Dear Colleagues,
I hope all is well. I know from our gatherings this week, each of you is extraordinarily busy and just when you think you have overcome your last obstacle - four more crop up. Hang in there-I think when you start interacting with students again, you will feel that excitement and exhilaration we each feel with the start of the school year.
Please note that Ring Central Gatherings will start back up the week of September 21st. An email with the links will be sent out Friday, 9/11 and 9/18. Here are the new days and times.
Mondays at 4:00 PM will be our All Level Gatherings; Tuesdays will be our High School at 3:00 PM and PK-6 at 4:00 PM. Thursdays will be our Middle Level at 3:00 PM and Assistant Principals at 4:00 PM. I am hoping that these new afternoon times will allow more of you to hop on to share, laugh and vent.
I have heard from some of you that the videos and articles have helped out with professional development. To that end I have included 5 highly acclaimed Ted Talks to watch in this time of virtual learning and several articles. There is a Google article with G suite updates. There is a great article on keeping students motivated during virtual learning. there is a science to motivation! A wonderful article from a Black principal in an almost white school- he shares his thoughts and experiences. An article calling to keep windows open as long as you can! An article on teachers nurturing curiosity in children and finally there is a great link to a website called Pride and Less Prejudice, it has some great resources for facilitating lessons and discussions.
I would like to call your attention to an initiative from the NASSP who is sponsoring a competition among middle schools and high schools to get people to register to vote! Click here for more information and how to sign up your schools. The MSAA strongly supports participation by our members through the activism of their students and school organizations. Please provide your students this valuable experience as they become the next generation of voters. Democracy Powered by Youth is the perfect vehicle to give your students a voice in their future.
On a final note many of you know Art Dulong former Assistant Executive Director at MSAA, (who ran our very successful Summer Institute for years) well here is a fabulous story on his distinguished Track and Field career. I am sure we can all use a “feel good” story about now. However, many of you may not know his storied past in the realm of high school track and cross country. Click on this link Fifty years later, Art Dulong’s Holy Cross legend still worthy of the chase for an uplifting piece on one of the states finest high school and college athletes who is mentioned in the same breath as Babe Ruth, Satchel Paige, and Ted Williams!
On behalf of MSAA and Executive Director, Bill Gaine: Stay safe, stay strong and take time for yourself.
Warm Regards,
Beth
Beth Wittcoff
MSAA Assistant Executive Director
MSAA Matters Newsletter
Middle Level and Elementary Committee Liaison
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