June 12, 2020

We can't thank you ALL enough for being amazing and awesome during these WACKY times. We know it's been a complete whirlwind since February... We have learned so much this school year and the only thing we can say to sum it up: "EXPECT the UNEXPECTED."

Some of us (not mentioning names) who have a serious case of OCD, have learned that there are only so many things we can change and only so much we can do to plan ahead. We are SO appreciative of those that have collaborated with one another, supported one another, reached out to one another to help with anything from tech issues to toilet paper shortages! We COULD NOT have done this without you right besides us, taking care of our students!

Unfortunately we have more unknowns to come in the FALL but we are CERTAIN that we will be FINNNNNNNNNE (I even got a shirt to prove it!) ! We will keep you and our families updated throughout the SUMMER.

We hope and pray that you take some serious time relaxing and AWAY from the Computer!!

May 22, 2020

CURB DISTANCE LEARNING BURNOUT!!

Now that we are TWO MONTHS into distance learning (and we know, it's NOT what
any of us signed up for!), many of you probably have realized some of the challenges
that come from it. None of us sit this much during the day. None of us are used to
being in front of a computer this much. None of us are used to NOT having middle
school student interactions....What can we do to stop some of the burnout that many
may already be feeling? Here are some easy ideas:

*Remember you aren't available 24/7 to parents. It's okay to NOT be accessible
IMMEDIATELY. Respond within 24 hours and you are good =)

*Make a visible schedule for yourself (you know, to the best of your availability,
especially if you have young kids around. That may be a BIT more challenging!!)

*Set a timer to MOVE- squats, leg lifts, walk around the house, roll your neck, stretch.

*Try to make a standing desk for at least part of the day. Put your computer on a
box in your kitchen to get the blood flowing.

*Check out our own GVMS Virtual Wellness Center website HERE for some relaxation!

REMINDERS!!

*Starting Friday, May 15: Teachers start clean out in stages

*Starting, Tuesday, May 26: Students start pick up/drop off of items

*June 1- ALL PTC receipts are due for any classroom purchases so don't wait!

May 1, 2020

I watched this SIMPLE video (seriously, it's 2:22. Super easy) about 6 simple tips
to keep kids engaged in distance learning after one of our daily morning coffee
chats (which I LOVE LOVE LOVE!) and wanted to share.

Now some of it is SUPER cheesy but I did get s few takeaways:

1- Be authentic! Have you SEEN the daily announcements? We make mistakes, we
laugh,we know we don't know EVERYTHING about tech and we can freely admit it!!

2- Have one central "hub" for info (Google Classroom, which you all have NAILED!) and
feel free to send words of praise, positive vibes, encouraging messages, etc! Virtual
Good News Referrals CAN be done via Google Classroom!

3- I am sure you all have reviewed it, so stick to your norms. No, middle schoolers
shouldn't be posting TikToks in Google Classroom. No, there should not be rap jams
played in the background when they are meeting with you =) Yes, everyone needs to be
fully clothed =)

4- Relationship building activities are FUN! Try them with your classes! Pictionary
anyone??

5- Set online office hours. Well. You nailed that too, so yay!

6- Create polls, Kahoots, Meet Nows, etc to keep them focused. Prizes can be mailed!

FROM GVMS PTC (AGAIN! and last time!) :

Teacher classroom budgets (the $200 (returning) or $400 (new) per teacher):

Teachers can continue to spend their remaining funds through June 1, 2020
(we are unable to exceed the original amount per teacher).  If they feel that upgrades
to online programs, headsets, microphones, etc are beneficial to the new distance learning
situation, and they have the funds remaining in their account, we are fully supportive. 
If they can please send copies of their expenses with descriptions to abbypreston@gmail.com 
OR they can email to ask for the mailing address, if they need to mail something. 
We'll mail out reimbursement checks. Any funds not spent out of these budgets after
June 1st will not carry over into the next school year as it is the close of PTC's fiscal year!

