The plans we had are gone, it's time to find our new routines and our new paths!

On my run this morning I had some time to reflect. I thought back to my recent communication to staff and parents over the past few weeks, and how it has been different lately. Normally I like to talk to people in person if I can avoid sending a long email, and normally we have regular scheduled and non-scheduled times that bring our whole community of learners together where common messaging can be shared and we get to feel that energy of being in the same space. But now, in the experience of being physically distanced, we are all being forced to reach out in different ways--and a lot of it is in print.

Here is an excerpt from an email I wrote three weeks ago to my staff when this Pandemic started about the importance of maintaining healthy routines in the midst of this time of change (I have edited the length for this post and removed parts to maintain privacy):

"Well, we are into week 2 of our spring break, but it’s one that’s unlike any we have ever seen before! I know there is much uncertainty and we did not plan for any of this, but I hope you are finding some kind of normal routine besides going to the grocery store, and still finding joy in your days! Have you started a list of things to schedule your days yet? 

The vision I was building with you and the plans you had for your learners this year will not happen in the way we all envisioned, and we will need to let all that go. We will need something completely new moving forward, it will be different, but in time we will make sense of it. 

If you are feeling apprehensive, trust me I understand, but together we will come through this stronger and we will not disappoint our community.  

We all worry about the kids we work with, every day! The best thing we will be able to do right now is to show that we care and understand how they feel.

Please take this week to rest, be well, and find a routine that brings you peace. 

We will take things slow, one step at a time, and do this the right way to overcome this challenge. And together we will be stronger."

I have continued to lead my staff with the messaging that we need to slow down and be patient. This was two weeks ago (edited down for length):

"There is a lot of information I have to sort through every day and share some of it with you. I know you have many questions about what we are doing and what we are not doing, why we are doing certain things and not other things. All I can tell you is that we are in a new situation and we need to take it slow, and it is important for all of us to be patient. Keep in mind that what’s most important for you is wanting to reach out to your families and check in at some point. They might have lots of questions for you and it’s okay to say, “I’m not sure right now, but we will figure it out.” 

And then this past week (edited down for length):

"I have really slowed down a lot of processes with the main objective of keeping safety as our number 1 priority. Let’s all keep in mind that this is still overwhelming for all of us. When I say all of us, I mean teachers, EAs, support staff, students and parents. So let’ all slow down, less is more right now."

I am still figuring out what this looks like in my personal life and in my work. When we are forced to slow down, we have a chance to re-evaluate and focus on what really matters. On my run this morning I stopped for a moment just to take in this view:

What struck me most was how the trail path curved and I couldn't see what was around the corner. It reminded me about how I had been training for a marathon since September which was supposed to take place in May; but also how that goal has vanished with this Pandemic. It was in my sights and plans, and my training had become a major part of my daily routine. Now I am having to make new plans, but I'm just not totally sure what that looks like yet. Now I am more focused on getting out for a run when it's safe, because I need this regular routine for my physical and mental health. Today I was just happy to be out there and I enjoyed the run. It wasn't my longest, it was my fastest, but it was good and it helped to re-center me again.

I posted after the run:

Our new routines will be so important to help guide and help us along in the coming weeks. It is time to find our new rhythms and routines, and our new paths. We are in this exact time.  Although we cannot see what's ahead, we will be more happy, safe and secure knowing what to expect through our routines. Our children need these routines, we need these routines--having a meal together, going for a walk or bike ride, doing some homework, cleaning around the house, having some kind of physical work out or reflection or prayer time, talking on the phone or video chatting with family or friends, finding time for creative outlets like music or art...all of these new rhythms, patterns and routines will help us to find our new paths.

Take the time now, less is more!

We are all dealing with a lot of changes. My focus as an educational leader in this time continues to be about taking care of people, but now at a safe distance. So this has meant that my normal routine of walking through the school and outside, connecting face-to-face with staff, students, and parents is gone. It's been replaced with a massive amount of communication via e-mail, phone and video chats. It's different, it's more challenging in many ways, and it's not what I'm used to. 

What it has done for me is that it has helped me filter everything down to one single priority - health & well-being. I know that's two words and one of them is even hyphenated, but no they are not separate, for me it's one and the same. It's about taking care of myself so that I can take care of others. I have written and shared about my health journey over the past three years and it's been my pinned tweet for awhile now.  

It's important for me to remember, and share with you, that we are not alone in this journey. As I interact with my staff and parent community I am reminded that we are all in this together and we have to prioritize what really matters. The decisions I am making as a school leader have to include the experiences and stories from staff, students and parents, in order to live out authentically our school motto "Together We Are Stronger". 

As a result, my messaging to my community of learners has consistently been about slowing down and taking it one step at a time. We could easily get distracted by looking at what other communities are doing, but what matters most is about what matters to us! I am used to being action-oriented, building vision for my school, and moving quickly on an idea. I am used to making decisions on the fly, solving immediate and emergent problems in the moment, and then moving on to the next thing. But this is different right now, everything seems to move slow. I am learning to be more patient. I am realizing that as much as I might feel the need to reach out every day, share or ask questions, I have to think first through my priorities:

1. Is this the safest way to do this?
2. Is this needed right now?
3. Is this helpful right now?
4. Is this message clear for everyone?
5. Does it show that we care?

