I hope this email finds you and your family healthy and weathering this unpredictable storm as best you can. As a father of two middle school girls, I am acutely aware of how difficult the present situation is, and it is likely to remain this way for some time. As I stated previously in a blog post, make the best of this difficult situation and come out the other side a better, more resilient, and more grateful person.
As we await a decision on returning to school, the collective wisdom of health experts makes a return seem less likely with each passing day. As noted in my previous blog, there is little I can do or say to assuage the sense of loss students are feeling. I offer little in relieving this well-grounded sense of loss other than words of sincere sympathy. Grieve the loss, but do not despair, this will pass, and you have a lifetime of memories awaiting. Although sobering, it might offer some remnants of solace knowing that teenagers around the entire globe are in the same boat.
We have waited as long as we could before making decisions on traditional senior events, but the time has come to provide information on cancelations. This is likely not a surprise to you, but the finality of the decisions listed below move this from the theoretical to the reality. Before I notify you about decisions related to upcoming events, I wanted to provide some words of encouragement.
Yesterday I shared with staff some words of wisdom to digest from the Head of Cyber Security for the United States Air Force. I have taken the liberty of adapting for students her poignant remarks in the hopes of providing some perspective.
Words of wisdom from Lt Gen O’Brien
Head of cyber in the Air Force
1. You are not “Working From Home,” you are “At your home, during a crisis, trying to work.”
2. Your personal physical, mental, and emotional health is far more important than anything else right now.
3. You should not try to compensate for lost productivity by working longer hours.
4. You will be kind to yourself and not judge how you are coping based on how you see others coping.
5. You will be kind to others and not judge how they are coping based on how you are coping.
6. Your team’s success will not be measured the same way it was when things were normal.
My Adaptation for Students
1. You are not “Schooling from Home,” you are “At your home, during a crisis, trying to do school.”
2. Your personal physical, mental, and emotional health is far more important than anything else right now.
3. You should not try to compensate for lost productivity by working longer hours.
4. You will be kind to yourself and not judge how you are coping based on how you see others coping.
5. You will be kind to others and not judge how they are coping based on how you are coping.
6. Your success will not be measured the same way it was when things were normal.
Information on Upcoming Events
1) If we are allowed to return, we will not have Q5 this school year.
2) If we are allowed to return, we will not have traditional finals.
3) The prom scheduled for 16 May is canceled. Although I cannot make a promise, we are open to the idea of a scaled-down version held at the high school or some other local facility if, and it is a big if, health officials, town officials, and all school officials feel it can be done safely.
4) Senior week activities are canceled at this time.
5) We in the process of planning another student/staff game of Kahoot, and we plan to add other activities, including, but not limited to, bingo.
Due your best to remain positive, and, most importantly, listen to the health professionals and take care of yourself and your loved ones.
I will close with some good news. There are many examples of our community doing amazing things to support those in need. None better than Fuel the Fight. Thanks to the individuals who made this possible.
Fuel the Fight
“Fuel the Fight - Concord” which is hosted on gofundme launched to raise money that will be donated to local restaurants, which will make meals for the medical staff at Emerson Hospital.
Concord reached its goal of $40,000 with many, many CCHS and younger Concord kids and families donating everything from $5 to $1,000. Eighteen local restaurants signed on, and 75 meals are being delivered every day to all departments thanks to the effort, which will continue throughout the spring.
The uplifting story was featured in the Concord Journal.
Fueling the fight: Concord fundraiser feeds Emerson Hospital workers, supports restaurants during COVID-19 pandemic
Our restaurants need all of our continued support, as do the brave workers on the front lines at Emerson. Well done, all.
Warmly,
Michael J. Mastrullo
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