Pause in Your Day

Take a deep breath

We all know the importance of taking care of ourselves but last week I met with a group of teachers online and realized that everyone isn’t doing that. Every educator has put their students first during this pandemic and teachers with families are making their families a priority as well. I couldn’t agree more – that’s the way it should be! BUT – and that’s a 3 letter word that needs to help us take a moment and pause.

It’s critical that teachers take a pause each day to focus on themselves. If this doesn’t happen there is a chance that you won’t be able to take care of others. When you fly on an airplane, the flight attendant instructs you to “put your oxygen mask on first,” before helping others. … Because if you run out of oxygen yourself, you can’t help anyone else with their oxygen mask.

Today I discovered, thanks to one of my college roommates LeeAnn, that Billy Collins is live on facebook each day at 5:30 reading his poems. His poetry readings are archived so if you can’t catch him at 5:30 you can visit his facebook page later on and listen and watch. As the snow fell yesterday afternoon I listened and took a deep breath and found myself completely removed from the stress of the world. I created this video below with hopes that everyone can share my feeling of calm.

This morning a friend sent a link to a blog called In Times of Panic, Be Kind & Create by blogger Felicia C. Sullivan. She said: “And for me, it’s been the act of creating and being kind. Centering myself a little less and others more. It’s about making something with my hands. Typing words into blank spaces even if only five people read them. Who cares, who cares, because five is larger than none. Hoping those words will reach into the void and find others. Tap them on the shoulder. Pull them close. Hold them tight. Don’t worry, I’m not letting go.”Connecting with your students sends that message loud and clear. They want to know that you’re there for them and if you take a pause each day for yourself you will be able to continue to give them your best. Stay well and remember to be kind to yourself. Do whatever you can and don’t feel bad about what you’re not doing.

Right Here in Maine

Maine’s digital galleries

The Tides Institute & Museum of Art

How wonderful is this – to know that Maine’s own arts institutions provide online resources featuring Maine artists and others from the past and present shows. The Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA) even has a three-dimensional tour of all of its exhibits including it’s present show that was only up for two days before CMCA closed due to the virus. And, the Farnsworth has a 3-D tour of the Olson House. The institutions and links to them are listed below. Please note: this alphabetical list does not include all the institutions in Maine.

• Able Baker Contemporary, Portland: ablebakercontemporary.com
• Bates College Art Museum, Lewiston: bates.edu/museum
• Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick: bowdoin.edu/art-museum/
• Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland: cmcanow.org Virtual tour of the Spring exhibit cmcanow.org/virtual-tours/
• Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville: colby.edu/museum/
• Cove Street Arts, Portland: covestreetarts.com
• Dowling Walsh Gallery, Rockland: dowlingwalsh.com
• Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland: farnsworthmuseum.org Virtual tour of the Olson House farnsworthmuseum.org/visit/historic-homes/olson-house/
• Greenhut Galleries, Portland: greenhutgalleries.com
• Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit: Ogunqitmuseum.org
• Space, Portland: space538.org 
• The Portland Museum of Art, Portland: portlandmuseum.org 
• The Tides Institute & Museum of Art, Eastport: tides institute.org

Tuneful Talk Tuesdays

Opportunity for PK-6 elementary music teachers

Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Teacher Leaders Danielle Collins, Catherine Newell, Cynthia Keating, Will Stecher, Dorie Trip, and Kaitlin Young are collaborating to offer a round table for PK-6 elementary classroom music educators. These 6 elementary music educators are aware that teachers are in different places in this transition due to the pandemic of the Coronavirus. They are hopeful that by combining their powers that they can work to problem solve some of the challenges everyone is facing and celebrate the successes that are happening each day!

You’re invited to join them for Tuneful Talk Tuesday’s at Two! March 31, 2:00, Zoom – CLICK THIS LINK. If you have questions please contact Kaitlin Young at kyoung@sedomocha.org.

What the World Needs Now

Berklee Music Students Send the World ‘Love Sweet Love’

Capacity of the Arts

I can’t sleep

Thanks to teaching artist leader for creating this hopeful video to help us remember the importance of the arts.

In Today’s News

Voice Actor from Houlton

William Dufris, voice actor for ‘Bob the Builder’ and Houlton native, dies at 62. Bangor Daily News article.

Saying Thank You

Message from a Teacher

I am going to start capitalizing the word “Teacher” every time I write or type it. Why? Because I am so impressed by what I see happening because of teachers all over the world. PreK – grade 12 Teachers hopped into this crisis quickly, no hesitation, and are making things happen for learners.

Grades K-8 Music Teacher Kaitlin Young from Sedomocha Elementary and Middle Schools in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine is the 2018 Maine State Teacher of the Year and has been recognized for her accomplishments. I am so proud of Kaitlin and the work she does day to day and what she has done for Teachers everywhere. Her messages are clear and ‘spot on’. Recently Kaitlin wrote on her facebook page a message thanking the many unsung heroes in her school district and beyond who are going above and beyond to support children in multiple ways. With her permission I am re-printing her message since I am sure it is something many of us in education are thinking. Thank you Kaitlin for your leadership and commitment to education!

As we begin this new adventure in remote learning here at SeDoMoCha I wanted to post a photo to stand in solidarity with and express my gratitude for all of the incredible teachers within the SeDoMoCha community, across the state of Maine, and beyond.