Every story I am hearing from parents, teachers and staff is unique. Some families are ready for more, some are just getting into this new routine at home, others are still trying to figure out how to get up to speed with technology, and many are struggling with basic needs and just providing the essentials for their family. What is common, is the shared experience is that we all just want to know that someone cares and is there if we need them. 

Something that has been an amazing help to me has been to bounce ideas off colleagues, and my PLN (personal learning network). There is a ton of good information out there, but it can also be distracting. What really matters to me is reading and be inspired by people I feel connected to. Here are a couple of most recent posts that inspired me today:

This post by @kellywchris about dissonance shows that we each have our own stories about how COVID-19 has changed our routines, our perspectives, and our lives. He ends his post,

"This is a period of dissonance where we are trying to make sense of what is happening to us. We will adjust and move forward. But we must allow people time to move through the dissonance or it will continue to create difficulties and they will not be able to move on successfully."

This post by @datruss about being able to sustain the entire journey is a good reminder about maintaining a sustainable routine for the long haul. He writes,

"Most importantly, I’ll remind myself that there are more than two and a half months of school left… If I’m going to be my best, it will be because I remember that I’m needing to be my best over a marathon of time, and not just for a short sprint."

I worry about the future too, and there are decisions right now for my own family that I'm not sure about. My wife will soon be laid off, it's inevitable. How will we make it financially? My daughter is just trying to meet the demands of her high school courses - now on-line. She feels overwhelmed and we have only just finished week one. My son has been off work for awhile, but is about to enter a brand new post secondary education in three weeks. Can you imagine starting a brand new school experience on-line without actually meeting anyone?!

Recently I share about keeping a healthy routine in a post about the path ahead being uncertain but being filled with hope. This is what I shared:

"This 'shut down' of society is causing all of us to slow down and be more patient, and that is a good thing. Are you reading more, writing more, watching the news more? Don't forget to rest and find routines that are healthy for your mind, body and spirit! I'm thankful for the daily encouragement I get from others in my networks! Although the path ahead is uncertain, together this is the time where we can look ahead with hope!"

The experiences we are all going through are new, they are challenging, they are filled with a wide spectrum of emotions. No matter what you do in these next days and weeks and months, don't forget to appreciate the blessings of today. Take time for yourself, take time now and rest if you need to. Reach out for help if you need it, reach out to others and ask them if they are okay or need help.
Sometimes that's all we all need right now.

Even though it's a long weekend for Easter, the temptation for me is still to try to do more because I care and I'm worried about my staff and school families. But I'm going to take the advice from my educator friends @kellywchris, @datruss and even gave myself in that recent post. I'm going take a few days away from my work to reflect and rest, and in this way I know I will be better able to serve my community.

How long will this be like this where we are in these altered routines? No one knows for sure, but right now I encourage you to take the time you need. That work e-mail or assignment is not necessarily the most important thing right now. Sometimes less is more, and that just might be what we all need to hear right now. Take care!

After Every Storm Comes A Rainbow

As we head into our first actual week of remote learning, it might be helpful to look at where we have been in order to properly orient ourselves for the task ahead. I saw this sign on my trail run today and it reminded me that we have all already been through a lot; but there is hope on the other side if we stick together in this challenging time. 

Although the specific timelines may vary for each place, the experience in schools was widely shared. It is the week before Spring Break for many learning communities across North America. Monday, information began to trickle in from our local authorities and school district leadership about the beginning details of the COVID-19 outbreak in Asia and Europe; however, this appeared to be a concern in some ‘other part’ of the world. We were heading into a break, and the waters still looked very calm where we lived. If there is one thing you don’t want to do as a leader, it is to bring attention to things that might unnecessarily create anxiety within your community, and given the timeline, we were thankful that a natural break was quickly approaching. There are safe school protocols and a regional trauma informed approach guide that give us direction through these unsettling times. We were aware, but there was no cause to stop. So, we continued on with the more immediate needs to maintain calm, continuity, and normalcy in our schools. 

By Wednesday though, the World Health Organization made the official announcement of a Global Pandemic, and this was no longer an isolated incident, and parents and teachers alike started to ask many questions because this had the potential to threaten us on our shores. The main question being asked was, ‘Are we safe?’ Out in the distance the waves began to appear a little choppy and the wind was picking up speed. The new directive for educational leaders was about being more cautious and not to venture out on their own with any opinions. Our communication needed to be in line with the new Ministry of Education, Public Health Officer, and local employer bulletins which were being disseminated daily. We were all learning a new vocabulary, and recommendations started to be shared about ‘social distancing’ and to wash your hands more frequently. Schools entered immediately into a time of new protocols, and all communication started to follow a very specific chain of command. The message to the entire learning community was clear and consistent - stay calm, we will be just fine, we will be okay, there is nothing to worry about. 

