WHPE Update December, 2020

"Reach Everyone"

Greetings Everyone,

It is Sunday following Thanksgiving as I write this. People are ending a holiday weekend and preparing to go back to work. The Thanksgiving holiday was different this year as people were recommended to not gather in large groups. The holiday was the same as other years as folks gathered in their immediate circles and enjoyed each other’s company.

Although the changes in Thanksgiving routine were inconvenient, they were not significant in the big picture. Early last week, one of my colleagues told me her mother had passed away from COVID-19. From what I know, once her mother contracted COVID, the end came rather quickly.

Perspective

How suddenly things are put into perspective. We likely have already recovered from our Thanksgiving inconvenience. We have been teaching in inconvenient and challenging situations. But we know eventually that will change and we will return to “normal” teaching. My colleague’s mother won’t return.

My father passed away more than 30 years ago and I know what my colleague is going through and what any of our members have gone through who has lost a loved one. It is important to be thankful for and appreciate those individuals around us. It is important to appreciate what we have in life, even if at times what life gives us is frustrating.

Your Health

As the calendar heads into the winter season coupled with the continuation of COVID-19 and the anticipated arrival of the flu season, please take care of yourself. You are important to your family, your students, and all of us. Role model how to be healthy. By looking out for ourselves, we look out for people around us, and we Reach Everyone.

Best wishes. Have a safe, healthy, and enjoyable December.

Dan Timm

WHPE president

dtimm@education.wisc.edu

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Congratulations Shannon Maly!

Shannon Maly (High School Division Vice President) was recently announced as the SHAPE America Midwest District High School Teacher-of-the-Year. Congratulations, Shannon! WHPE has been home to numerous Teachers-of-the-Year and we are proud to welcome Shannon to that group. Her student-focused teaching and innovative instructional design have enhanced the lives of Sun Prairie High School students. Best wishes Shannon as you move on to the SHAPE America National Teacher-of-the-Year competition.

Professional Development

Two more professional development sessions are coming your way this month. An Elementary Roundtable with Twitter Chat will be held on Wednesday, December 2 at 7:00 pm. Will Westphal (Central District Coordinator) and Kim Selby (Elementary Division Vice President) will be coordinating the discussion. Join in, share what you do, and learn what others do.

On Wednesday, December 16 at 7:00 pm, Adapted Physical Education Vice President Sadie Brown will coordinate an Adapted Physical Education Question and Answer session. Sadie is looking for members to ask questions and brainstorm ideas about how to teach adapted physical education virtually.

If you have a desire/need for a specific professional development topic, let me know and we will do our best to present that topic.

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Accolades Column

As I mentioned in the November SMORE, a new column for WHPE members is being initiated in the Winter Newsletter. Accolades is a column for members to receive a hearty congratulations and pat-on-the-back from WHPE for a recent professional honor or recognition. You folks are doing great things. We can recognize you only if you tell us what you have done. Did you receive an honor or recognition from your school district for teaching, coaching, mentoring, or service? What about work you have done in the community? Did your students receive recognition in which you played an instrumental role? These are just some examples. Please send your name, school, town/city, and professional accomplishment to Nicole Popowich at npopowich@uwlax.edu by December 15. We really want to hear what you have done.

Newsletter Submission

December 15 is the deadline for all submissions to the Winter Newsletter. The richness of the newsletter is amplified by submissions from our members. What are you doing that other members would benefit by knowing? Sharing your ideas help make others better teachers and ultimately enhances the lives of the youth in the state. Send your submission to Nicole Popowich at npopowich@uwlax.edu

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Health.Moves.Minds/Game-On

People are signing up to do a Health.Moves.Minds or Game-On fundraiser. Have you? Even if you are teaching remotely, now is a good time to fundraise and donate some of the proceeds to a local charity. WHPE also receives a portion of the funds raised. Take a look at this video comparing the programs https://youtu.be/1HXMXNnudKM Contact Katie Mulloy katie.mulloy@nbexcellence.org with any questions about either program.

Convention

The WHPE Convention is currently scheduled for March 24-26 at the Wilderness Resort/Glacier Canyon Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells. The Board of Directors will be making a decision later this week at its December meeting regarding how we will proceed with convention. Whatever format convention ends up being, we’re going to put something together that will be worth your time so mark your calendar for those dates. I think everyone is yearning for convention so let’s start planning on getting together in March! The Board has been monitoring the COVID situation in the state and the prognosis for spring and will have something to report to you soon.

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Strategic Plan

Our current strategic plan runs through the end of 2020. Another item that will be on the agenda for the Board of Directors Meeting later this week will be to begin developing a strategic plan for the next several years. If you have a thought about the strategic plan, please send me your ideas in the next couple days. Our current strategic plan can be viewed at http://whpe.us/strategic-plan What parts of the plan should be continued, what parts should be changed, what new items should be added? Send your thoughts to me at dtimm@education.wisc.edu Thank you to the Past Presidents who shared their ideas regarding the updating of the strategic plan.