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Wow! What a year! Hard to believe what just happened in 2020, so we don’t say this lightly when we say thank you for your unwavering leadership this past year. Regardless of the role you play in the system, your leadership has mattered. And, it’s been the collective leadership of everyone coming together to work through the challenges presented to us this past year.

In our final 51������ News episode for 2020, we discuss some of those emails you’ve been getting from us about Cispus, impacting your kids with a powerful MLK experience in January, our partnership with world-renowned educator, YouTube video sensation and TED talker Shelley Moore for two Leading For Inclusion events, some professional advice for you during your Winter Break, and our holiday office closure.

Chances are you’ve participated in or at least heard of a white elephant gift exchange. Each year before we close the office for the holidays, the 51������ staff holds a white elephant gift exchange, typically at our office or a restaurant. We gather around a table and one by one, choose, open, and steal gifts. We’ve had people bring old mix tapes, creepy bird paintings, and even a full-size family wall portrait. Many people leave the exchange with something cute or fun – silly socks, tasty treats, or new bowls for their kitchen. But undoubtedly someone leaves with something they never expected, never wanted, and aren’t sure what to do with now. They take the gift home awkwardly, vowing to save it and pawn it off on someone at next year’s exchange.  When you think about it, 2020 has been a white elephant year of sorts. We certainly weren’t expecting it, most of us had no idea what to do with it, and I’m pretty sure we’ve all thought more than once that we wish we could send it back. (Sorry! Leaving unwanted gifts behind at the restaurant is not allowed.) Being stuck with it, we’ve had to learn to make the most of it.

Each year, the staff at 51������ signs up to sponsor two or three families for the holidays through the Tumwater Lions Club. it's a tradition we look forward to annually as each year draws to a close. We started our staff tradition about 10 years ago. It used to be that we bought gifts for each other. We'd draw names for a secret Santa exchange, then purchase a surprise gift for the person whose name we chose based on their list of hobbies and interests. While the internal gift exchange was fun, we all agreed that none of us actually needed those gifts, and that the money would be better used shopping for families in need.

In a recent article published by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), author Mica Pollock addresses the topic of hateful speech in schools. She writes, “hate-filled speech has been on the rise as students (and adults) emulate divisive and derogatory language heard in national rhetoric and policy.” So how might educators respond to hateful speech?