Monday Memo Musings

Bell's Let's Talk Campaign is aimed at reducing the stigma related to mental illness. We have always been told to take care of our bodies, now we are learning how important it is to take care of your mind.  There are five tips to helping yourself or someone you know with mental illness.  Talk about it.  Understanding and Educating ourselves is step two. Having the conversation without judging. Step 3. watch our language- it is correct to say- a person with bi-polar or a person with schizophrenia or a person with depression.  step 4. Be kind. Ask the person if they'd like to talk about it and listen. Saying you'll get over it or relax doesn't help. Saying I'm sorry you aren't well, or what can I do to help you now?   Step 5. Listen and Ask- Mental illness is a very common form of human pain and suffering. Being a good listener and asking how you can help, sometimes just even being there for people you care about, can be the fir...

There is beauty in the world, open your eyes. Yesterday, I took a long walk with my dogs and saw many beautiful things: families skating on the oval sun shining through the trees sparkling snow I felt the heat of the sun Green Bay beat Dallas "yes" but most beautiful, were the young guys who passed me and said, " hello," and one young guy took off his headphones and said," hey, I like your dogs." This cool, good looking first nations kid, smiled the biggest smile and just made my day. Most people wouldn't expect that of busy teenagers. It was a beautiful day.  Thank You Thanks to Holly and Bonnie for doing some spring cleaning in January. The school looks really tidy. Thanks so much to Nicole, who rescued us on Wednesday when Mark couldn't travel to Zama due to the windy weather. She taught the kids all day. We appreciate her willingness to help out anytime.  Thanks to Eric who will be acting while I am away. Any questions ju...

So much has happened to our staff in the last bit that the only thing I can say is that your physical and mental health are top priority to us. Please practice self care. Breathe, look at the stars, walk or have a great cry! An aboriginal elder told me don't stop your tears from falling, if you let them fall, they go right to your heart and cleanse it.  Thinking of You So many hugs to Holly whose mom passed away peacefully last Sunday. Hugs!!! So many hugs to Eric whose nephew passed away of aggressive cancer this week. He leaves behind a wife and three girls under the age of 8. We pray this family has lots of supports.  Positive vibes to Petra whose achilles has stretched off the heel and is causing her tons of pain. I wish I has healing dust to sprinkle over that darn foot!  Positive vibes to Jenine whose back is causing her lots of pain. Soon she will get to stay home and nurse herself back to health!  Positive vibes to Nicole ...

Haven't we all been in situations where we felt unappreciated. It sucks! I wonder how appreciated and valued our students feel. You do such a lovely job of greeting them and checking in on them when they are working. My hope is that they feel appreciated and so do you.  Thank you for the compliments in the direct surveys. They made me feel appreciated and valued. Thanks so much for the helpful hints to improve my practice.  Thank yous So many thanks to La Crete for hosting many of us on Friday. You are great hosts.  Thank you to Mark for powering through being sick on Friday. There is no worse feeling than being sick with kids in the class and no sub any where to be found. Thanks for hanging on.  Thanks to Jenine for dragging her herself in on Wednesday when she could hardly walk.( yikes) Hoping you are walking straight these days!!  Thanks to Mark and Nicole for organizing a winter fie...

Just finished that book. It is a must read. It speaks to, the idea of," Sameness." Read the book and you'll understand. Luckily, our five schools celebrate our differences and realize we can be the same. Kudos to differences!!  Thank yous Thanks you to Dani and Julie who ordered some books for us including, Far North, Fatty Legs and The Giver. I am bringing a copy around to each school.  Thanks to The High level crew who welcomed parents to their parent Wing Ding. We have thirteen-sixteen people come through our doors. Thanks to Holly who brought Christmas to The Learning Store.  Thanks to all our Custodians , Martha, Sue, Landon and Tristan and the mystery lady in Fort. I have to meet this lady! They do a fantastic job in our buildings each day and are only thanked when I catch up with them every month or so. We appreciate all they do.  Staffing Anne Monday am High Level- pm Zama- Two girls will be relocating for 6 weeks...

A huge welcome to Dani Chilcott the newest member to our team. She already has a list of things we will do in Fort. Love it!!! This week Dani and I will take Julie out for lunch and present her with her going away gift. We know she will be the best at helping people at Victims Services.  Keep Calm and Put Others First What is so cool about our five schools? It's the fact we put others first before ourselves. Not one of our schools has a staff room we hide in, gossip and grumble in. Our students see us for who we are, all day long. You have great relationships with our students and that's not that easy to do. They are very fortunate that it is us manning their schools, it's obvious we care! We've got an excellent staff; that is what makes our five schools great places to learn. Thanks for Keeping Calm and putting others first.  Thank yous Thanks to Bonnie and her fabulous crew of Gaye and Connie who collected thousands of dollars worth of toys ...

Report Card Week A terrific way to catch up with our kids, a time to think deeply about that student and where they are going. A teacher always asks themselves , how well do i know that student. If the answer is not well, we seek to get to know them better next semester. Report Cards are valuable to the student and their families and the process is so valuable to us. We can always do better.  Thank Yous Thanks  so much to all of you who took in the PD last week. From chatting with you my thoughts were the sessions were valuable.  Thanks  to all who are organizing the Wing Ding in High Level this Tuesday. Many local organizations are coming in to inform our students.  Thanks to all who made student contacts this week. Talking personally to our kids seems to make a difference.  Staffing We are close to hiring for the position in Fort. Monday or Tuesday I will be able to announce it.  M...