FHS Student Fire Side Chat

I'm thinking of you constantly, our whole staff at Fife is missing ya!

I have been trying really hard to stay positive, but I must say watching the news each day and seeing how tough it is right now make that a real challenge doesn't it?

Everyone has unreal stories to share, I know your family is being effected. I can't think of another event in my lifetime where literally 100% of the population is impacted like this. I am no different. My daughter who is a senior in college, is doing her final semester studying in New York. She was doing an internship as part of her Film and Digital Media Degree. Well that has since been shutdown. She is still there bunkered down in her apartment on Long Island, one of the most impacted areas in the United states, taking some on-line classes. She is facing some major disappointments right now, and feeling pretty alone. I know you can sure relate to that. But I will tell you this about my daughter, she is tough (she would have fit in well at Fife), and she is someone who is inspiring me right now! Do you have someone who is inspiring you? If you do, take a little time tomorrow and tell them!

So as I work through all these emotions for myself, one strategy I'm using is I'm trying really hard to be intentional with my thoughts and time (not easy to do sometimes). In addition to doing all I can for FHS, I started taking a Kindness Challenge (see more on that below), and I've always wanted to write a book about my Grandpa who was a soldier in WW2, so I started working on that a bit to mix up my day, and oh, I started working on my graduation speech (shout out 2020!)

Thanks for reading, more info for ya below!

Get 'em-

Mr. Bakke

Kathryn shared with me that she has found a song that has been really encouraging to her, she shared it with me and said I could share it with you all, thanks Kathryn! You might have heard it, its called, "The Bones." I think she is right, the words in this song are definitely something we can draw strength from... hey Fife, our bones are good!

The Bones

Maren Morris

We're in the homestretch of the hard times
We took a hard left, but we're alright
Yeah, life sure can try to put love through it, but
We built this right, so nothing's ever gonna move it

When the bones are good, the rest don't matter
Yeah, the paint could peel, the glass could shatter
Let it rain 'cause you and I remain the same
When there ain't a crack in the foundation
Baby, I know any storm we're facing
Will blow right over while we stay put
The house don't fall when the bones are good

Call it dumb luck, but baby, you and I
Can't even mess it up, although we both try
No, it don't always go the way we planned it
But the wolves came and went and we're still standing

When the bones are good, the rest don't matter
Yeah, the paint could peel, the glass could shatter
Let it rain 'cause you and I remain the same
When there ain't a crack in the foundation
Baby, I know any storm we're facing
Will blow right over while we stay put
The house don't fall when the bones are good
When the bones are good

Bones are good, the rest, the rest don't matter (baby, it don't really matter)
Paint could peel, the glass could shatter (oh, the glass, oh, the glass could shatter)
Bones are good, the rest, the rest don't matter (ooh)
Paint could peel, the glass, the glass could shatter (yeah)

When the bones are good, the rest don't matter
Yeah, the paint could peel, the glass could shatter
Let it rain (let it rain, let it rain)
'Cause you and I remain the same (woo)
When there ain't a crack in the foundation (woo)
Baby, I know any storm we're facing
Will blow right over while we stay put
The house don't fall when the bones are good

Trojans! A few days ago I started participating in the Kindness challenge, one act of kindness practice a day. On this page linked below, you can download a journal page, a socially shareable image, and watch the daily video. Might be something your interested in. I find that if you can figure out a way to help people it makes make this more tolerable.

You can tag your posts with #deepkindness

Kindness Challenge

• The 5 priorities for schools were specifically addressed by the State Superintendent, Chris Reykdahl (Pictured above). The priorities, in order are:

1. Food service for students
2. Apportionment (funding for schools)
3. Childcare for essential workers (healthcare professionals and first responders)
4. High school seniors and graduation
5. Distance learning with assured equity for all students

• These are the priorities our district is working on right now in that specific priority order. As many of you have seen, priorities 1, 2, and 3 are in the works.
• You will see information in the next day or two adjusting delivery times and possibly locations of bus routes so stay tuned for that.
• The district is in the process of setting up child care for families of first responders, a survey went out that your parents hopefully saw.
• We are waiting from OSPI (the state) to give us direction for priorities 4 and 5, they will make decision on credits, grad requirements, things like that, which they will pass along to us soon.
• Priority 5, distance learning, which is basically school for everybody other than high school seniors, has not been specifically addressed by OPSI, except for the requirement of equity. Meaning, everyone has access to it. When/if the requirement for distance learning comes, we will be ready. We have built a web platform for our teachers to use. We have identified appropriate resources. We are building capacity to support families without internet access.

So I really felt like I needed something just incredibly inspiring and uplifting, you might feel like that to... watch Miracle about the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team. Its inspiring and heart warming, and you DON"T have to like sports to like it.

Past suggestions:

• Icarus
• Groundhogs Day

3/13/20

Dear Fife Students,

You are facing truly unprecedented events, and this will be something you will never forget for the rest of your life. I am so sorry you are going through it. I’m sorry that for so many of you, the rewards from the hard work you have put into your sports, concerts, and productions is being taken from you. I’m sorry that your education is getting temporarily compromised. I’m sorry for all the special events that were scheduled that have been canceled. These are memories you won’t get back. I am sorry if you are feeling fear. I know these events are going to impact us all in a lot of scary ways.

But to our beloved FHS students, do not lose hope! My grandparents generation was called, “the greatest generation.” A lot of people think this is simply because of the extreme sacrifice they made during World War II fighting for the freedom of the world, but that is only part of the story. This was the same generation that grew up in the depression, during the worst economic times in our history. They suffered tremendous loss and faced incredible adversity, when terms like “rationing” were everyday vocabulary. They never lost hope, and in spite of those hard times they went through, they went on to save the world.

Fife students, this is your time to show that you have the makings of also being a “great generation.” You are going through historic adversity, which means it's your opportunity to shine bright. Shine by showing others how you care, by your resilience, by being extra helpful with your family, and by showing empathy and encouragement with your peers, and community. Even yesterday you put together a rush food drive and collected hundreds of items in just one day. We continue to be so proud of you!

.

I want you to again be reminded why we say “Get ‘Em Trojans.” In Fife it means that we will not back down, that there isn’t a challenge, adversity, competition, or tough test that will sway us...there is no such thing as insurmountable odds; in Fife we do not lose hope, and we do not quit. We Get ‘em Trojans!

I can’t wait to see you in a few weeks, when we finish the school year the way we are supposed to... together. Make good decisions today and in the few weeks ahead. And Get ‘Em Trojans.

Sincerely,

Mr. Bakke

Email: tgieck@fifeschools.com
Website: https://fhs.fifeschools.com/
Location: 5616 20th St E, Fife, WA, USA
Phone: 253-891-5500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fifehigh/
Twitter: @fifeHSTrojans