Adventures of the first two weeks of 2021

 Back to work started briskly on January 4th as our school continued with half the students one day, half the next. It took a couple days to get used to wearing a mask again all day, but it did come back. The kids took a bit of brain jiggling to get things back for them, which is quite understandable.

The weather has been incredible for January in SK. Just a teeny bit below 0C. We definitely cannot complain about that. When the -40Cs come along, as they eventually will, it will be a tough adjustment.

Friday the 8th we got an email of our first covid case of 2021 at school. It was to be expected when people don't take things even with a modicum of seriousness. By Saturday we had a second and then a third.

Sunday afternoon I got  THE call from provincial health saying I had been deemed a close contact to a positive case. Not from my own class, but within the building. 

And so begins 14 days of self isolation... minus the 2 since I had last saw the person.

I spent hours Sunday night finding a sub for 2 weeks and planning for the first few days. Thank goodness I had brought my computer home. At least I could access some of my materials.

My husband was allowed to go to work. We could have no one over (which technically has been the rule since Dec 15th in our province). They encouraged us to be as separate in the home as possible. Different sleeping arrangements, bathrooms etc.  I did not have to go for a test unless symptoms developed.

I rather enjoyed Monday at home. I had a few emails from students and parents, but other than that, my time was my own. 

Tuesday morning was wonderfully leisurely until the virtual staff meeting that announced there were more cases and all students in our building would be virtual for the next couple weeks.

And with that my sub was abruptly done her shift, 8 days early, and I began to teach online from home.

Some schools have been doing this since the start of the year, so I really can't complain.

A huge storm in our province Wed covered the roads with thick freezing rain and no visibility, so being at home was a good thing for many.

6 more days of isolation for me and then off to the city on the 7th for my infusion that had to get bumped to the absolute edge of the window.

Here's hoping the numbers from Christmas calm down and we can get back to in person soon

First Day of Work - virtually exhausting

Well that was certainly a different day of work.

I tried to keep it normal. Up. shower. breakie. all that stuff.

The commute to work was rough. Traffic just about knocked me over on my way to the office.

(read, cats raced me down the stairs, between my feet)

I tried to set up the office to make it feel as real as possible. I have a whole house to work with but making the office work -central makes me feel more focused.

We started with a virtual staff meeting. They gave us a list of things to do for the week

• contact each family through email, phone or text and get a yes or no on whether the family wishes to continue with online learning. 
•  fill in the responses we get on a shared document
• for those who wish to, do they have wifi and devices to do this
• decide on our platform for work and class meetings.
• a full staff meeting each work day at 10
•  a grade level team meeting
• decide on how you will communicate regularly with parents.

The troubles became apparent

• missing contact info for parents. we have been trying to update this all year but some families sure do avoid filling it in. I have many bounce back emails. 
• I am not terribly comfortable using my own phone number for contact but there was no choice. Lots of calls and texts unanswered
• students in gr 7 really don't know how to log into their email online. or check it if they do know how to log in.
• my basement is really cold. socks and a small space heater helped
• my head was spinning with email alerts, text messages and calls and meeting reminders. too many coming from too many different sources.

I pulled out a coil notebook, put down the date and started keeping track of what I was doing. Why  a notebook? I am sure at some point the powers that be will want to know what we are doing each day. A notebook shows that step by step progression while an online document can be altered. We have been cautioned before about being able to prove documentation happened authentically and things weren't 'added later'. kind of like a numbered police officer's notepad

Things I learned

• I am glad I had my class set up on google classroom and we used it during the year. for those who hadn't it was a nightmare
•  sticky notes are my saviour. I have notes everywhere for passwords and reminders etc
•  I don't know how ppl sit at a computer all day. My ass was so sore. 
• my head was spinning from staring at  a screen all day
• parents (the ones who were actively wanting to learn anyways) are hungry for information. I have used a class facebook page for years that parents 'like' and follow. My post on there got more responses than my emails. I plan to write on it each day even if it is just to touch base. 

Mid week

It feels like forever since we started this and really it was only a few days ago. I have started to make mental lists of things I might be able to convert into online learning. I definitely feel like I am neglecting the students.

I did some baking today and dropped two tins of it off at friend's houses on their doorstep. I am not used to being at home and feel like I should be out and doing something.

Watching the toll in Italy grow and the new cases developing in the US is a bit frightening. Lockdowns have begun. Not just self isolation but stay inside.

I have started keeping a list of new cases here in SK and will continue to add as they days go on. We are much more spread out here than probably where many of you are, but it will come.

My routine is still getting up as early as I did for work. Up and coffee and watch the news. Check social media. Then I try to do something productive, but its hard.

DS1 is surviving. He gave me a list of things he was wanting and I dropped them off in the garage. Our buffer zone we call it.

As long as it stays cold  and snowy here, people will be more inclined to stay home. But as soon as it warms up.... yikes.

First Day of Pause

ok well the second since Friday was the first day. Close enough

It only took til noon until I started to feel guilty not connecting with my kids' and their families. We were told to take the week and try to think of ways to keep interest in learning online, but mostly the week is for us.

So I unpacked some books, put a few more things away and started to make a list of things I could do so I wouldn't go crazy.

I am still trying to keep the bills straight between the houses, and the dates they are due.

I spent some time adjusting my budget to reflect 2 power bills, 2 water bills etc.  At some point we will get the boys to kick in but let's wait and see.  It shouldn't be so hard to keep it organized but it feels like a mess for me. Hopefully it will get better.


DS2 is up with his gf and experiencing that same pause. Except for her, she's only been teaching less than 3 months so she doesn't have that wealth of experiences and materials to draw upon.

