What Truly Matters

Part of me wishes I had written this blog post a week ago, after Governor Whitmer’s announcement that school would not resume for the 2019-2020 school year. 

Truth be told, I was hoping/waiting to hear from Admin/Superintendent Maleyko/Michigan Department of Education about what the next steps were for remote learning… but alas, we are still waiting to hear. 

There are nine weeks remaining in the school year.  We have already gone through three weeks of remote learning.  Mathematically speaking, that’s a quarter of the way through our state-mandated school-time together. 

I have not changed my mind about whether or not the work should count.  My official statement is as follows:  I encourage each student who is able (emotionally, mentally, physically, technologically, etc.) to do so, to complete the enrichment exercises. 

And I hold that position, while at the same time, strongly agreeing with the sentiments expressed in this post:

We must think about equity in our expectations. pic.twitter.com/02ZakWFwLK

— HighFive (@HighFiveK12) April 5, 2020

As I shared with a parent last week, I am aware that many students are unable to complete the enrichment activities for a variety of reasons – and I am compassionate and understanding of that. 

I don’t know about you, but I have really been struggling these past four weeks. R.O. Kwan’s  New York Times op-ed entitled “Trouble Focusing? Not Sleeping?  You May Be Grieving” helps explain why. The whole opinion piece is full of insight into exactly what many of us are going through. 

So – in no particular order – here is an (incomplete) list of school-related things I am grieving:

1. Saying goodbye to seniors. 
   1. Superintendent Honors’ Night
   2. Prom 
   3. Graduation 
   4. Senior Parties 
2. Seeing all my students
   1. Former (11th & 12th graders)
   2. Current (10th graders)
   3. Students who were not my actual students
   4. Past (graduated) 
3. Blackout Poetry after To Kill a Mockingbird  
4. Sharing Favorite Literature 
   1. Night by Elie Wiesel 
   2. Hamlet by William Shakespeare 
   3. The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall
5. Poetry Projects 
   1. Adaptation of The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams 
   2. Adaptation of This is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams 
   3. Adaptation of Where I’m From by George Ella Lyon 
6. End-of-Year Reflection 
7. Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony
8. ASAP: Film Studies 
9. Supporting students at their events 
   1. Mama Mia musical
   2. Softball/Baseball Games
   3. Track
   4. Tennis
10. The Last Day of School 

With all that being said, time keeps moving forward.  As sad as I am about grieving the things we will all miss due to this pandemic, there are just two things which truly matter

who you are as a person 

and 

how you engage the world

My advice for all of us going through this pandemic is to view life through the lens of what truly matters.  If you are proud of your comportment in both those areas, then, despite everything, you are on the right track. 

(HUGS) 

Thanks for reading. 

Mx. Sabbagh