Letter to Parents Regarding Ending Home Based Learning 2nd Six Weeks

Required Rights and Responsibilities Notice from TEA

Required Rights and Responsibilities Notice Spanish

August 16^th, 2020

To the Supporters of The Junction Eagles:

Community can be defined as a group of people who share a common set of attitudes, interests, and goals. We are Junction! We are proud! We love our kids! We may not all agree on everything, but one thing I do know we all have in common is that we love our kids. Please know that I am not writing this to make a political statement or to bring division into our community. My request is simple, despite the craziness around us, let’s rally around our kids and do everything we can to make sure they get to have a great experience this year as they head back to the classroom, to the gym, to the field, and to all the other extracurricular endeavors of their choosing. Like it or not, one thing can keep that all from happening, COVID-19 and all that is associated with its existence. 

If wearing a mask at our school and at our events can help to prevent the spread of the virus, then I say we should wear them. If wearing a mask at our school and at our events can give our kids a better chance of continuing to reap the benefits of face to face instruction, then I say we should wear them. If wearing a mask at our school and at our events can increase the chances of our kids playing the games they love to play and that we love to watch, I say we should wear them. If wearing a mask at our school and at our events allows others to feel more comfortable in the crowd, then I say we should wear one. If there is someone in the crowd that is torn because they are having to make a decision between supporting their own child by attending a competition and protecting their high risk loved ones at home, then I say we should wear one.

You may not see the relevance here, many of you will, but I will end this by sharing a story. I have been married to the same woman for over 30 years, and I do a lot of unnecessary things now that I never thought that I would ever be doing. Things like throwing my clothes in the dirty clothes hamper, washing my dishes after I eat, taking out the trash when it gets full, you know, crazy stuff like that. As it turns out, by doing those things, something magic begin to happen. My clothes started getting washed, food began to show up on the table, and she stopped “ordering” me to take out the trash. Looking back, I think it had something to do with one little word, respect. You see, I no longer lived by myself, I was part of a team that involved another person. What a shock it was when I found out that it was not all about me anymore. When the kids started showing up it really got ridiculous.

Seriously though, we are all a part of this community. A community that respects one another and a community that loves our kids enough to put our personal opinions aside to give them a chance for normalcy. If wearing a mask can help protect in any way, if it can help our kids continue to participate, if it can help to show respect to one another, and if in some strange way, it can unify us as a community, let’s do it. Until things change, we are going to ask you to wear a mask when you attend a school function. Please do not make it any more difficult for us than it already is by refusing. Thank you for your support.  

With Utmost Respect,

Mike Carter
Superintendent, Junction ISD