This post is now a good three weeks into our new reality of remote learning for the Spring Semester 2020. On March 12, 2020 it was announced that everyone would be asked to leave the campus at the end of that week. The students were asked to take everything home if they could, or box up their rooms and leave everything well marked and identified in their rooms and leave. There was a week of extra spring break before our regularly scheduled break for everyone to deal with this reality as the news and the stay-at-home orders were changing and growing daily. This is an unprecedented time of uncertainty and chaos in most of our lives, and unfortunately, the news just keeps getting worse.
Video Link--click here.
Now that break has ended and MIDD students have just completed their first week of remote learning, I thought it was a good time for a Blog post. I have updates from most of our coaching staff, and will compile updates from the players moving forward, but wanted to share this fun video as well. (I've been having some technical difficulties, so if it doesn't play, it was posted on Instagram (@middvb a couple weeks ago.)
Now, for the coaches updates.
First, we'll start with our Faculty Affiliate, who gave us some great Mindfulness information, as always! She wrote:
"I also wanted to remind everyone that the Koru Mindfulness website is a nice resource that offers free guided meditations and videos that demonstrate helpful ways to use your breath for calming and renewal: https://student.korumindfulness.org/resources.html. During this very stressful time, these practices can be enormously grounding. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have questions regarding ways to use these practices to ease anxiety and regain focus. " THANK YOU, MELISSA!!
Here's what Brian sent me:
First, a link on why hand-washing works with soap and water, if you do it correctly!
...and then a fun art project from his daughter, where Brian wrote to us:
Here's what Jill had to say about her life now:
What's going on with me? My sons are
home from high school and college and we are all making new adjustments living
in close quarters.
We made a sign for Zach to put
on his bedroom door that says "College. Do not disturb". (poor guy)
My husband, sister and I are starting to pull away from the screens more
and play interactive games. In fact, I just cancelled TV for 6 months. Rain or
shine, every day I go out for a solo road walk or hike in the woods to
remind myself how lucky I am to live in Vermont and to count my blessings of
family, friends and good health.
And, here's my home office setup (my back misses my standing desk already!), as well as some pictures of my daughter's 20th birthday "party" with her grandparents sitting in the car to maintain distance. I also included our chickens, which are thankfully starting to lay eggs with some regularity again thanks to the longer daylight hours of Springtime! Sadly we don't have Annie anymore, but the chickens are happy to be "free ranging" again since Annie would have chased and possibly eaten them?!
We've been trying not to go into stores, so thankfully our small local grocery store offers curb side pickup after ordering on-line and our local Shaws store will actually deliver your groceries to your house, so here's a look at our grocery delivery. It's amazing how much food a family of 5 can go through in a week when you eat every meal at home. Especially when your "kids" are 15-20 year old adults now!
