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Happy New Year!!!

 Well, if you are like our school district, you once again are finding yourselves in the struggles of managing students in person, hybrid, and distance learning.  Our elementary school is all in person as of now.  They have had very few cases, and the ones they have had have included quarantining, or staff members either testing positive of being exposed to someone who was positive for Covid.  At the high school, we have continued with Hybrid learning, bringing half the students in each day.  This has saved us from having to quarantine students because of exposure, as classes are able to keep the six feet apart rule.  I don't see us changing anytime in the near future.  I know initially the hope was to be back full in person, but if we did that, they would be contact tracing daily, which would only send more kids back home to quarantine, so for now this is our answer.

Our staff members are AMAZING!  The things that they are doing, and the ways that they are having to teach is something I will never witness again.  They are full time teaching, full time Zooming, full time distance here at the high school - it's unreal!  The stress, pressures, anxiety levels, I could go on and on.  Our elementary staff is making videos every Friday for our distance learning teachers have the materials and things they need to help the full time distance students.  To see this year come to an end will be so good for so many.  However, in the meantime,  they sure are stellar individuals doing everything they can to help students learn and be successful. 

Governor Waltz also opened up athletics again for us in Minnesota, and that is needed!!  I know individuals have questioned why we can have sports, but not all in person school.  What they are FORGETTING about is the controlled environment in which sports can take place.  What they aren't thinking about is that mere number of students participating vs the number of students that would be back in our building if we went full time.  What they are forgetting about is the mental state of our students, and the need for this connection.  Again, I could go on FOREVER about this one.  I am just happy that kids will get an opportunity again to play - whether it's sports, theater, band/choir, etc.. something for them, and in a safe way!  Hopefully more and more things will be able to happen for all of our kids!

So we will continue on.  We will be better at our jobs!  We will be better people!  We will have more empathy and compassion.  We will make it through.  Because that's what we do.  We adjust, adapt, and JUST DO!

Happy New Year and Blessings to you all,

Mrs. I:)

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