4/9
Now an occasional blog rather than daily.
The past week has had the same level of activity as previous weeks. Lots of small tech support issues and regular online meetings to keep planning and community going. Some of the kids who had not begun the home project with us have come online, but others have faded. No specific pattern. We know families are in crisis in parts of the Mahoney community and that puts undo pressure on everyone there including or maybe especially young people. Patty and Ben and Carrie and Mitch are reaching out to parents daily. Andy Wallace is coordinating efforts to ensure that everyone has wifi connectivity even if they have had no Internet previously. And teachers are emailing and calling homes. These are busy days.
The biggest news is last night’s announcement from Ken Kunin that we won’t be going back to school this year. The Commissioner of Education had recommended schools plan on not returning, and it became official soon afterward that most schools in the state will go that route. It appears that April vacation will remain on the schedule as planned. How this all will affect end dates for the year and things like graduation is yet to be announced.
Snow is in the forecast for today. It’s a rather gray Thursday morning. I’m thinking of the email from one of our 6th graders yesterday who had heard the news that we would not be returning to Mahoney this spring. She said how sad it made her since this had been the best year of her life. I’m glad she could express it and recognize the value in all the day-to-day things that go into growing through a year of life in school. This will live in memory for her life, but the sadness will fade. We will keep making it the best year.
24 days down.
spk
><>
Now an occasional blog rather than daily.
The past week has had the same level of activity as previous weeks. Lots of small tech support issues and regular online meetings to keep planning and community going. Some of the kids who had not begun the home project with us have come online, but others have faded. No specific pattern. We know families are in crisis in parts of the Mahoney community and that puts undo pressure on everyone there including or maybe especially young people. Patty and Ben and Carrie and Mitch are reaching out to parents daily. Andy Wallace is coordinating efforts to ensure that everyone has wifi connectivity even if they have had no Internet previously. And teachers are emailing and calling homes. These are busy days.
The biggest news is last night’s announcement from Ken Kunin that we won’t be going back to school this year. The Commissioner of Education had recommended schools plan on not returning, and it became official soon afterward that most schools in the state will go that route. It appears that April vacation will remain on the schedule as planned. How this all will affect end dates for the year and things like graduation is yet to be announced.
Snow is in the forecast for today. It’s a rather gray Thursday morning. I’m thinking of the email from one of our 6th graders yesterday who had heard the news that we would not be returning to Mahoney this spring. She said how sad it made her since this had been the best year of her life. I’m glad she could express it and recognize the value in all the day-to-day things that go into growing through a year of life in school. This will live in memory for her life, but the sadness will fade. We will keep making it the best year.
24 days down.
spk
><>