Monday Memo Musings

  Well that went quickly. We are already into the last week of February. We welcome the change in weather. We welcome the added minutes of light. We welcome the last few months of pretty wintry scenes. We welcome the many opportunities to see the Northern Lights. Soon we will welcome Spring!  I'm sharing with you a quote which pertains to many of our students: Allowing a student with a hidden disability, ( Adhd, anxiety, dyslexia) to struggle academically or socially when all that is needed for success are appropriate accomodations and explicit instruction, is no different than failing to provide a ramp for a person in a wheelchair. It is that time of year again when we start planning for next year. As Outreach schools we are assisting students in completing their schooling when they can not or do not wish to attend the High School. We respond to each student's particular needs. The foundation of our Outreach is building relationship, so students who may not have been successf...

  When Babies take a first step and fall on their bottoms, we praise and celebrate  the first step. We don't criticize their fall....we as educators must consider... with Outreach students, it is often their first step. One student has been away from school for three years, another has attended school for three years but was in survival mode for two( she's only getting on her feet now), another has been homeschooled his whole life, yet another has never had a good experience ever in a school. So baby steps it is.... and we celebrate each one.  Do we criticize babies, no we don't , do we criticize our students? No we don't.  HOT OFF THE PRESS ( wow almost an antiquated term now) What's the problem? -  4 staff in High Level; Anne, Leah, Allan and Amanda came into contact with two students who tested positive for covid 19. That means High Level is moving to a home learning model next week. Students can come pick up work and drop it off as Bonnie , Holly and Crystal...

  The World Needs You Everyday that you show up even when it's hard and when you dont feel like it, you are making a difference. so even on the hard days-- even on the days where you'd like to hang back and not show up-- remember the world needs the magic inside of you your work matters your consistency matters your ideas matter your presence matters So keep it up. I send this to you...because it's true. Students need the same message, let the students know the world needs them!! Staffing Eva is out the morning of the 19th Chad and Anne are in an LTM meeting Monday am. We are on line.  Marj is in on Monday and Wednesday. We have her until the 3rd of Feb. We pay half the division pays half. Trying to catch up with the academic students before the new semester starts.  I'm not sure what he is holding? Any ideas? I am hoping it's not anything you smoke.  WHAT's Happening This Week # Staff Metting on Tuesday at 2:30. Our meeting will be a half hour starting right at...

  Making the decision to come back January 11th was brilliant, by Friday we will be half way through January, knowing this is seems freeing. Soon, we will be saying good bye to January and winter will be half gone. Thank you Mother Nature for allowing us to get out and enjoy these wintery days. At the moment, I can see 10 families on the skating loop in front of my house, a lovely way to spend a winters day. You deserved the extra few days this decision gave you, we are thankful for that hard decision.  Our kids are ready to get back to it. I have received several texts and calls as I know many of you have. You might even have been stopped at the grocery store or post office with questions about start up. We are prepared to teach and the students are ready to learn.  Staffing I am working right up until Feb 5th. Many Thanks to Chad for going it alone in December. Appreciate all you do Chad.  Everyone else is in on their regular schedules. Huge Virtual Hugs To the tea...

Slow Down Please Have you ever been driving along at 110kms per hour and slammed on your breaks because a deer jumped in front of you? I have. When you do that all the crap inside your vehicle goes flying, your purse, your phone, the stuff you bought. Your dog speaks for the first time and says," What the hell!" You get mad, ( bad deer) thankful and scared all at once.  Well, if you don't slow down in the next 8 days, stopping at the end of the school year will be like an almost deer hit. Going from 110 to zero can be painful.  Everything will go flying because you will lose your sh*t over something little, or you will totally zone out for days or you will feel really,really sad or what's worse you will get sick.( this always happened to me when teaching in the classroom)  Whatever it looks like for you, slowdown now... slow to 90 km. Take a drive to look at the lights. Slow to 70 km, do something for you, like actually sitting down and sipping a beverage while not lo...

  You need a rest. You deserve a rest. There is hope that you will get one. In four quick weeks you will get to put your feet up and enjoy the season. In five weeks, we will have the longest day of the year then all days after that, will add minutes of light to our days. Other countries have bleak gloomy winters, not us. Our winters are bright with new fallen snow. All of us watch the snow fall in the glow of the street lights or yard light.  We know what fresh is, not fresh as in produce, but fresh as in standing at the freezing  door and letting your sluggish dog out. Fresh as in walking to work and tracking each breath. Fresh as in shovelling for an hour and having ice form on your hair (or beard for Alex). This time of year is such a hopeful one. We are excited to bring joy to others. We bought the perfect cheap gift for River. It's a bath balm rainbow. He drops it in the water and there a rainbow that forms, how cool is that!! We bring joy through giving, it is just ...

Q: What was the dogs favorite type of homework to do?  A: A lab report In the staff survey only 75% of people say they are recognized for what they do. Those are sad numbers.  What exactly is it that you do: You make the quiet kid talk. You made a hard concept seem easy. You solve problems with students. You become a CSI agent tracking kids down.  You let a student know that they have skills they never knew they had. You give hope to those who had none. You are the first person that kid has talked to today. You recognize when your collegues need help, you just know. You give trouble when you need to. You are calm and cool. You are open minded. You don't laugh out loud when you see wonky things, you wait to laugh.  You give our courses integrity. You love being an educator, it shows.  You seek out the ones who want to hide under a rock.  You are patient and wait for kids. You matter, you are kind, you are smart, you are important to us.  We notice what ...