Lemonade...update! SB 4-10-2020
Disappointment is indeed a very difficult thing to navigate. If you haven’t yet seen this video created by a disappointed adventurer named Phillip Klein, you really need to check it out: Freeride Skiiing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HrIVWziJ0Y&feature=youtu.be)
Some truly amazing things are being created during this time period. Some out of necessity, some out of curiosity, some out of entertainment, and yes, some out of boardom. I was never allowed to use the word bored in my house growing up as my folks were quick to remind me that I had plenty of imagination....I can’t even spell it correctly ;-)
Since we know so many of our students are also creating some fantastic things at home, we have been talking about how we might create an opportunity to showcase our wonderful Stony Brook students during this physical distancing. We will share more information about that next week.
Mr. McElhinney shared some interesting thoughts with me this week that were shared with him…perhaps you have also seen this floating around in cyberspace (Unfortunately, I could not locate the name of the author):
Many people are concerned about students falling behind because of this. Yes, they may fall behind when it comes to classroom education...
But what if...
What if instead of falling “behind", this group of kids are ADVANCED because of this?
What if they have more empathy, they enjoy family connection, they can be more creative and entertain themselves, they love to read, they love to express themselves in writing.
What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own backyard and sitting near a window in the quiet.
What if they notice the birds and the dates the different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower?
What if this generation are the ones to learn to cook, organize their space, do their laundry, and keep a well run home?
What if they learn to stretch a dollar and to live with less? Economic education that is so lacking in the US.
What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home.
What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the everyday?
What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and educational professionals, librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, cashiers, custodians, logistics, and health care workers and their supporting staff.
What if among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in this life?
What if they are in reality, AHEAD?”
There will be bumps along this road, we will continue to reflect and assess what is working and what might not be working. It is also going to be very difficult in this environment to adjust things for the masses that might not work for the individual. Remember this is all flexible and fluid in nature. There are no grades attached to this time period; if not everything can be accomplished, that will be ok! We are looking for honest attempts to participate and engage in the learning and that is how credit for this overall period will be determined. It is not going to be determined quantitatively on a weekly basis but qualitatively looking at the overall attempt. Now that material is being posted through the Google Classrooms, the relationships and connections that support the social/emotional wellbeing still remain the most important thing for continued success. Once this is all over we will need to reassess where everyone is at again...every school around the world will have to do that.
Remote Learning Week 1 is coming to a close....carve out a weekend and enjoy it!
Take care of yourself,
Chris
Dr. Christopher Chew
Principal
Stony Brook School