|
January 14, 2022
Dear Hastings Families and Staff,
We head into a much desired and deserved three-day weekend. This week’s update addresses first the reason for our three-day weekend: the honoring of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King. I share a reflection on the significance of Dr. King to our promise as a community and Village (Hastings staff heard a brief version of this story at Convocation when school started). I then feature several successes of our students over the past week. I close with a brief note on COVID-19.
Dr. King – Then, Now and Forever – A Personal Reflection
When I was a third-grader in Chicago, my father took me to a march with Dr. King and later to a rally at Soldier’s Field. Seated on my father’s shoulders, I could see Dr. King over the crowds. It is a permanent part of me: a young boy, on his father’s shoulders, able to bear witness to Dr. King.
Fast forward to January 1999 at Joseph Landis Elementary School on the east side of Cleveland, where I was reading to a room of third graders. All students are African American, most from families with significant financial challenges. I visited the class every two weeks, so they know me. To honor Dr. King, I read Martin's Big Words (by Doreen Rappaport) to them. After reading, I shared my third-grade moment of seeing and hearing Dr. King from my father’s shoulders.
One of the students, looking at me intently, raised his hand, and said, “You are Dr. King’s friend!” I quickly demurred, “Oh no, I was one of thousands at the march and rally. I did not meet Dr. King. I did not speak with Dr. King.” The student, still looking at me intently, replied, “No, no, you are Dr. King’s friend. You are Dr. King’s friend.”
In January 2022, I am thinking about the third grader’s admonition – “You are Dr. King’s friend.” His perceptive wisdom looms large as our nation grapples with how to embrace, honor, and care for each other, especially across racial, ethnic, gender, political, and ideological lines. Our commitment to ensuring the dignity of each and every person is tested daily. We must step up.
Put simply, we are being called to be Dr. King’s friend.
Research Brilliance & Creativity
Oliver Fuchs, Class of 2022, deserves our applause. Oliver is among 300 young scholars recognized nationally last week for preeminent science research through the 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search. Oliver was honored for his project, "Examining the Associations between Historical Redlining Maps and Asthma Emergency Department Visits Across New York City." Oliver received a $2,000 scholarship and has the chance to be chosen as a finalist in the Science Talent Search Competition, through which he could receive an additional $25,000 and have the chance to win up to $250,000.
Gus Renzin, Student Liaison to the Board of Education, eloquently celebrated Oliver’s accomplishment at Monday’s BOE Meeting. “The significance of Oliver’s award cannot be overstated,” Gus said. “I have watched him work tirelessly on a remarkable project, which has inspired his classmates for its research brilliance and creativity.”
I would add a special thank you to Melissa Shandroff, who is Hastings' highly regarded Science Research Teacher, and an essential mentor to Oliver, Gus and their peers.
Athletic Perseverance
My campus walkabouts this week found me in Cochran Gym for the Girls Varsity Basketball game versus Bronxville. On two other days, I found my way to the Green Gym for Modified Girls Basketball and Modified Boys Basketball games.
The Varsity Girls have rare individual talent, yet I am most impressed by the work rate and productivity of “all five on the court.” I talk a lot (maybe too much) about Us. The Varsity Girls epitomize that team is the path to success. How this excellent season will proceed is not known. What I do know is that the Varsity Girls are showing us how to work, play, and persevere as a group–as a team. By the way, they currently are 8-0 and ranked number one in New York State (Class B).
Our Modified Basketball Teams–boys and girls–are earlier in their development as students and athletes. While still honing the skills and teamwork modeled by the Varsity Girls, the Modified athletes ooze effort and enthusiasm. Their spirit was contagious, regardless of the final score. For them, the love of playing is what matters, and their perseverance to play, despite the challenges of COVID, is inspiring.
Guiding these teams are dedicated coaches. In the spirit of Us, special thanks go to the entire coaching staff for tirelessly providing a fun, educational athletic experience for Hastings’ student-athletes. It is a pleasure to witness.
COVID-19 Note
I am pleased that we have maintained in-person schooling until this traditional mid-January marker, and, per all indicators, we will continue with in-person schooling after the long weekend. Despite troubling COVID-19 rates around us, we have been able to remain a healthy, safe school district, with in-person schooling.
Our staff has made this possible–thank you! Our students and families have made this possible—thank you!
You can expect regular updates in the coming weeks regarding COVID-19. As I shared earlier this week, the region’s superintendents are united in advocating for policies and procedures that optimize maintaining in-person schooling and keeping students and staff healthy. Part of the push is modifying policies and procedures that are unclear, inconsistent and create unease, confusion, and extra work for staff, especially our nurses, and families.
Best wishes for a good long weekend.
Be well.
| 
