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HU Team;
We are well into summer now and we hope you all are taking the time to rejuvenate and enjoy the amazing weather. We are sure you are aware that across the state and country - initial plans regarding “Return to Learn” are beginning to be solidified.
Harwood’s decision making and planning is also in full swing. The state’s guidelines, the safety and wellbeing of our community, the family and staff survey results and facility capacity have driven phase 1 of reopening at Step 2.
Last week Superintendent Nease released the decision to start the year with a hybrid model. She will be hosting a zoom meeting for all staff on Thursday, July 23rd from 2:30-4:30. At the end of this week you can expect more details regarding the model.
Our building based team will begin their micro-level planning Thursday 7/23. This work will be guided by:
Our building based team is intended to reflect many different perspectives within our community in order to ensure we are supporting the WHOLE child in our planning as well as the many different needs of our staff.
Our HU building based team includes:
Laurie Greenberg (HU admin
Meg McDonough (HU admin)
Duane Pierson (HUMS admin)
Rick Battistoni (HU Maintenance Director)
Amanda Badgley (HU Nurse)
Sally McCarthy (HUS School Counseling)
Michael Woods (HU Director of Student Services)
Brian Wagner (HU MS/HS STEM)
Kathryn Youngdahl-Stauss(HU English)
Jackie McCarty (HUMS English)
Jen Driemiller (Wellness)
Vicki Hummer (Sped)
Lynda Cummings (Student Staff)
Eric LaRose (Student Specialist)
Lisa Therrien (PBL coordinator)
Taggart Haslam (Systems Director)
Shannon Tremblay (HU Admin asst)
Please reach out with curiosities or needs. This is an evolving reality and our continued support of each other through it is essential. We will also continue weekly communication with the updates. We know information is important as you begin to plan for your fall classes.
In partnership,
Laurie, Meg and Duane
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 Curious? |
| 1. The HUUSD Racial equity task force is on hold at the moment, as the school board passed a motion at their last meeting in June to task a sub-committee of the Board to do work over the summer on a "request for proposal" regarding bringing in a third party to support TFAR. Thus have not confirmed membership, nor set any meeting dates or logistics for the Fall. We plan to regroup and forge ahead once we get approval from the school board, and you can expect an update from us shortly after school is back in session. 2. As shared in last week’s blog over the last 6 weeks there have been extension Racial Equity discussions and work by Harwood community members. The Racial Equity group would like to extend an invitation to all interested in participating - the next meeting on August 5th at 9 a.m. This week the following reading is offered - Teaching America’s Truth from the Washington Post. 3. Department heads are meeting with Meg, Laurie and Duane this Thursday - 7/23 to review the new budget process. |
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| Connected
1. As we move forward Shannon will be supporting us in managing our calendars and thus scheduling meetings.
2. Please look for another survey coming out from the district to assess your feelings about return to learn. A similar survey has also been sent to families.
3. We are eager to continue getting to know the Harwood staff and learning about the community. With the urgent reality of planning for our “Return to Learn” we are continually revisiting our priorities. With that in mind please continue to reach out and connect and know we are eager to make time even if it’s not immediately.
Hello HUUSD staff;
I hope you all enjoyed this past weekend! At least with all the uncertainty and isolation COVID has created we have been fortunate thus far to have banner Vermont summer weather! As you are likely aware, this Thursday, July 23rd from 2:30 - 4:30, I will be hosting our first all HUUSD Staff Zoom meeting with your Superintendent.
These meetings are strictly voluntary. I look forward to chatting with those of you that can make it. The format will be informal - just an opportunity to hear questions, concerns, ideas and the like. I will answer what I can. Kaiya will keep track of raised hands, manage the calling on people and will activate your mic, restating the question so all can hear it. Sign on information is below.
My goal from now until school starts is to not only provide regular written updates building on the specifics as they become known, but also to provide dialog and interactive opportunities for us to communicate through all Staff Zoom meetings.
