Coronavirus Message: March 19, 2020Dear Community Members,
I want to take a moment to say that I have been hearing such amazing stories these past few days of families, students, and teachers demonstrating emotional resilience in the face of adversity. This global pandemic has caused all of us to reflect on the uncertainties of life, appreciate just a little bit more our daily routines and consider what we can do now, today and each day moving forward, to maximize opportunities for family togetherness, time outdoors, and other meaningful pursuits.
Teachers have been asked to teach in ways they have never taught before. I am aware of the courage so many teachers in our district have demonstrated over the past week, learning new technology to communicate daily with their students and devising out-of-the-box ways to create joy and calm among students virtually. Our remote learning program (located on our Home-School Connection page) kicked off officially yesterday. It has been extraordinary to witness the innovation and speed in which our educators have collaborated to tackle these unprecedented circumstances. That said, further testing our resilience, we have become aware that the massive world-wide demand for sharing audio and videos has resulted in a "Google bottleneck." Specifically, there is a delay between teachers uploading materials and those materials being visible and accessible on the receiving end. Teachers are posting materials every day; however, the timing of when information is available to students may vary based on circumstances that are out of our control. I ask that everybody remain patient and understanding.
I conclude my outreach with you today by sharing a piece from the Washington Post you may find interesting if you haven't yet seen: A psychologist's science-based tips for emotional resilience during the coronavirus crisis. "With care and planning, we, too, can stay psychologically strong during the pandemic and perhaps even grow from this transformative experience."
Stay safe, and stay connected. We are here to help in any way that we can.
Regards,
Dr. Robert I. Shaps © 2016 School Name |