DS1 is surviving and finding himself sneezing a lot from the cat hair. We've cleaned a lot but it's still there. I suspect the furnace vents all need cleaning.

I definitely need to figure out a rhythm for the days ahead.

Weekends

DS phoned close to midnight. They had safely crossed the border. There was actually minimal fuss there with border patrol just handing them pamphlets about Covid and saying they should be doing a 14 day self isolation.

At this point they were exhausted. They wanted to push on. "It's only 7 more hours to home".

I told him to stop. Get a hotel room in the city just across the border. Eat. Shower. Rest.

The boys were complaining about the snow and temps. Poor little beach bums had forgotten what Sask weather in like.  They agreed to stop for the night.

The old house is ready to go. Everything's clean for him and I have stocked it with things he might like. I hope he gets how serious the 14 day self isolation is. And the law. but he's a social butterfly and hasn't seen his gf since early December.

a Lull Day

If I didn't think too hard, it could almost be Easter Break . Friday off, long weekend. No work duties.

I wandered for a good hour this morning, in my own home. I needed to shake it off. Do something. Do anything.

I baked a few batches of cookies and muffins, definitely appreciating my kitchen aid. The smell of baking was calming in a weird way. And I didn't eat a ton of cookie dough. Score!

I looked at my school pile and had to put it in a room to try to forget it for awhile. We weren't sure exactly what we were supposed to do, so give it a few days. A response team was meeting provincially and then would trickle the information down.

DS would call every few hours and update us. He and his buddy took turns driving four hour shifts while the other slept. Their grandiose ideas of stopping and enjoying the drive were out the window. They only stopped for fuel, snacks and a pee break, but each stop things felt a little more like 'this shit is real' as signs started appearing with guidelines for safety.

They are slowly making their way through the 33 hour drive.

And Boom... it starts

There was more of a spring in my step heading to work today, than yesterday. Not sure why. Perhaps the nerf gun war
I finished doing some room tidying and filling in documents for the district.

At 9:20 there is a page for another staff meeting. This time we aren't all gathering in the library. Three groups of staff, three admin, three different rooms. Same message.

We are all instructed to download an app and test it. Then we are told to finalize our paperwork, get our stuff together, and go. Preferably within the hour.

Pause would begin early. No nerf gun war. No last visits. Just get whatever you think you are going to need for online learning. Get your laptop and cord. And get out.

We were forbidden from entering the school - until at least May 1.

I threw a few resources I thought I would need in a box, got my marks binder (yes I do it old fashioned first before putting in online), a few books and I left.

It was really bizarre driving away from the school. Disconnected. Unreal. Confusing.

I drove home and just sat. For over an hour. It was a real 'what the hell just happened?"

DS called about  PM. He and the other boy did their check outs and left by noon. It is starting to become real to him. All this time he was of the 'it's no big deal' mindset. Now, with borders closing it's becoming real. All Canadians lose their healthcare (if something happens to them while down there) if they are not back in the country by Friday Midnight. A caravan of boys started together and will split around Nashville, some heading towards NY, NJ and Ontario others heading up to the west to Michigan, Minnesota and Canada.

I let DS2 know he needed to clear out of the house tomorrow so it's safe for the 14 day self isolation required by law.

so what do we do from here?

Our big  - hey we are doing sanctions is quite meaningless now.

no students in my room so no need to arrive early. There are still kids in other rooms, especially in 10-12 and technically they can be here til Thursday.


Today I am mostly marking assignments that have come in and getting my marks book up to date.

In other news, DS1 hears tomorrow what is happening with his team.

NHL, AHL and all our Canadian leagues are suspended. It's only a matter of time until DS's league is too.

Apocalypse now

9 AM - 13 students in the room

We carried on and did a new lesson in math for those who were here.

9:50 - break

9:57 - started period 2

10:00 - student tells me they got a text from their parent saying school is done.

I head to Social Media - Yup . Announcement from the government. 

Really bugs me they didn't share with school districts first and then on to schools and us.

They want us to be a partnership and they blindside us with info.

How can we support kids and their families when they don't give us info.

I go in the hall and see three of my colleagues with the same stunned look on their face.

It's just surreal.

By 11 AM all my kids were gone. Some cleaned out their lockers and took their stuff. Some did not.

Staff are sitting around stunned. unsure what to do.

I mean I have read a ton of Young adult books with that post apocalyptic theme, but now I seem to be living it.

Friday the 13th

Let's face it. Friday the 13th often brings chaos in schools. It's like a full moon.

I should have known things were up when there were so few kids in the hallways.

I ended up with 17 of 29 students. It was weird.

We pushed ahead and taught new things as we can't stay in a holding pattern forever.

The other gr 7 classrooms were the same. 

The news is full of Covid struggles.

Ontario, Quebec, BC and Manitoba have announced school closures.

And so it begins

Infusion day in Stoon

Hearing rumors that stores are running out of items - flour, yeast, cleaning products, toilet paper.

None of any of the above here in town.


So off I go to Stoon and the first thing I usually do is head to Costco. It's always busy there. I mean do people work??? I know why I am not at work but everyone else???

Busier than normal.

I head to the back where I always do. No Kirkland TP. I see a few people with it in their carts so there was some. Was.

I grab the permitted 2 of Purex TP. Not my favourite but...well. As a girl with colitis, I go to the bathroom a LOT. I need it. Running out would be all kinds of awkward.

There is also no cleaning products, no flour or yeast, and very low amounts of pasta, pasta sauce. It's eerie. I have to say.

At my appointment the nurses seem unconcerned. Our conversation was more of the 'why are people stockpiling' focus.

It was an odd day for sure. Only took 3 tries to get my IV in this time.