Program specific funds:

The funds for these specific departments can continue to be spent, as long as receipts are emailed or mailed to me.  These funds will carry over to the 2020-2021 school year.  The departments we track funds for are: Band/Music, BSU, Honor Society, Science, Leadership, Art, After school Sports, and College & Career Club.  If possible, please have receipts submitted by June 1st.

April 24, 2020

Now that we are a full month into being away from our campus and working from home,

I read an article that helped me with the words that I was searching for =). I wanted to

reassure you all and support in ANY way that I could. Take a look at the article HERE, and

here are a few points about Distance Teaching and our new "normal"that I loved

to read about:

*Expect trial.... and plenty of error (with grading, TECHNOLOGY, teaching from afar...)

*Celebrate the extraordinary (change your baseline and realize that you cannot tackle

ALLof the standards as you would in a normal school year)

*REDUCE your work load for you and your students (we've said it already and will say

it again!)

*No one is an island (SHARE SHARE SHARE...ideas, praise, feedback, new techniques

you are trying with distance learning- SHARE!)

*You think you can't- until you can....Bet you thought you couldn't do this about two

months ago and LOOK AT YOU GO!

*Pay attention to the "gap"...the stress of sketchy Internet, siblings at home, parents

in essential jobs, etc are all things that are stressing our students out.

ANDDDDDD keeping thatin mind, pay attention to your "gap": you are now homeschooling

your own kids, you have sketchy Internet, your significant other is an essential worker,

you have a sick family member, etc, etc. TAKE CARE OF YOU TOO!! Get outside, take a

walk, do yoga, go for a run, do whatever you need to in order to take care of YOU!

FROM GVMS PTC (AGAIN!):

Teacher classroom budgets (the $200 (returning) or $400 (new) per teacher):

Teachers can continue to spend their remaining funds through June 1, 2020
(we are unable to exceed the original amount per teacher).  If they feel that upgrades
to online programs, headsets, microphones, etc are beneficial to the new distance learning
situation, and they have the funds remaining in their account, we are fully supportive. 
If they can please send copies of their expenses with descriptions to abbypreston@gmail.com 
OR they can email to ask for the mailing address, if they need to mail something. 
We'll mail out reimbursement checks. Any funds not spent out of these budgets after
June 1st will not carry over into the next school year as it is the close of PTC's fiscal year!

Program specific funds:

The funds for these specific departments can continue to be spent, as long as receipts are emailed or mailed to me.  These funds will carry over to the 2020-2021 school year.  The departments we track funds for are: Band/Music, BSU, Honor Society, Science, Leadership, Art, After school Sports, and College & Career Club.  If possible, please have receipts submitted by June 1st.

April 3, 2020

I thought this was SUPER fitting considering our kids are just so happy to see and hear you all!  THANK YOU for all you are doing: meeting with kids, answering their questions, calming their fears, calming their parents's fears =)

FROM GVMS PTC:

Teacher classroom budgets (the $200 (returning) or $400 (new) per teacher):

Teachers can continue to spend their remaining funds through June 1, 2020 (we are unable to exceed the original amount per teacher).  If they feel that upgrades to online programs, headsets, microphones, etc are beneficial to the new distance learning situation, and they have the funds remaining in their account, we are fully supportive.  If they can please send copies of their expenses with descriptions to abbypreston@gmail.com OR they can email to ask for the mailing address, if they need to mail something.  We'll mail out reimbursement checks. Any funds not spent out of these budgets after June 1st will not carry over into the next school year as it is the close of PTC's fiscal year!

Program specific funds:

The funds for these specific departments can continue to be spent, as long as receipts are emailed or mailed to me.  These funds will carry over to the 2020-2021 school year.  The departments we track funds for are: Band/Music, BSU, Honor Society, Science, Leadership, Art, After school Sports, and College & Career Club.  If possible, please have receipts submitted by June 1st.