As we come towards the end of the year 2020 one of the “words of the year” has to be the word pivot. Pivot seems to be a word that educators have used to describe the movement between in person and virtual learning. In my memory pivot will always refer to my years coaching middle school basketball in Dubuque. The pivot is a tough term to teach new players, as oftentimes we are used to “going where we want” and never slowing down to see what is really happening on the court.
The website basketball wiki defines pivot as: “when a player maintains one foot having contact with the ground without changing its position on the floor and utilizes the other foot to rotate their body to improve position while in possession of the basketball. Pivoting helps a player avoid a defensive player and find an opening on the court to take a shot, make a pass, or dribble toward the basket.”
The pivot is a fascinating concept if we take it beyond just the life of a basketball player and court. This year at school we have continually had to pivot in almost all of our decision making. We continue to keep one foot on the floor (the ability to teach our students in person each and every day) but we have also had to improve our position to help not only our students, but our teachers, and more importantly our community.
Traditionally each year we have our students participate in a Halloween parade across the stage in the gym. It is something that the students look forward to, as they get to show off their costumes to their school community. Due to COVID-19 we are not having assemblies in the gym, so the teachers brainstormed ways to improve the position, while keeping our feet firmly on the ground. The results: an outside Halloween parade up 15th St. where the rest of the student body could look out from their classroom windows towards the parading students showing off their costumes. It was simple, but fun, and to be honest a new change that many people appreciated.
The pivoting continued, as every year we host a wonderful Grandparents Day celebration at school. It includes mass, followed by cookies, and a concert in the gym. We were again faced with the option of not having this, or pivoting to try something new and different. Our amazing teachers came up with the idea of doing a car parade. Inviting all of our grandparents to drive through our parking lot, being serenaded by our students. The students were able to go visit their grandparents and give them a gift. This pivot was truly amazing, the love and excitement came through, and yes, we realized it was not the same as in years past, but it was something. Something to remember and cherish during this time.
Finally we came to a rather large pivot, for the first time in 41 years St. Victor School will not be hosting its traditional Brunch with Santa. The committee met and made the decision that we needed to offer something safe and fun for families. From this pivot, was born “Evening Lights with Santa ‘’ to be held on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Green County Fairgrounds. This is something new, it will never replace the gym being decorated and the excitement for the arrival of Santa, but it will be something that could bring us all together as we prepare for Christmas. So please join us for this new pivot in the celebration of Christmas.
We have been able to use the concept of pivot, we have been able to work together while keeping one foot on the ground, but yet improving the way we see the court (the world) and see all the options that are now available to us.
How does the concept of pivot work in your life? Whether you like it or not, our country will be pivoting in terms of the leadership in the next four years. My question is when it is time to make this pivot, what will you personally be doing to keep your foot on the ground, but also seeing all the options that are available to you? We as a country need to pivot from anger, resentment, and conflict towards peace, encouragement, and community. If the election taught us anything, we are a nation divided, but what the concept of pivoting can teach us is this: You can keep your foot firmly planted but use the other one to see all the different options that are available to you. Pivoting is about the ability to improve oneself, your position on the court. But it is also the ability to improve your team (those you care most about, and even those you may not).
All of us have our foot firmly planted on the court: we know right from wrong, we know that being kind is much more important than being mean, we know that only by working together do problems get solved and creative solutions get born. Now more than ever it is time to pivot, to move around and see all the options that are available to each and every one of us. You will be surprised at what you see as you look around the court. Keep your eyes open, and continue to work together. Our schools, our community, and our nation needs this, now more than ever.
— Joe Peters is the principal at St. Victor School in Monroe. He can be reached at joepeters@stvictormonroe.org.
