Today, a “sick-out”:
cafeteria workers
protest for more pay
District wrote parents:
“Staff shortages mean no meals”
-but not at my school
Today I thank you,
beautiful food providers,
for still being there
greeting the long lines
of children coming to eat,
for your loving words
Today I thank you,
bus drivers, who kept rolling
despite a protest
that kept many kids
from getting to school, again
-except for my school
Today I thank you,
my superhero colleagues,
for coming to work
for you are the glue
keeping pieces together
for kids, for us all
again reminding
collaborative spirits
always win the day
*******
and thanks always to
Two Writing Teachers for space
and place to express
lit bits and pieces 
Wow! This is something, Fran.
Your school, your colleagues… all of you are amazing!
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Stacey, I listed “collaborative spirit” as a needed resource for reaching goals in my professional development plan during this trying, trying year. That’s another several posts in itself…suffice it to say my school was unaffected by the “sick outs” which are continuing today. Yesterday I went in and hugged our child nutrition providers – they’re lovely, always so cheerful and gracious. They go the extra mile. Until COVID interfered, they accommodated Literacy Lunches for our families each year. Throughout this pandemic, even when the schools were closed, our cafeteria staff provided lunches to the community. Other schools nearby are affected by the “sick out” which continues today. Food insecurity remains a reality for many; my son saw some community social media pages where parents offered to purchase and bring lunches to schools for any child who needs it. That brings me back to our bus drivers who got our kids to school during their own recent round of “sick outs” – times are hard all around, for many – and many heroes walk among us.
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Many heroes!
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Beautiful sentiments for a difficult situation, Fran. Thank you for sharing.
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Many thanks…the food service providers’ “sick out” continues today but those serving our school continue to work. They’re lovely people. They worked all through the pandemic last year even when schools were closed, providing lunches to families – food insecurity was, and is, a reality.
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I am so happy you have invested staff at your school, Fran! Our district’s food service director spearheaded and effort to provide free meals to anyone in our district throughout the pandemic! You are correct, food insecurity is real! Best wishes for a healthy and happy resolution for the other schools.
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We so need “collaborative spirits” – love those two words together. This is lovely! Sounds like you have an incredible community.
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Maureen, I actually listed “collaborative spirit” as a needed resource for reaching goals in my professional development plan for the year. As to the community: my school was unaffected by the “sick outs” which are continuing today (I went in and hugged our child nutrition providers yesterday) but other schools – and families – are affected; my son saw on community social media pages how parents are offering to purchase and bring lunches to schools for any child who needs it. During 2020, my school’s cafeteria staff and others provided lunches to the community as the pandemic raged – they’re truly heroes.
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Fran, I am so impressed with your school and its child-centered environment and stance on education. May your team be blessed a hundredfold for their service-learning attitude. Collaborative spirits are needed in this troubled world. I am sure you are one of the anchors in your educational community so keep spreading the joy found within the classroom and building walls.
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Fran, what a beautiful testament to the dedication of those in your school who keep children first. The collaborative spirit is what we need more of all across this nation. Your school is a model fir trying times!
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I read your post, and I read the comments. My heart is pulled in so many directions. Relief and gratitude for the folks at your school who came together. Compassion for folks at the end of their rope. Recognition for all of us (because it’s ALL of us) doing a job we never signed up for. It’s all a reminder that we need to hold fast to the ideas, the PEOPLE we hold dear. Thank you, Fran.
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