Good Shepherd Fun Run -- February 19, 2025

We were blessed on Valentine's Day to have clear skies at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica. In the afternoon we had the annual Fun Run. Grades K-4 ran or walked around the lower yard, and 6-8 ran around the upper yard. As each kid finished a lap, a parent checked off a box on the back of his or her shirt. 

Mister Softee was there to supply ice cream.

Catholic Schools Week, 2025 -- January 26, 2025

Today is the start of Catholic Schools Week.

I'm grateful that my parents put me in Catholic schools for 12 years. I'm also grateful to my teachers.

Good Shepherd School in Pacifica gave our daughter a great education and continues to do the same for many other children. My wife teaches there, and I feel proud to be a part-time member of the faculty. Our daughter teaches at a Catholic school in Daly City. 

Good Shepherd School is worth considering if you live in or near Pacifica:

http://goodshepherdschool.us/

The 11 o'clock mass at Good Shepherd Church was a school mass. The kids did well with the reading. The choir sounded good. After mass, there was an open house at the school. The technology lab was mostly occupied by science fair exhibits, but I had a slide show running on the big screen and a couple of laptops on a table. I talked to many families. Some have their kids in Ocean Shore School, which is going to close.

Tsunami Alert -- December 8, 2024

So, Wednesday I was sitting on one side of the lab getting ready for second grade and the singing teacher was working with a class on the other side. The loudspeaker came on and said we were having a tsunami alert. The teacher is new, so I told the kids to go to the upper yard and where to line up. All the kids kept quiet.

Thursday after morning recess, I was teaching coding to the third grade. My wife, the third-grade teacher, said she had just gotten an alert about a 7.something earthquake off the coast of Eureka. Soon after, she received a tsunami alert. The principal checked with the public school district and found that they were evacuating their schools, so we had to do the same. I had to explain to worried students that an earthquake near Eureka was unlikely to cause a major tsunami in Pacifica, and that we were high on a hill, so we were outside of the tsunami hazard zone. 

It took parents a few hours to pick up their kids. The alert was cancelled when sensors showed no change in sea level in the area of the earthquake.

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- August 31, 2024

cdc.gov

The FDA has approved new vaccines for the latest variants of COVID-19. 

School is back in session. Not many people are wearing masks. The power went out after lunch recess on Thursday, so I just talked to the kindergarten class. 

The Democratic National Convention was fun. There was a lot of positive energy. I like Governor Tim Walz. 

The Giants are having trouble scoring runs. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- July 31, 2024

cdc.gov

COVID-19 statistics have been going up. 

We had an insane month, with an awful debate between President Joe Biden and convicted felon Donald Trump, the Republican National Convention, President Biden withdrew in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. 

We seem to have a stalemate in Ukraine. 

The Paris Olympics started with an entertaining opening ceremony.

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- June 30, 2024

kp.org

"Respiratory illnesses are on the rise, so it's important to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine now." We haven't gotten our update yet. 

Willie Mays died. That same week, the Giants and Cardinals played at Rickwood Field in Birmingham in a tribute to Willie Mays and the Negro Leagues. The ceremonies were nice, but the Giants lost. The Giants came home on the 24th, appropriately, and all the players wore the number 24. The Giants beat the Cubs on a walk-off walk. 

Later in the month, Orlando Cepeda also died. 

We finished the 2023-2024 school year. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- March 30, 2024

cdc.gov

Covid-19 trends seem to be going down. Many people seem to be coming down with Covid-19 again, but the cases may be milder.  

More food aid is getting to Gaza, but there is still a risk of mass starvation. Israel is preparing to enter the last city in the south of Gaza, Rafah. President Biden called on the Israelis to be more careful of innocent lives. The whole world is calling for a ceasefire. 

The House is still delaying aid to Ukraine. The Republican Party is beholden to Putin. I am sorry to have to write that. 

The Giants have had a mixed record in spring training. It has been nice to see Pablo Sandoval again. He probably made his last appearance as a Giant during the Bay Bridge Series. 

Our former so-called president had until 25-March-2024 to post a huge bond after losing his real estate fraud case. His lawyers were able to get the bond amount reduced and to get an additional ten days. 

My students are making good progress with Code Avengers. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- February 29, 2024

cdc.gov

Covid-19 trends seem to be going down. On the other hand, nearly everyone I know has some kind of a nasty virus. 

Israel has paused before attacking the southernmost part of Gaza. People all over the world are calling for a ceasefire or evacuation of civilians. A US Airman immolated himself in front of the Israeli Embassy. The US and other countries have started to airdrop humanitarian supplies in Gaza. 

moveon.org

Congress is still delaying aid to Ukraine, which is running short on ammunition. The Republican Pary appears to be beholden to Putin. 24-February-2024 marked two years since Russia invaded Ukraine. 

Spring training has started. Brandon Crawford has signed with the Cardinals. 

Trump lost a real estate fraud case and was ordered to pay $355 million. 

A bee flew into the computer lab today. The first graders wigged out. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- January 31, 2024

cdc.gov

California has updated its COVID guidelines on isolation.

covid.ca.gov

Israel has changed the intensity of its operations in Gaza. Famine is spreading in the area. 

Ukraine and Russia appear to be in a stalemate.

Dusty Baker is returning to the Giants as a special assistant. 

Trump lost another lawsuit and will pay $83.3 million.

