Student Questions, answered. Part 1

Your April 3, 2020 questions, answered here!

To those who asked a question of me on the April 3, 2020 Attendance for Basic Skills, here are your answers: 

1. LV asked, "What was college like?" 

• I was not a traditional college student. I went to college at the age of 24, six years after I graduated high school. I wasn't even sure I would get in a college (in this case Purdue Calumet, now known as Purdue Northwest, Hammond Campus) because my high school GPA was so low. I attended college for the next eight years on a part-time basis. I was working full time for most of the year, living with and taking care of my grandmother; when she had to move to a skilled nursing home, I had to get my own place with all the bills that come with it. College was mostly fun. It could be a challenge at times, and I certainly wanted to quit at different time, but I am glad I didn't. 

2. JH asked, "How do you feel about what's going on the world right now?" 

• That's a tough question. No one alive has had to go through anything like this in the last 102 years, since the 1918 H1N1 flu pandemic (good Wikipedia article here- very well sourced: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu. I highly recommend you read it.). Even my grandparents, the oldest of whom would be 109 years old this year, never mentioned living through it. I feel that this will pass- technology and science will come together and beat this back, maybe making it into a seasonal thing like the common cold or the 'regular' flu. However, I feel like I might be trying to put on a brave face, when I mostly feel uncertain about the state of the world right now. 

3. SC asked, "How do you like the nice weather?"

• I love it. It's so much easier to walk or ride my bike with my dog when it isn't cold and rainy/snowy.

4. KA, AW, AW (two of 'em!), and JL asked me variations of "What/how are you doing; What have been doing during your days off; What did you do this week?"

• I am doing well. See question number 2...but generally well. You? 
• Days off? Like Spring Break? HAHAHAHAHAHA. Ha. What days off? This e-learning is really igniting me to create more lessons! That, and grades. Guess which I'm lagging on getting done? There is almost no day that goes by where I don't do something related to school. It's not like I'm doing ten straight hours of work a day, but the bits here and there can add up. 

5. EG asked, "Do you know if there will be a day when we'll be able to go to school to clean out our lockers?"

• From what I gathered Superintendent Miller said, yes (right here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJSB4dZTj34).

6. JD asked, "How will all the seniors graduate?"

• The easy answer is "Do their work." I apologize. See the video link above in my answer to question number 5. I truly don't know what will happen. For me, beside seeing all my seniors graduate in person, I'm not going to be able to see my nieces (two of them) walk across the stage. These are my oldest nieces, one on my side and one on my wife's side. I love them both dearly, and I will miss this, too. Rats. 

That's about it. If you made it this far, leave a comment below. It might be worth an extra credit point or two. Be safe, and I miss you all. 

E-Learning updates and notes

Hello!

As we move through these uncharted waters of e-learning, I have posted on Google Classroom a Google Slide presentation outlining the school's/my expectations. Please check it out. E-Learning Policy Updates and Expectations

Some thoughts for today...

Hello everyone,

To my students: please check out our Google Classroom. I know it is technically Spring Break, and I certainly do not expect a flood of elearning to be completed, but as you find yourselves bored and otherwise unoccupied, please think about getting some of the light work done (my work).

To parents/guardians: be assured the School City of Hammond is doing its best to keep up with and adapt to these interesting times. Be sure to check your email, Parentsquare app, students' Google Classroom, and the like. Should you need to contact me directly, I can be reached at lfkeilman@hammond.k12.in.us, or the aforementioned apps. I would like to share this email with you from the School City of Hammond regarding Chromebook usage and pickup:

Chromebook Distribution

For those students who do not have a device at home, we have one final distribution tomorrow, March 24th at the Area Career Center in the rear parking lot from 11-2 and again at 4-6. We have a limited number of devices so please go to the website and fill out the form or call so we can prepare. We do have a few hot spots for high school students that don't have reliable Internet access - you can fill out the same form to request one.

