Your Story Matters at Mason City Schools

This week’s #YourStoryMatters [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/yourstorymatters?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCkShZdyKw56P66fquDaHZXXP2VCApAuPgw_iI-bygZRAo0xFhwpIZfGK2GZtjT5BA3yfZ1LyG4QNpm-7gIOF8qaUgAmqckbRNlTf0NLMJUTSvTon8rGQNOqrIo9tTVqxcLmOweYrAXwbKvY3wykSBf-BedAIZ_2Wkf6B0Kpt9iU-aiVGVaftp40_PcW1s-bm3JtrT0C3utmtm2xV8OfYkYIAzm3ul_aSmOFu7KSiog2-cx6hzYQt3OO5EdqhBE0ESs3g_fmAWWDaayCXxIVxnUP0EG9MogzRl24DMz4cPItgzq9byMvu53obY1a0s9APfX98onHkmg2iEuuw0Nya8kEg&__tn__=%2ANK-R] podcast features Curt Bly, Mason High School’s Varsity Baseball Coach who has taught English to MHS seniors for the last 22 years. Bly shares how he and his family are navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, and some of the ways he is leaning on #CometCulture lessons when helping his students and players process the loss that comes from a school year cut short, and a baseball season cancelled. “There are things that happen in our life that are true perspective-creating events.” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mcsyourstorymatters/message

Fatma Elmaery, Shaimaa Garaween and Brandi Holmes helped found the Lunar Moms, a group of Muslim-American Mason City Schools Moms. The Lunar Moms have spear-headed several efforts to give back to the schools through the Mason Schools Foundation, hosting a CommUNITY Iftar sponsored by Diversity Council, and providing children's books and resources to Mason teachers. This episode of the Your Story Matters podcast was recorded before our country was impacted by COVID-19. A lot has changed since then - including the ability to hold the Diversity Council sponsored CommUNITY Iftar this year. For all of our neighbors who are preparing this week to enter the month-long holiday of Ramaddan, we know it will be different when breaking fast without friends and extended family. We wish you and all of our listeners good health. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mcsyourstorymatters/message

This week’s #YourStoryMatters [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/yourstorymatters?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCEXmG90hZfKZF5-eO47wfp7_jXfiw_L_PhFSTGDOID1ULeUpE_iqRFQdzRvzWOZj2V7DD8sBGYd8tlbFJ6uDj77a4Rs7D6JsaeigiSCQTXT1A75in2fDnU0KzioUBTcsKm4QIaOWoZrekJy09KbtHIM8c4ldZiEYb4J08vbr0Zhxfy1opWRjE0J78y0eavX7RsVppkU5UCVGyF6kD1L4kf7yfw9oM3Xz0vqGMjJluK-cjOPKHCiUkVXdITa7fQr47bl1u9m2DrdCrCm-wdcFjU4dc8g83z0gR-2TNWatcLPqwpLkmqeoiftOt9OYvdVd3nbl_3B0ecVFL4D_AK0qVB0Q&__tn__=%2ANK-R] podcast features Jeff Schlaeger, Mason High School’s School Psychologist and SIBS advisor.  Jeff shares stories of the people in his life who have made his passion for “saying something” about suicide very personal, and how proud he is to work with students who are ending the stigma around talking about mental health. As a dad of a recent graduate and a high school senior, Jeff shares how he and his family are navigating the COVID-19 pandemic - including how they are celebrating Passover during this time of social distancing. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mcsyourstorymatters/message

This week’s #YourStoryMatters [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/yourstorymatters?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCEXmG90hZfKZF5-eO47wfp7_jXfiw_L_PhFSTGDOID1ULeUpE_iqRFQdzRvzWOZj2V7DD8sBGYd8tlbFJ6uDj77a4Rs7D6JsaeigiSCQTXT1A75in2fDnU0KzioUBTcsKm4QIaOWoZrekJy09KbtHIM8c4ldZiEYb4J08vbr0Zhxfy1opWRjE0J78y0eavX7RsVppkU5UCVGyF6kD1L4kf7yfw9oM3Xz0vqGMjJluK-cjOPKHCiUkVXdITa7fQr47bl1u9m2DrdCrCm-wdcFjU4dc8g83z0gR-2TNWatcLPqwpLkmqeoiftOt9OYvdVd3nbl_3B0ecVFL4D_AK0qVB0Q&__tn__=%2ANK-R] podcast features Mason High School Class of 1986’s Kevin Peyton, the Executive Director of Joshua’s Place - one of the district’s partners in providing holiday help and food assistance to families in need.  Kevin shares the quick pivot that happened as the organization understood how the COVID-19 pandemic would particularly challenge families in poverty, and provides information about a new win-win opportunity to support our local businesses and families in need with the Comet Carry Out. Kevin also pastors a local church, and like billions of Christians around the world is preparing to celebrate the holiest of Christian holidays during this time of social distancing. He shares that while the sacraments will be different, he is embracing that this is a point of time and to remain focused on what Easter really means. Kevin and his wife, Nona, started dating in 8th grade and are the proud parents of two adult children, and a much loved grandson. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mcsyourstorymatters/message

This week’s #YourStoryMatters podcast features Mason Intermediate School teacher Amy Boynton. Amy has been teaching Mason sixth graders math for the last 17 years. She and her husband, Brian, are the proud parents of two children Ella & Axel. Ella was diagnosed with leukemia a week before her second birthday, and the family is passionate about raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mcsyourstorymatters/message