spanish letters are available.
8. Staff Members Preparing to Travel Outside the US - information
9. TABSE/TABPHE Virtual Conference New Dates - Information
June 9th Staff Development Opportunities and Summer Learning
Important Dates to Remember ***Denotes New Information
March
14 - Quarter 3 Grades lock at 11:45pm
15-19 - Spring Break
22 - Quarter 4 Begins
***23 & 24 - 3rd-5th grade STAAR Interim testing (Remote students will come on the same days)
30 - Prodigy - Game Based Learning PD - 90 minutes - dinner will be provided by NorthPlace Church and then we'll lead straight into Math/Literacy night from 6-7.
April
1 - Cycle 3 Awards
2- Student/Staff Holiday (Good Friday)
6 - 4th grade STAAR Writing - Paper test only
13 - 4th grade STAAR Writing - Online Test (3rd grade will be asynchronous, students will stay home and work on activities allowing teachers can help proctor)
21 - Early Release - afternoon District PD
May (Please do not communicate these dates with parents yet)
11 - 3rd, 4th, 5th - STAAR Math - Paper test only
12 - 3rd, 4th, 5th - STAAR Reading - Paper test only
13 - 5th - STAAR Science - Online and Paper (4th grade asynchronous, students will stay home and work on activities allowing teachers to help proctor)
14 - 3rd and 4th - STAAR Reading Online - (K, 1, 2, 5 - asynchronous)
18 - 5th - STAAR Math Online (3rd grade asynchronous)
19 - 5th - STAAR Reading Online (4th asynchronous)
21 - 3rd and 4th - STAAR Math Online (K, 1, 2, 5 asynchronous)
28 - Student/Staff Holiday
31 - Memorial Day - no school
Counselor’s Corner
If you need assistance with individual concerns or counseling services, please reach out to Mrs. Medrano-Johnson at gmedranojohnson@garlandisd.net,
or fill out the following Park Crest Request for Counseling Services form.