Thursday, November 12th, 2020, Volume 15 Issue 67
Principal Katie May
I hope everyone was able to have time for a little extra rest and reflection yesterday, while school was closed in recognition of Veteran’s Day. I know the elections last week had many people experiencing a bit more anxiety – I heard more than one person say that they didn’t realize they were holding their breath until they felt more able to breathe this week. As the daughter – and daughter-in-law – of career military men, Veteran’s Day makes me feel grateful for the service of the men and women in our Armed Forces, and all they do to keep our country safe and free.
I guess November is a good time for reflection in general. It is a month for gratitude. I recently observed a lesson during the social-emotional block in Chloe Reed’s classroom. She introduced the idea of gratitude and students shared what they were grateful for. So many of them shared that they were grateful for their families. None of them shared that they were grateful for virtual learning. This is not a huge surprise. Any novelty that was associated with students having their own device and participating in class in their pajamas has now worn off. While we have found somewhat of a groove and a routine, this is not our ideal way to do school and given the choice, I think most of us would wish to be back in person.
Our current situation reminds me a of recent episode of “Unlocking Us,” the podcast from Brene Brown, a researcher and professor of social work. This episode was titled Brene on Day 2. When you think about the start of the school year, you might picture shiny shoes, new clothes, the excitement of making new friends and seeing old ones. Day 2 is what happens when the glitter has worn off and things are no longer shiny and new. It’s the place we find ourselves in now as we near the completion of our first trimester of the year. Day 2 is when people start to struggle a little. The end is not yet in sight, the days are getting shorter and darker.
As we head towards winter and the middle of our school year, we can expect that students may have a harder time – so may teachers, and parents (and principals!). None of us have been in this situation before, and none of us have the answers about how long this will go on. Normally, as we get towards the holidays and students are eager for a break, teachers pull out activities which are hands on or get kids up and moving. We won’t be able to do it the same way this year.
Normally, when we plan for parent teacher conferences, teachers have many work samples they can pull out and share with parents. We won’t have that same volume to pick from this year. Everything is different.
What we know about learning, though, is that it doesn’t happen without struggle. Learning happens when we are safe, but just a bit outside our comfort zone. Our students may struggle more with learning in a virtual environment, but with continued practice and encouragement, this will come more easily as they adjust to a new normal. I see evidence of this each time I am in our virtual classrooms. Students are becoming so much more proficient with technology, remembering to mute and unmute at the appropriate times. In a visit to Ms. Kierstead’s classroom, as she was teaching about pros and cons and how they fit in argumentative writing, one student dropped a poll into the chat so students could voice which side they stood on an issue. In Ms. Egelhoff’s class, when she was locked out of her virtual classroom, one of her students called me in because she felt like an adult should be there. These amazing children are navigating new terrain to figure out how to make this work. What an inspiration they are!
If you feel that your child – or you – are struggling unduly during this time, please reach out for help. We are all requiring a bit more support right now, and this season tends to be the time that everyone struggles most with depression. We are so fortunate this year to have Mr. Hawkins, our family support worker, as well as Ms. Matsui and Ms. Ssu – our school counseling team. They have been providing support to many families, they have access to resources, and they are happy to help. If you have the bandwidth – you can reach out to those around you to provide a little extra support. Our community has been, and will continue to be, one that takes care of each other.
Starting this week, we have a new feature in our newsletter called TM Math Minds. Each week, our Math Interventionist, Donna Duarte, will be posting a picture, a pattern, or a word problem. The idea is to just use the prompt to have a conversation with your child about math. No stress – not necessarily even a correct answer. It’s just an opportunity to have your child start to notice math in the world and for you to engage in conversation about it. Some of the prompts may be geared toward younger children, some for older and some may be accessible to students across grade levels. Have fun with this!
Calendar
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NOVEMBER 21st, 23rd/24th
Fall Parent Conferences
8:00am - 3:30pm
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NOVEMBER 16th - 29th
Scholastic Book Fair
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NOVEMBER 25th - 27th
Thanksgiving Break
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Volunteer
Opportunities
Volunteering for our school definitely looks different this year! Please let us know if you would like to help by emailing our substitute admin secretary Cherese Williams at cnwilliams@seattleschools.org. Here are a few ways we could really use parent support:
Social Supervision – Even though we cannot have students together in person, we know that our students really value time to interact with other students outside the regular classroom setting. Consider hosting a lunch time hangout with a small group of students to give them an informal place to talk to others. In a virtual setting, we must have at least 2 adults together with our students for everyone’s safety.
