April 30th, 2021!

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As we wrap up this month, I want to say, I hear you, I appreciate you, and I gotchu.  It's been quite a whirlwind of a school year, and heck, we can now say to our grandchildren, or friend's grandchildren- I LIVED THROUGH a PANDEMIC!  I wonder if they'll be looking at pics of us 50 years from now, saying, man, they had it tough, but they did it!  And we did.  As we are starting to see things opening up, and guidelines eased, the relief and joy is palpable.  I know you're smiling under that mask... knowing that it's going to be OK, and we made it through this 2020-21 school year, by leaning on each other, laughing and crying, living and learning.  
    And yes, this, too shall pass- the school year with 5 first days will have only 2 last days- one for students and one for teachers.. more to come on that from the district soon.  I want to end this thought bubble by simply saying thank you.  I know how hard it is to be a teacher.  And our department has done an amazing job this year making it through
Masked up- you:
  • Taught Chorus!
  • Taught how to play a TRUMPET!
  • Taught how to sculpt to kids in front of you AND online!
  • Taught how to compose using Quaver!
  • Got kids to learn how to play the DRUMS using cool PERCUSSION MATS!
  • Rearranged your CLASSROOMS to be 6 ft and then 3 ft apart!
  • Figured out how to organize SUPPLIES in an ART ROOM!
  • Sanitized Instruments!
  • Taught kids how to tune a string instrument.  REMOTELY!!!!!! 
  • Taught DRAWING and PAINTING using Screencastify!  Or LIVE DEMO online!
  • Taught Guitar, Uke or Music TECH to kids who are not even in the BUILDING!!!
I mean, think about this list.  If I had told you in 2018, we are going to be doing this, you'd be like NO WAY, Jose.  And you did it.  I am sure you learned a ton, of how to use technology, fun ways to keep kids engaged, and I bet many of those skills will stay with you next year, when we are out of the COVID wilderness.  Just know that you are loved and appreciated, and that we would be lost without the support within this team of 48. 

In The News This Week:
  • Miranda Pellegrino has been working with the We HeART Fall River team to get art work from our FRPS students- please, please, pretty please consider sending her some stuff!  You can put it in inter office mail to RPA.
  • Middle Schools are hitting scheduling for next year soon- I have asked music teachers to submit names of kids who they want to see in rising grades for Band, Orch and Chorus.  Let the 2021/22 School Year BEGIN hahhah!
  • I met with the Central Office Teaching and Learning Team Wednesday and we discussed the PD days for teachers at the end of the year- these are Friday, June 18th and Monday, June 21.  All teachers will have a 4 hour window for PD on the Friday.  I will offer a PD called "Back on Track- Reintroducing Expositions and Performances".  It will be more of an open forum than a PD.  I'll do it on Google Meet.  More details to come on that, but wanted to get it out there.  Durfee Teachers will probably be packing up classrooms on the last two days, so their availability may not allow for PD time.  
  • The TENT is IN!  We purchased a huge white heavy duty tent for the Performing Arts Department using COVID funds!  It will be set up next week outside of the auditorium for Performing Arts groups to use.  
If there is any silver lining from this year, it's that we did acquire a BUNCH of stuff- under the umbrella of COVID needs.  Thank you to Stacy Gehan from Bookkeeping, and her team for always getting our requisitions in and over to the vendors lickety split!

Some Important Dates:
  • Teacher Appreciation Week- May 3-7
  • MCAS at Durfee: 5/4 and 5, and 5/11 and 12
  • Last day of school for SENIORS- 5/28
  • Memorial Day- No School- 5/31
  • Durfee Graduation- 6/4
  • Last day of school for STUDENTS: 6/17
  • Last day of school for TEACHERS: 6/21
  • Last day of school for ADMIN: 6/24

Thank you,
Jackie


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