Catholic Schools Week started at Good Shepherd. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- December 31, 2023

cdc.gov

COVID infections are rising because of holiday gatherings and a new variant, JM.1.

Israel continues to lay waste to Gaza. They are losing much sympathy.

Ukraine has destroyed a significant part of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Russian soldiers are reported as surrendering to get away from abuse by their officers. 

The Giants signed outfielder Jung Hoo Lee from the Korean League. 

One day after it rained, I was doing yard duty with Kindergarten and most of us stood around a puddle and observed earthworms swimming. We discussed where earthworms live, what they eat and we reached a consensus that they don't wear shoes. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- November 30, 2023

cdc.gov

My wife and I have finally gotten our new COVID-19 boosters and our flu shots. I should ask my doctor if we need to get the RSV shot, too.

The Giants have been quiet. 

Congress managed to hold off a government shutdown until the new year.

The war between Israel and Hamas had a cease fire based on the exchange of prisoners. 

Ukraine is making progress with its counterattack. 
 

We finished the first trimester at Good Shepherd School and my students are doing well in technology and coding. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- October 30, 2023

cdc.gov

My wife and I have been beset by bad coughs, so we have not yet gotten our new COVID-19 boosters. We hope to get our flu shots at the same time.

The Giants signed Bob Melvin as their new manager. I remember when he played for the Giants. He was very good when he managed the Athletics. Working for a team that pays people in money rather than hot dogs should be even better. 

Bruce Bochy's Texas Rangers beat Dusty Baker's Houston Astros in the ALCS. Dusty Baker announced his retirement. Texas and Arizona played in the World Series. 

We went without a Speaker of the House for most of the month. The guy they chose voted against certifying the election and is a Trump cultist. 

We have been able to use the computer lab at Good Shepherd and it is working well. 

There are reports that Russian troops in Ukraine are performing acts of insubordination..

Feast of Saint Francis, 2023 -- October 4, 2023

www.brainyquote.com

Today is the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.

"Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance."

Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/francis_of_assisi_392040

Today I was able to attend the blessing of the animals at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica. I have been in all week putting the computer lab back together. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- September 30, 2023

cdc.gov

COVID-19 is on the rise again. A new vaccine is available. I have been wearing my mask more outside of the house.

The Ukrainian offensive is making progress. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to the US to address the UN General Assembly. Many Republicans are taking Putin's side, calling for an end to aid.

The Giants struggled along to the end of the season. They remained in contention for a wildcard spot for a surprisingly long time. Manager Gabe Kaplan got fired with three games to go. 

They moved the tabernacle at Good Shepherd Church. I have been teaching at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica, but they tore the floor out of the computer lab and redid it. When that was done, they redid the walkway outside. When all of that was done, the Scholastic Book Fair took over the room for a week. 

Good Shepherd -- Grandparents' Day -- September 24, 2023

Friday was Grandparents' Day at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica. My only formal duty job was yard duty. I sat with Third Grade at the prayer service. After I helped to direct grandparents to the gym. I read a social studies test to a Third Grader who needed help and then graded spelling tests. I helped to march them over to sing their song for the grandparents. They did fine. Then we waited in the classroom for grandparents to pick up kids. I spoke to some of the grandparents. There were only four left. They used scratch on their Chromebooks. 

Back to School -- August 23, 2023

The kids at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica started the school year last week. Today I start teaching coding and technology. This year I am teaching K-3. Older kids will be part of a technology program offered by the Salesians. I want to sit in and see what they are doing. 

End of the School Year -- June 9, 2023

Today was the last day of the school year at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica. I got invited to the faculty lunch at the Nick's, a Pacifica institution. People were happy and the food was good. I had fish and chips. 

I didn't get to start teaching until April, so we only had five sessions for each grade. This year I started teaching Fifth grade as well as K-4. There was a problem with the licensing for Code Avengers, so I improvised and found a good implementation of TurtleGraphics. The kids were very enthusiastic. 

Catholic Schools Week, 2023 -- January 29, 2023

Today is the start of Catholic Schools Week.

I'm grateful that my parents put me in Catholic schools for 12 years. I'm also grateful to my teachers.

Good Shepherd School in Pacifica gave our daughter a great education and continues to do the same for many other children. My wife teaches there, and I feel proud to be a part-time member of the faculty. Our daughter teaches at a Catholic school in Daly City. 

Good Shepherd School is worth considering if you live in or near Pacifica:
http://goodshepherdschool.us/

The 11 o'clock mass at Good Shepherd Church was a school mass. The kids did well with the reading. The choir sounded good. After mass, there was an open house at the school. I sat in the computer lab, didn't get many visitors. I think some families didn't come because the 49ers were playing in the NFC championship game. They lost. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- July 31, 2022

nytimes.com

The highly contagious BA 4 and BA 5 subvariants of the COVID-19 Omicron variant are driving up infections and hospitalization. BART has resumed its mask requirement. 

The Giants, who have had many injuries, were swept in a road trip to Los Angeles and Arizona, but won the first home game against the Cubs. 

Church attendance may be picking up. 

The new pandemic is MonkeyPox. 

unsplash.com

Ukraine continues to fight the Russian invasion. The invasion helped Sweden and Finland decide to join NATO.

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- June 30, 2022

nytimes.com

Some sources say that variants of the COVID-19 Omicron variant could potentially infect everyone in the Bay Area. Some extended care places are reimposing lockdowns.

Attendance may be going up a bit at mass.

The Giants are struggling.