The end of January brought a chill to Van Horne in more ways than one. Between late starts and no school days, it has been far from a traditional start to the second semester. This has required us as teachers and our students to adapt while also relying on our peers for assistance and support. The sense of community that we have in the math department is strong because of the different experiences each teacher employs. When one of us has a question about a teaching strategy we want to use, we can go to our peers for advice without any fear of judgment. This closeness has truly been tested recently. Not just at a department level but also at the building level.
The January chill we all experienced was certainly amplified by the passing of Derek Anderson on January 20th. The entire community has struggled with this loss and it definitely hit home with all of us at the MS/HS. Derek was the best of us and he always focused on the positive and what he could control. One way that we have all coped with this loss is by relying on each other. As a teaching staff, it is important to realize the benefit that relying on our peers can have both professionally and personally. February can test the mettle of both staff and students, but by relying on our professional community we all will get through this difficult time.