For my children this was the beginning of spring assessments. These measurements occurred both in and out of the classroom. The eldest had MAP testing throughout the week during the day and soccer tryouts at night. Monday was great. He was flying and proud. Monday afternoon he learned that his great-grandmother was very sick and was going to the hospital.
Like all of us, children and adults, he held resilient. Each of us during these times put our mind on the task of the moment, clinging to the routines of our lives. Distractedly completing task after task. Thanks to the patience of my wife's school, my bride was allowed to spend Tuesday through Thursday with the woman who she had traveled with, called daily, celebrated with and cried with. Each day, with the boys suited up and went on their day.
On Thursday morning, the call came early. My bride and her sister rushed out the door. Neither a morning person, the boys were in shock and awe. Reality set in for them. While the younger one was set in on that grandma would get better, the older one realized this was the end. An hour later, they got the call to whisper last wishes into great-grandma's ears. And this is the note I penned to the school:
"The boys found out this morning that their great grandmother, "Grandma Bernice" was very sick and expected to pass away soon. They also know that Stacy and Aunt Rachel were called by the hospital this morning and were asked to go see Grandma for the last time. They knew grandma was in the hospital this week and saw her 2 weeks ago and she was fine. Cameron has come to the realization this morning that she is going to pass away and is sad. Logan has taken the perspective that she might get better because she's not 100, she's only 97. These are the boys we are sending you today. They may be perfectly fine, they may have their moments of needing a break or someone to talk to.
Thank you for you support."
I can't say enough positive things about my child's school, their teachers, principals, secretaries, nurses, and social workers. I sent them two boys fragile in their universe and they loved them, watched after them, and cared for them. As the learning went on, I know my children were there but probably not present. They, like all of my family this week went through the motions.
As I said earlier, it was MAP testing week. While my children were cared for, loved, and supported, I am sure their growth was not accurate. For them, I don't care and neither do they. There's another test in September and we can ignore this point as an outlier. For their principal and assistant principal, who are measured by growth via (Value Added Measure) and someday their teachers, in the moment when they were their best the data will say they weren't. In a time when my boys should have been contribute to their success stories they simply weren't capable of it. This is the silliness of VAM. It takes two points and subtracts. If in either situation the child is not able to give his/her best, the one penalized is the adult. While our circumstances were unusual, over a classroom, building, or district I can say each day we have children with these levels of worries and needs. We have these moments consistently were our staff, teachers, and leaders rise to the occasion in ways that can't be measured by a simple test score. In all of this, I am grateful that while the system might not have a solid perspective, the people within it do.
This week we lost a great woman. A teacher for decades who influenced thousands of students. A mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who taught each of us how to lead a positive life and make a difference for others. A woman who saw the best in all of us and was able to separate the silliness from the important. We will miss her. My boys will miss her. And yet we are glad that she left us surrounded by such great people. She created a legacy that each of us hopes we can continue.
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