District website: http://www.hammond.k12.in.us
Request form: https://bit.ly/SCHCBRequest

If you have any questions, please call 937-1680 and leave a message or email us at chromebook@hammond.k12.in.us, we will get back to you as soon as we can!
__________________________________________________

I recently returned from Portage, Indiana. I took this small trip with my dog, Bootsy, so he doesn't get bored with the same old park, same old walk, etc. He can be a rather stubborn dog, but he knows when things get changed up and generally appreciates the change. At least I think so...he hasn't told me otherwise. If our pets could communicate beyond barks and meows...

I want to remind everyone to keep your heads during this time. Please listen to those who are experts in their field. Please refrain from sensationalism, second- or third-hand rumors, and the like. It is okay to be frightened or worried, but don't let it get the best of you. Today, Governor Holcomb stated we will observe, beginning (region time) 10:59 Tuesday night, a stay in place order. You can find out more here: https://tinyurl.com/wfxrkjd. Conversely, our friends and family in Illinois were given a similar order on Friday, March 20, 2020- https://tinyurl.com/wt24wz9. If you can, please do as our leaders ask. This is not "martial law."

All that said, I hope everyone is okay. We can get through this.

Truly,
Larry Keilman

Fourth Quarter Grades and other Notes

Hello students and parents/guardians,

As you know, elearning is happening as we move through this new and sometimes scary international event. I am aware some are coping with these times in different and sometimes upsetting environments, loss of income, scarcity of home supplies and food, etc.

I am with you all. While we (my family and friends) are fortunate so far, we are aware that many are going without. There has not been a day that has gone by when I haven't thought of you at least once.

I finished up my third quarter grades on Friday, March 20, 2020. As the fourth quarter moves along, I notice several students not completing the work I posted. This can be due to the previously mentioned hardships some are experiencing. I know I would put my 'homework' on the back burner if I had to do so, so I could help out in other areas...stepping up my household chores, trying to help out while my parents are at work and I'm left alone at home, being responsible for younger siblings, etc. I get it. Truly for those students, my heart goes out to you. Those of you who have been dutifully seeing to your academic responsibilities, I thank you. Those of you who might not fit either description, please see to your individual workload.

I have set up a few things to keep in contact with you and your parents: Parentsquare, my blog (http://witlesslyblog.blogspot.com/?m=0), and Google Classroom...in addition to the school's email system. I encourage everyone to check in or just say hello. In these times, contact with another person can be a high point of the day, and informative.

I pledge, even though we are on Spring Break, to keep the fourth quarter grades updated on a regular every other day basis. All fourth quarter assignments are open for you to complete.

Truly,
Mr. Keilman

We're going to try this as a means of communication

Hello!

This is an old blog I had toyed with using several times in the past, but I would like to change this into a daily meeting place for my students and their parents/guardians at GRC. I would like to use this place as another means of more casual conversation and discussion, where everything is safe for you and I to get our concerns out about school, and the current world situation as we enter into a time none of us, and I mean none of us, have ever experienced before today.

To recap:

3/13/20- Governor Brian Holcomb grants 20 days free and clear for all school systems in the state. The president declares a National Emergency, bringing about uncertainty and wider concern about Covid-19. The School City of Hammond closes schools until April 6, 2020, combining ten days of e-learning with the regularly scheduled Spring Break.

3/19/20: Indiana Gov. Holcomb declares all schools are closed until May 1, 2020, pending further updates on the spread of Covid-19. To be clear, this beyond what any of us would have imagined a week ago. It has the potential to get worse before it gets better.

So, where does that leave me? Home, fielding e-learning assignments, creating educational lessons, and grading. I am still going about things as normally as possible- taking my dog out for a walk or to the park, talking with friends on the phone or text, making dinner, doing laundry, getting some groceries as I can. Heck, I am even supposed to go visit a friend and her son in Michigan next week (that might not happen, but it's okay if it doesn't).

I know some of you are very anxious and perhaps scared. I know some families are struggling right now as it is with work stoppages, layoffs, and such. I am aware. I am here if you need to chat.