Thursday, however, as further announcements began to be posted about world locations shutting down indefinitely, anxiety and panic started to bubble to the surface. Parents were wanting to know more and some started to keep their children home from school, and many began looking into the viability of making alterations to their vacation plans or to cancel trips entirely. Dark clouds started to roll in, the winds were getting stronger, and the seas were getting rough with whitecaps forming just off the shore. For school leaders it was time to hold the line, remain calm, make sure everyone was well informed, and the feeling was that if we were careful ‘this too shall pass’. 

With much uncertainty building overnight about what would come next, on Friday - the last day of school before the break, school leaders shared the news to the entire learning community that there would be no assemblies, or parties, or school-wide activities because of the local health official orders to limit numbers of people congregating in one location. The focus shifted from celebrations to just making it through the day safely! The seas were rising and building force, it didn’t seem as safe to go out anymore, and we were quickly in what felt like a more precarious situation. There were no hugs or handshakes as the students left for their break, with much uncertainty about when we would see each other again.

On that final day before Spring Break, school leaders, teachers, and support staff had to be calm and courageous amidst the storm that was brewing. We had the opportunity to encourage and inspire each other to make a difference in the lives of students who were about to arrive and who needed us to remain positive. Now, as we continue forward, we need to keep a brave face when confronted by such drastic, sweeping changes to the way we normally operate. Currently schools have not returned in the same way as there were before the break. We are entering the unknown, a time of remote work and learning on-line. In-school learning is suspended indefinitely, but the education of our students must continue on. Educators are working tirelessly behind the scenes, reaching out to each other, trouble-shooting all kinds of new technological tools, and scrambling to figure this out. We are being faced with the greatest, immediate shift in learning we have ever seen towards a new, unfamiliar future for learning. 

Be patient, take it slow, one step at a time, show empathy and kindness, and have grace for yourselves and others. This is all new for everyone. When faced with circumstances beyond our control, school leaders and educators need to have a clear, articulated plan, and a positive mindset which enables us to be able to move forward confidently; but mostly, we just need each other in order to have hope to weather the storm!

The path ahead is uncertain, but filled with hope!

The path ahead is uncertain. The amount of information in the media and on social media has spiked during this Global Pandemic, and there is almost too much to sort through in this past couple of weeks. The danger is to try and consume it all so we don't get left behind, and we have to be reminded to take care of ourselves.

For educators this is an especially challenging time, knowing that each step we take is the right one, and we must move forward carefully. There is a lot being shared, and it can be overwhelming to know what information and resources are helpful. This is when our networks come through. I have been inspired by the work of so many educators recently within my district and beyond.

This post about routines and habits by Kelly Christopherson (@kellywchris) really resonated with me. One of my important routines lately has been running. While on my run today I paused a couple of times to write:

Routines.

Running.

Do what you need to do.

Inspire and be inspired by each other.

No jealousy. 

Let’s all be thoughtful, compassionate, giving, understanding, helpful, respectful, kind. 

Now we are forced to wait, be more patient, and slow down. 

At the grocery store, in traffic, on the trail. 

We aren’t perfect, but we can make changes. 

It’s important to stop and scan the horizon. 

An entire generation is watching and learning through our actions.

As my run continued after writing this, I had a flashback. I was a young parent, a new teacher, and we went to an amusement park for the weekend. We were waiting in line for about a half hour, when I noticed someone cutting in line. I was infuriated and yelled out, "Excuse me!!" My blood was boiling. And then I heard this still, small voice...but it wasn't my inner, calm voice, I wish it was. It was a student from my school saying, "Hi Mr. Sclater!" My heart sank because I realized in that moment that I was not being a good example, and I was not at my best. It was supposed to be a day off, to relax and have fun. But my mind was on getting in as fast as we could and maximizing the number of rides we could get for our money! My priorities were so mixed up. I was so intent on getting so much done in that day, that I forgot what the purpose of being there was all about - my family. 

I have changed a lot since then, and become more patient and respectful, but it's a journey. Right now is an opportunity for all of us to re-prioritize what's really important. We will make mistakes. But the greatest mistake will be to ignore the opportunity that we have right now. Check out this post about positive shifts by David Truss (@datruss) which also inspired me! It's actually all the daily acts in our routines that matter. Time, reflection, commitment, sacrifice, empathy, and intentional small acts everyday lead to bigger shifts that actually make a difference. As I continued to run, more thoughts crossed my mind.

We say that "time is money".

But time is a gift.

Every breath we take.

Our daily movements and patterns.

We need to be grateful.

How much do we value our health?

Information is coming quick.

Seemingly endless communication.

What should we do?

"FOMO".

"Slow and steady wins the race".

"Stay in your lane".

This is not easy. 

It is painful at times.

We feel restricted.

But good things are worth fighting for. 

It’s forcing us to look at what’s really important. 

How valuable is our time?

How valuable are our relationships?

This 'shut down' of society is causing all of us to slow down and be more patient, and that is a good thing. Are you reading more, writing more, watching the news more? Don't forget to rest and find routines that are healthy for your mind, body and spirit! I'm thankful for the daily encouragement I get from others in my networks! Although the path ahead is uncertain, together this is the time where we can look ahead with hope!