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Health & Fitness

These Are Just A Few Of My Favorite Things

This was the week of some of my favorite things.  I mentioned in the last blog that this is Board Appreciation Week (I will refer to it as BAW, just for simplicity sake).  Truthfully, I am not quite sure if this is a national thing or a New York thing…Cuomo did make some sort of declaration of some sort…all I know is that I did a lot of all my favorite things that I do as a Board Member because of it because we had invites to go into the schools and be with the kids.

I will back up for a second and mention that my week started off with a garden call which you already know is a favorite of mine and it is how I will start off this week again.  Come join the great community of adults and students at 11AM at the Community Garden…things are winding down but there is still plenty to do.  And as they say, many hands make light work!

On Monday, as part of Board Appreciation Week, we were invited into the Virtual Enterprise class at the High School for their weekly meeting.  Virtual Enterprise is essentially a virtual company that the kids run and interact with other schools that also have VE.  The High School has had this program for quite a number of years but this particular company is new this year and they were talking about what their various departments are doing and what some of their frustrations are...a lot of real life stuff.  The students were all dressed professionally and did such a great job that I almost forgot I was in a class room!!!

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On Tuesday, although there was no school, the staff was still around for professional development so we were still able to have our monthly Policy Committee Meeting.  We got so much done once again and you will notice that another policy will be on the agenda at the Board Work Meeting, hopefully to be approved at the Regular Meeting.  As well, you can see on the District Website that there are four more policies actively under review.  Have I told you lately how much I love this committee and the work that we do?  Yup…definitely another favorite thing…

On Wednesday we were invited to see the 8:1:2 class at the High School, also as part of BAW.  It was so great to meet all of the students and get to know them.  We had our introductions and then fell into some easy conversation with one of the students.  As part of one of their lessons of the day they actually designated me the “Special Person of the Day” and they asked me about some of my favorite things…I could have listed all the things I am writing about this week but it was more basic getting to know you stuff such as what my favorite foods and activities are.  I learned about them and they learned about me…I can’t wait to visit again!

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Wednesday evening we had a Communications Committee meeting…plugging along there.  We discussed the special workshop we went to up in Rochester as part of the NYSSBA Conference and a whole bunch of other things.  We also talked about the grand rollout of using texting to communicate with parents and staff which happened about an hour before our meeting with great success!!!   We are working on the possibility of a Mobile App…welcome to the 21st century!  By the way, did you know that there is a District Facebook page???  Go join it…interesting times…interesting times…

After the Communications Committee the Legislative Committee met…even though there weren’t really any changes in our representation after the election we still need to meet with our legislators to advocate for education and our school district…it is good to have a plan…

On Thursday we were invited to go to the assembly at the Middle School for Veteran’s Day.  I went to this last year…and I just had to go again.  This is such an amazingly meaningful program.  Basically, one of the teachers whose Dad is a Veteran puts together this program because she feels that the students need to understand that Veteran’s Day is more than sales in the stores and just another day of no school.  A panel of five veterans from various parts of the military from various points in time spoke to the students about their experiences.  The kids had an opportunity to ask some questions and most of all had the opportunity to look a veteran in the eye and thank them for their service.  I am grateful for the opportunity to have been there and the opportunity to also do the same…on the way out, I also thanked one of the security guards that they had recognized in the assembly as being a veteran.  On Monday, be sure to think of the day as more than a day that the kids are off or a day that stores try to get you through the doors for sales…if you see someone in uniform…thank them.  And if you don’t see anyone that day, they had suggested visiting the veteran’s in the VA Home in Suffolk to show your appreciation and thanks.  I just noticed I may be going on and on about this.  Personal note…my Dad was also a veteran and my nephew is an Officer in the Navy…even with that…this assembly makes me think of Veteran’s Day in a whole new way…I am grateful to have been invited to the assembly…another thing for my list of favorite things.

On Friday, I spent the morning at Hewlett Elementary.  First I went to one of their Student Council Election assembly.  This was so great.  I thought I was running late but actually got there early.  The fourth and fifth graders had not yet arrived but the students running for President and Vice President were already there and waiting.  I flew into the auditorium…expressed my relief and when the kids asked who I was the teacher introduced me.  She made the connection that I am an elected official which is what they will be at their school if elected.  I loved the conversation that then took place.  They asked me if I had to make a speech when I was campaigning and about my term and term limits etc…WOW…lots of great questions.  And let me just say that after they gave their speeches I would have been hard pressed to decide who to vote for.  They were all so poised and articulate and bright…very impressive.

After the assembly we had an invite to go to a second grade classroom to see a BABES Social and Emotional Learning Lesson.  This particular lesson addressed peer pressure and being responsible for your own choices and actions.  I loved being there and upon leaving the teacher gave an open invitation to stop in anytime!  Unfortunately, this is the deal.  When a Board Member is elected they need to go for mandatory training and one of the first things they tell you is that you should never ever drop in on a classroom unannounced.  I have been given an open invitation numerous times but I will not do it.  Nope.  Not me.  And those teachers should be glad that I follow those Board Member rules because quite frankly…I would be in those classrooms every day because, yes, my friends…that is one of my favorite things. 

I wish I could have gotten to all of the classrooms and events we were invited to this past week…it is a good thing there are seven of us so that we can spread out.  We all can’t do everything and be everywhere  but one thing we all must do is read the packet for the Work Meeting next Wednesday…mentioning it now so you can put it on your calendar…and so you know…I do happen to enjoy the reading and the Work Meeting but I am just so glad that our invitations extend into next week so I can continue with even more of my favorite things!!  Keep reading and follow me!




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