Breathe

Early this week I shared a Dr. King quote on social media. In my office, hangs a poster with his quote, "your self-sacrificing devotion to your purpose in life and your unwavering faith will carry you through times of difficulty.” I appreciate Dr. King’s words and I believe his message applies to the unprecedented times we are experiencing. I am extremely thankful for all of your efforts over the past couple of weeks on behalf of our students, families and one another. The purpose you have demonstrated connected to our district mission during this time is a true reflection of Ubuntu and has positioned us to meet the needs of students and families throughout the month of April.   

Last night at the School Board meeting, each School Board member expressed gratitude for your efforts. They were especially grateful for all that you have been doing to continue to prepare for and implement distance learning, deliver and coordinate food delivery for students and families, and provide safe spaces for children at our emergency childcare locations. 

Like many of you, I have experienced a wide range of emotions connected to everything that has been going on locally and throughout the world. I am thankful for the collective culture we have created here in St. Louis Park. During times like this, we need to be there to support one another and work through the ambiguity. Freida Bailey could tell that I had not been my usual self and that I was not centered in my action. She sent me the words of Dr. Lee Muh Wah below which served as a tool to help center and remind me of what is at the core of the values I hold.

Breathe. Let in the fearing and the hoping. Scream, cry, love and laugh. Wake up with gratitude for what you have and what you do not. Remember to embrace with caring and with compassion those you love and those you have not reconnected with for a long time or have unfinished business with. In other words, there is no time like today to text, write letters, leave a card or flowers or both. 

While the words she shared with me were not specific to our district’s COVID-19 response efforts, they were specific to who I am as a human being and what I believe as a leader. I am thankful for the care that she demonstrated for me during my time of need and I am hopeful that we continue to demonstrate this type of care for each other.  

I have seen evidence of this type of care throughout our system not only for our students and families, but for each other. I am confident that the flowers we extend to one another during this time will help to serve as the fuel to get us through the uncertainty and fear. I ask that we not allow the pursuit of perfection to paralyze us from facilitating learning opportunities during this time so that we allow our students to continue to grow. Please be patient with one another and yourself because we do not have a road map for what we are experiencing and the path we pave now will inform our future action in times of temporary school closure.

I have included a couple of videos that have energized my spirit over the past couple of days. Huge thanks to the staff and students at the Middle School and Brad Brubaker for using dance to lighten the mood. I was hoping to see Principal Bork’s dance moves in the Middle School video, but maybe he is waiting to show us his best TikTok moves in the quarter 4 video.


I pray that you are able to take time during spring break to rest and recover. Please unplug and be with your loved ones as they need you right now more than ever. We will send a communication today to families reminding them that next week is Spring Break and that we have encouraged staff to unplug and take time for their families.  

I look forward to seeing you and our students (virtually) after the break on April 6th.

With much appreciation,

Astein
Top 10 List of Things to Do on Spring Break

When Spring Break collides with #StayHomeMN what do you do? Try out some of these activities...

  1. Take an Alphabet Photo Walk - The object of an Alphabet Photo Walk is to find letters that have been formed in the outdoors. Some examples … Two sticks crossing may make the letter “X”... a wheel on a car automatically forms the letter “O”... the frame on a window forms the letter “T”. Use your phone to document the letters you see and keep walking until you complete the entire alphabet. When you get home, print the photos to make a collage or print them to use as postcards to mail to family and friends.
  2. Practice using our tools for Courageous Conversations - Take time each morning to get centered and learn to accept and expect non-closure as things continue to evolve in our current situation.
  3. Think of this time as a way to engage our historically marginalized students differently. Reflect. Talk about it with your family and friends. Bring your ideas back from Spring Break to share ideas with your colleagues.
  4. The Wishing Jar - During #StayHomeMN, every time you wish you could do something, go somewhere, treat yourself, see someone you love, visit a new place, invite people to visit, etc. write it down on a Post-It note and put it in a jar. When this is all over this will be your Bucket List of things to do and you can work your way through the jar and be more grateful than ever for the little and lovely things that make up your great BIG life! Until then, you can look forward to ALL of the magical things you have to look forward to!
  5. Shaving Cream … finger paint for adults. Just try it.
  6. The mission of SLP asks us to energize and enhance the spirit of our students and colleagues. Please don't forget to do that for yourself as well.
  7. Check out these five calming reminders about what matters most during pandemic panic & school closures:
  8. Every Sunday there is a new podcast called “Truth For Teachers". Schools are closed - this is our chance to reimagine them. This is the one she released last Sunday that reimagines schools for the future. One part that stuck out is when she said, "what if we actually designed a school that works for students AND teachers?"
  9. Try not to ask the question, "What do we need to do?", but rather, "How do we need to BE".
  10. Barbeque anyone? Deck. Backyard. Park. As long as you are 6’ away from the next person, it’s all good!
Astein Osei
Superintendent
St. Louis Park Public Schools
Connect with me!