Reflections on the first week of school

Well, the first week of school is in the books!  It was great to see all of the faculty and staff back in their classrooms and offices on Monday and Tuesday and I was excited to see all of our students on Wednesday.  We all survived new teachers/students, a lot of schedule changes, errant bells, new lockers and locks, and having to be awake and alert by 8:00AM.  And through all of the challenges that are involved in the first week of school, I was impressed with how flexible and patient our teachers were, how involved our students parents were, and how incredibly positive and resilient our students are.

On the first day of school we had an all school assembly, as many schools do.  But unlike many first day of school assemblies, I did not hammer down rules and regulations.  Instead, I talked to our student body about being positive, taking ownership for one's own attitude, and about taking care of each other.  I also talked to them about having big dreams, working hard to achieve those dreams, and about taking time to enjoy school, enjoy friends, and enjoy being a kid .  It's hard to tell how much of my little speech sunk in when talking to a gym full of 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, but it is a positive message that kids of all ages need to hear.

I truly want to send my thanks to all of the teachers, staff, students, and parents for a great first week of school.  I would like to remind parents that we love to see you in and around the school and I am available to meet with you should you have any questions or concerns about your child's progress.  This is going to be fantastic school year and let's all work together to make it a memorable one for our students.