Monday and Tuesday of this week our admin team is reviewing all the staff and parent survey results, information from other districts, the AOE guidance and the medical guidance we have to date. Thursday, I will be in a Zoom meeting with some of you and hopefully meeting with our HUEA Union Advisory Team Thursday or Friday. (we are having some difficulty finding a time that can work for everyone). Friday, I expect to publish our Return to Learn Model and our rationale to the community at large.
The week of July 27th we will send a very short survey to staff and parents giving everyone an opportunity to respond to our starting reopening model, with parents being asked whether they will send their student(s) to school so that we can get a closer count for classroom sizes. We hope that the HUUSD RtL planning and Building Based teams begin meeting the last week of July to also provide input. Our goal is to have a firm RtL Model to begin FY 21 in place by Wednesday, August 5th so that the remainder of August can be used to complete the small grain size planning necessary before our school year begins. By July 31, we should have an inservice schedule in place.
As always, feel free to email me along the way as we get to the reopening finish line. Be well and please take care of yourself.
Best regards,
Brigid
“The tests we face in life's journey are not to reveal our weaknesses but to help us discover our inner strengths. We can only know how strong we are when we strive and thrive beyond the challenges we face.”
― Kemi Sogunle
HUUSD Fac/Staff Meeting with Brigid
Jul 23, 2020 2:30 - 4:30
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
Passcode: g8wHJ4
Or Telephone:
877 853 5247 (Toll Free) or 888 788 0099 (Toll Free)
Webinar ID: 882 4105 6498
Passcode: 844623
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| Caring
1. As we look to the fall and “Return to Learn” we want to encourage all of you to, based on AOE guidelines, reach out your healthcare providers to assess your health risk and determine if they should avoid in-person contact in which physical distancing cannot be maintained.
2. Cheerleading Won’t Help Someone Fearful of Covid-19
In this New York Times article, Anna Goldfarb says that trying to cheer up people who have serious worries about the pandemic is well-intentioned but unproductive. Some examples:
- Everything is going to be okay.
- At least you didn’t lose your job.
- Think happy thoughts!
- Be grateful you can use this time to explore a new hobby.
- This won’t last forever, and you’re resourceful; you’ll come out on top.
Statements like these often make the other person feel “unheard, frustrated, unsupported, and alone,” says psychotherapist Nicolle Osequeda. Goldfarb summarizes advice from several experts on how to short-circuit this all-too-common tendency:
• Don’t minimize. Citing reassuring statistics or saying the vast majority of people make a complete recovery from the virus doesn’t help someone manage very real fears.
• Avoid problem-solving. Statements that begin, You just need to… or All you need to do is… come across as dismissing fears about finances, safety, and health. Similarly, it’s a good idea to avoid the word “should” – for example, You should just practice self-care.
• Don’t give unsolicited advice. “Most likely, people are just looking for an ear,” says clinician Ayanna Abrams. “They’re looking for a heart, somebody who can meet them in the experience and then they can better figure it out on their own.”
• Reflect, validate, and ask. “The antidote to dismissive positivity is just to really listen to what someone is experiencing,” says Abrams: mirror the emotion; affirm that it’s real; and show curiosity about how the person is doing:
- I can’t imagine how this must feel for you, and I’m here to listen.
- Ugh, that sounds really hard.
- Having to work full throttle amid all of this is really challenging.
- It is hard to not know what’s next.
- Tell me more about what’s going on.
- What aspect of the coronavirus worries you the most?
The important thing is for a fearful person to feel normal about being afraid – that their emotions are valid.
• If you mess up, you can have a do-over. Having slipped into dismissive positivity, it’s possible to try again – for example: “Hey, I noticed when we were talking earlier, it didn’t seem like you were connecting with what I was saying. I realize I slipped into cheerleader mode too quickly. Can we try again?”
• Ask directly what will be helpful. “Recruit them as an ally so you can face the issue together,” concludes Goldfarb.
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