BY: RACHEL WUMKES
Every year, the teachers and staff of the Clear Lake Community School District are welcomed back with a hint of flair and a splash of flashy pizzazz. Beginning with a catered breakfast fit for a King, they are then lavished with incredibly amazing gifts from local retailers and business owners.
It’s a tradition honored at many schools across the country. A simple act of kindness to show teachers and faculty in our school district how much they are valued within our community.
I’m blown away by the thoughtfulness and creativity our sponsors have mustered over the years. Items line the tables as patrons choose where they would like to sit based on the gifts available. Things such as gift bags filled with pampering products, or a crate loaded with everything you would need for a margarita night with the girls.
The teachers then move to the auditorium as they begin meetings pertaining to the upcoming school year before branching off with their respective teams to head to the classrooms.
I guarantee not a single one of them would have imagined the school year would end the way it did last Spring.
I can also guarantee they have felt just about every emotion under the sun between then and now. Worry about their students. Concern of the unknown. Anxiety over the protocols and extra precautions. Stress. Sadness. Pressure.
Fear.
I don’t know about you, but I gained a newfound appreciation for our educators on every level last Spring when I was suddenly thrust into the role of teacher.
It wasn’t fun. Not even a little.
If I had felt the calling all those years ago when attending college, I would have chosen education for a career path. I completely lack, however, a certain set of essential skills teachers possess.
**Spoiler Alert – said essential skill is Patience**
And so, here we are once again on the cusp of another school year. An odd beginning to coincide with the odd ending. While our teachers, faculty and staff plan to do everything they can to ensure our kiddos are as safe as possible while their little brains are filled with knowledge, it’s OUR job to support them on every level.
Starting with the Teacher Appreciation event which will be held on Wednesday, August 19th. As with anything these days, we’ve had to alter the setup a bit because of space and capacity limits. Half of the school staff will be attending a morning session, and half will be attending an afternoon session. To accommodate everyone, the Chamber Team will offer a boxed breakfast for the morning crew, and a boxed lunch for those in the afternoon session.
Incidentally, we are also looking for more table sponsors. While we’re asking each sponsor to provide 8 or 12 gifts (depending on their table size), the tables will only be set to half capacity. The other half of the gifts will be stored for the afternoon session. When the morning session is complete, the Chamber Team will sanitize and re-supply the tables with gifts for the afternoon session.
Unfortunately, sponsors will not be able to stay and mingle with teachers like we have done in past years. We will, however, be putting together a short video recognizing sponsors that will be played after their meal.
If you choose to participate, the investment is $200 and will provide the funds needed to purchase meals for the entire staff. Please contact Stacy Doughan – stacy@clearlakeiowa.com or 641-357-2159.
This is the year, folks. The one where we NEED to rally together. Where it’s imperative to all be on the same page – preferably a one overflowing with positivity and kindness. When we say ‘we’re all in this together’ it’s not just a neat phrase that looks cool on a t-shirt.
It’s our mantra.
Time to prove it.