And when I say “teachers” I mean all of the incredible people who are modeling what it means to be a member of a thoughtful and caring school community. These people are teaching some of the most profound life lessons to everyone around them throughout this challenging time.

Teachers: Administrators, Technology Integrators, School Resource Officers, Nurses, School Counselors, Maintenance Staff, Data Clerks, and Administrative Assistants who have developed and implemented thoughtful response plans all while calmly answering millions of questions from colleagues and the public. They have been putting in a great deal of work and time in behind the scenes. They are making tough decisions and modeling what it means to dig into the challenging work on behalf of our students and our communities.

Teachers: Bus drivers, Food Service Workers, Education Support Staff, Teachers, Families, and Community Members who have swiftly jumped into action to support our students. The outpouring of offers to help connect students and families to the resources they need has been humbling. “What do you need?” “How can I help?” “What if we try this?” And within moments of struggle when people share their frustration (perhaps in not the most kind of ways) I have heard words of empathy, “they must be really hurting or scared because this is challenging.” There has never been a moment when we have doubted the commitment to our kids. They are the faces that greet our families and help them to stay connected to our community. They are flexible, resilient, and empathetic to the needs of others and model what it means to be on the front lines.

And of course our students, our greatest teachers of all. Amidst the chaos, they continue to make us smile as they wave from the backseat of a car during packet pick up, send funny emails full of memes, or simply do or say something silly at home that was communicated through a parent email. As teachers, all of us who work with our students each day, we know that there are many lessons to learn from our resilient, creative, and compassionate students. They are the reason we do this in the first place.

Everyone is stepping out of their comfort zones to face this uncertainty with grace, kindness, and the need for human connection. (Though stay at least six feet away from each other, please!) We are willing to learn with and from each other as is evident from the plethora of resources that have popped up over the last two weeks. We are willing to make mistakes within our own new learning and continue to provide the best instruction we can. The creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration that happen every day in education have been on display throughout this adventure.

I can only speak about SeDoMoCha from the first-hand experience, but from what I have seen and heard from colleagues we are not unique in these efforts.

Over the last week, we have checked in on each other, laughed, cried, and experienced this challenge as a community. Please continue to take care of yourself. Please check in with your colleagues, students, neighbors, friends, and families. Remind yourself and others that we are doing the best we can as we all seek to find a new sense of “normal.” (Though as someone said to me yesterday, “Were we ever really normal?”)

I am proud and grateful to be a member of the SeDoMoCha Community and the broader community of teachers. Stay safe and keep singing ❤

Maine Arts Commission Survey

From the Commission

The following is located on the Maine Arts Commission website at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Postings/Blogs/Detail/Maine-Arts-Culture-Sector-COVID-19-Resources-Information.

UPDATED MARCH 18, 2020 – 3 p.m. 

Friends,

The Maine Arts Commission continues to expand our resources and services amidst the COVID-19 public health crisis. We recently shared a survey for arts organizations that is being used to assess the impact of the outbreak on our nation’s arts and culture sector. Based on the preliminary results, Maine is picking up traction in the number of respondents who have taken the survey.

Today we are publishing a survey for individual artists living in Maine. It will be used as a means to collect data and aid policy makers who are on the front lines of arts advocacy networks and relief efforts at the federal, state, and local level. We ask that you please visit our RESOURCES PAGE to find more information that supports our creative sector.

          SURVEY FOR ARTISTS                                SURVEY FOR ORGANIZATIONS 

In the coming weeks, we will be sharing information about further relief efforts that will be provided to our field. Stay tuned.

The Maine Arts Commission is here to support our artists, arts organizations, educators, and communities. Please reach out with any questions, concerns, and suggestions. We are here for you. Be well and keep safe.

Sincerely,

All of Us at the Maine Arts Commission

Message From the Commissioner of Education

Pender Makin

This We Believe

Association for Middle Level Education

Call for Student Voice and Visuals

The Association for Middle Level Education is updating our foundational position paper (previously titled This We Believe), that identifies the characteristics of successful middle schools. This critical document serves as the centerpiece of exceptional middle schools around the world that are focused on shaping the best possible educational experiences for their students ages 10 to 15. We’re interested in bringing student voice and visuals to the new edition of the book, and we need your help. We’re seeking student submissions as follows:

1. A testimonial Students can write a statement of 1000 characters or less in response to one or two prompts:
   • How has a teacher, principal, or other adult in your school had a positive influence on or encouraged you?
   • What’s your favorite thing about middle school?
2. Two-dimensional art
   This can be any type of artwork including, but not limited to, watercolor, pencil, oil painting, photography, and digital images. The art should express the energy and culture of your middle school and should be submitted as a high-resolution photo or .jpg image. The art should be accompanied by a statement from the student about the inspiration for the art (1-4 sentences).
3. A reflective poem.
   We’re seeking a poem either about the student, about an adult they appreciate at the school, or about their experiences in middle school.

Each student whose quote, art, and/or poetry is featured in the new book will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and their work will be displayed on AMLE.org and at the #AMLE20 Annual Conference, November 12-14, in National Harbor, MD.

Teachers need to be prepared to submit the art as a high resolution photo in .jpg or .eps format. Poems can be submitted as .doc or .pdf files.

Submissions are due by May 15, 2020. In August 2020, we’ll notify you if your students’ entries are selected for inclusion in the new book.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A STUDENT ENTRY