Tech support – Are you tech savvy? Can you be on call to help troubleshoot tech problems for parents helping their children for one or more hours per week at a set time? If so, let us know your availability.
Deliveries – Some of our families find it difficult to come to school to pick up supplies and books that teachers are trying to get to them. If you are willing to help deliver these materials to our families’ porches, please let us know. As little as 1 hour per week will really help us out!
Thurgood Marshall Thanksgiving Meal-in-a-Bag Program
Thanksgiving is right around the corner! In this challenging year, our community’s needs are greater than ever. I know many of us are looking for ways to help each other out -- here is a great opportunity.
At Thurgood Marshall, we have an annual tradition of sharing the spirit and tradition of Thanksgiving by bringing families together through shared food. Through your generous donations, we will provide a Thanksgiving Meal-in-a-Bag to each Thurgood Marshall family in need.
DONORS: Prepare a Thanksgiving Meal-in-a-Bag with the following items in a doubled paper grocery bag (or reusable bag):
● $20 gift card to QFC or Safeway
● 2 cans of green beans
● 1 bag or box of cubed bread stuffing
● 1 box of instant mashed potatoes
● 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
● 1 can of cranberry sauce
● 1 pound of yams or sweet potatoes
● 1 shelf-stable pie crust (graham cracker or boxed dry mix)
● 1 can of pumpkin puree
● 1 can of evaporated milk
Please email Jen Gotanda at jgotanda@gmail.com to confirm you will be participating, then deliver your bag to school between November 9 - 17. The office is open 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM. Just ring the front door
buzzer and someone will come out to get it. Thank you for your generosity!
RECIPIENTS: The Meal-in-a-Bags with the above supplies will be available for pickup at Thurgood Marshall on Friday Nov. 20, Monday Nov. 23, or Tuesday Nov. 24 between 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM.
If those times don’t work, please call the office to arrange another pickup time. To receive a bag, please email Trina Wright at trinabates@hotmail.com with the following information:
Student’s first and last name
Teacher
Email
Phone #
Any questions? Email Jen Gotanda (jgotanda@gmail.com) or Trina Wright (trinabates@hotmail.com).
The book fair starts in 4 days!
You’re invited to shop our Scholastic Book Fair online from November 16- November 29! All purchases benefit our school and connect kids with new books, favorite characters, complete series, and more.
You’ll love the NEW option to shop for Book Fair exclusives directly from the interactive booklist and enjoy these special online shopping features:
Over 6,000 items, including new releases, best sellers, and value packs
All orders ship direct to home
FREE shipping on book-only orders over $25*
All purchases support our school and earn 25% in rewards
Visit our Book Fair Homepage and click “Shop Now” to get started on Monday, November 16:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/thurgoodmarshallelementary
Happy reading!
*Free standard shipping is available on book-only orders of $25 or more, after all discounts are applied. Free standard shipping (books) must be selected during checkout. Orders containing products other than books are not eligible for this shipping promotion.
FTME Autumn Challenge This school year is looking very different than years past but the Friends of Thurgood Marshall (FTME) are still supporting our children in every way they can. Our Autumn Challenge is beginning. Our annual goal is $61,000 this year. It is critical that FTME raises enough to fulfill our budget to continue to fund our librarian, remote learning supplies, classroom grants, enrichment activities, and so much more. This year is very different than years past, but the needs of our community continue. Our staff and community are putting in an amazing effort to meet the challenges of this year but this year, more than ever, we need your help. FTME will spend $150 per student this year. Every donation, of any amount, will help our students. You will have a direct and positive impact on programs and resources that help all our children have the best possible school experience. At Thurgood Marshall Elementary, there are no auctions or fundraising sales. Instead you will hear from us several times over the year, asking you for a gift. You can give anytime online at www.tmlink.org. Don’t forget to pay for remote learning/classroom supplies (pay what and if you can!) Link here. Give today by: - Writing a check payable to Friends of Thurgood Marshall and mailing it to the school. - Donating by credit card - link here. Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions, please contact us at giving@tmlink.org. Thank you for considering a donation to the Thurgood Marshall Annual Giving Fund.
