Submitted by Mr. Stephen Waigand,
Principal, Rock Port Elementary
Spring weather is in sight and the students are ready to get back outside! The recent sunny weather mixed with some precipitation will have the countryside looking green in no time. We just finished up the third quarter and held parent-teacher conferences. Thank you to all the parents and guardians taking the time to come in and visit with classroom teachers.
Our Energy Bus principle for this month is “Transform Negativity.” Transforming negativity is turning challenges into opportunities, complaints into solutions, and negative energy into positive achievement. We are nearing the one year mark of the first round of school closure announcements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time we did not realize it would be the last day our students would fill the classrooms and hallways for the 2019-20 school year.
The challenges presented by the pandemic have been unprecedented. We all have been affected by the pandemic, some in more personal ways than others. What we have also seen from our community is an unprecedented response. Our Community Hospital-Fairfax and Atchison County Health Department led the way in educating our county residents on the pandemic, and as of this week Atchison County was second in the state in percentage of residents vaccinated. There was a renewed focus on spending more time with loved ones as well as shopping and supporting local businesses.
From a school standpoint, with the exception of a few days in November, we have been in-person for the majority of the 2020-21 school year. We are thankful for the opportunity to see students enter our doors each day. It has been a team effort. Parents and guardians have taken extra precautions to keep their child at home when not feeling well. There has been additional emphasis on proper handwashing and cleaning and sanitizing commonly used areas. As a result, our cold and flu numbers at school have been nearly non-existent.
The landscape of education has certainly changed over the past year. It has pushed us to learn and teach in new ways, be even more flexible, and maybe most importantly cherish the simple things in our professional and personal lives. I am proud of the efforts of our teachers and staff, thankful for the wonderful family support, and in awe of the resiliency of our students.
In a recent staff meeting we discussed finishing the year strong, and we intend to do just that. If last year is any lesson, tomorrow is not guaranteed. We need to be positive in the present. Stay connected with daily classroom events and school updates on Twitter @RPBluejays and through our Elementary Blue Jay Bulletin for Parents as we finish this year strong.
As always we strive to . . .
Love all our passengers
Serve their academic needs
Care for the whole child
Every student, every day
