February 8 - 19, 2021

IGDVS Newsletter
Feb 8, 2021
5 min read

Updated: Oct 19, 2021

Dear Families, Teachers, and Students,

Our school Chinese New Year celebration is coming up on February 12 from 11:15-12:45. There will be fun activities and performances from students. We have also teamed up with Greater Ukiah Chamber of Commerce for a virtual community celebration on February 19 from 3:00-4:00 pm. We hope you can attend these events. More information will be sent out soon. IGDVS continues to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The Education Board has tasked the school to explore possible reopening for hybrid mode in COVID Red Tier. We will also send out a K-6 survey soon. More information will be communicated in the coming weeks so please be patient with us. Thank you for your continued support. Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely, The IGDVS Team

COVID-19 Education

2020 has certainly not been an ideal year. For the past year, COVID-19 has been ravaging the whole world, political unrest and shocking news threaten to destabilize the United States, and everyone has suddenly been confined to their homes. And yet, the people who work hardest of all are the healthcare workers. Throughout this difficult period, they continue to help and support us, not giving up when the future seems bleak. Therefore, DVGS would like to give a big thank you to all the medical and healthcare workers for risking their lives and creating hope.

Thank you for treating patients and saving lives even during COVID-19. Thank you for continuing to do your best even with shortages of supplies and people. Thank you for keeping everyone safe despite the risk. Thank you for helping researchers develop a vaccine to combat COVID-19. Thank you for never giving up on us. Thank you for staying on the frontlines, being first responders, and doing your best to contribute. Thank you for keeping an optimistic heart and giving us all hope. Thank you for absolutely everything that you have done for us and for the world. There are no words to express our gratitude and appreciation for all the healthcare workers for their determination, diligence, and compassion that they have shown us during this challenging time. Thank you so much!

Virtue of the Month: Respect

Respect is an important part of interpersonal relationships. It is accepting people for who they are and not trying to change them. Treat others the way you want to be treated. It’s a small world, it doesn't matter who you are, where you are, or what your job is, treat others with respect; they deserve it. Believe that there is a value in everyone, look for the good in people. Recognize that they come from different places and raised differently, you need to acknowledge that. Everyone is capable of doing something and being someone completely different from you, that is something worth respecting. Different Types of Respect:

For self - to value and appreciate oneself regardless of what others think
For others - accepting another person, even though there may be differences
For social norms - the norms that dominate society (examples: others opinions, letting others speak and listening to them, other people’s belongings)
For nature - appreciation for the environment (examples: not wasting water, not harming animals, recycling)
For culture - recognizing that there are other beliefs and respecting them
For values - honor our own principles

Ms. Phi is a Buddhism teacher for juniors and seniors at Developing Virtue Girls School. Question: What inspired you to become a teacher at IGDVS? Ms. Phi: After several years of working inside CTTB at Dharma Realm Buddhist University, I wanted to expand my experience in education. CTTB is one of the rare places in the world where I can work in both K-12 and higher education. Question: What is your most memorable experience when teaching? Ms. Phi: What's most memorable to me about teaching is how brilliant the students reveal themselves to be. The students always make teaching worth it! Question: How many years have you been teaching for? Ms. Phi: I've been teaching since Fall 2018. Question: What is your favorite subject to teach? Ms. Phi: I really enjoyed teaching Ethics 9 and am learning a lot from teaching Buddhism 11/12. Question: What inspires you the most? Ms. Phi: Buddhist teachings, being in nature and observing its magnificence, how resilient humans are, and how expansive the mind is. Question: Could you share a Buddhist passage or principle that you encountered and how it influenced you as a teacher? Ms. Phi:The Platform Sutra by the Sixth Patriarch has influenced me as a teacher. The anecdote that stands out to me is how sometimes the roles get reversed; sometimes the students are the teacher and the teacher becomes the student. That helps me facilitate the classroom in a less hierarchical structure, truly knowing I have much to learn from my students, too!

Question: What is an interesting fact about you that students would be surprised to learn? Ms. Phi: I attended the girls school in 2003, and I now work alongside my former principal from then, Bhikshuni Heng Yin, at the University. Question: Do you have any advice for students or words of wisdom on how to succeed in your class? Ms. Phi: Success in my class is when the material is useful to students outside of the classroom. What I teach in the classroom becomes most meaningful when students are able to reflect on how the principles apply to their everyday lives. Question: What is the best thing about being a teacher? Ms. Phi: Getting to read the wise and beautiful insights that students share in their writing; it is the reward that comes along with grading papers :) Question: What is your favorite way to relax? Ms. Phi: Traveling -- it helps to be in different scenery. Getting cozy in a coffee shop with books or over conversation with friends. Being in nature and taking long hikes.

Environmental Article: 6 Steps to Starting a Garden by Reusing Your Plastic Egg Cartons

Step 1: Get a plastic egg carton (minus the eggs) and poke tiny holes in the bottom.

Step 2: Fill it with nutritious soil.

Step 3: Research on the best plants and foods to grow during whatever time of the year it is.

Step 4: Plant your seeds 2-3 times its width, below the dirt.

Step 5: Mist/water them every morning and night (nothing too harsh).

Step 6: Once they seem to be too big for the carton, put them into small pots and make sure they

have plenty of sun, soil, and water.

Vegan Recipes

Vegan Smoothie Bowl Ingredients: smoothie mix

1 ½ cups berry mix or frozen fruit mix of choice
1 ½ fresh banana (use the other half sliced on top)
2 tablespoons almond or natural peanut butter
½ cup water
3 – 4 ice cubes

some optional toppings:

granola
coconut
cacao nibs
natural nut butters (almond, peanut, etc.)
banana
blueberries
strawberries
grapes
kiwi
goji berries
hemp hearts
chia seeds
pomegranate seeds
almonds
pumpkin seeds

Instructions: In a blender, place berry mix, banana, nut butter, water and ice cubes. Blend until thick and creamy. Pour into the serving dish and top with whatever toppings you like. Serves one. Recipe from The Simple Veganista https://simple-veganista.com/enlighten-smoothie-bow/