August 17, 2008

Welcome back to the 2008-2009 school year. We have worked hard this summer and we are really looking forward to the first day of school. Please look for your beginning of the year letter and come and see us on Meet the Teacher on Thursday, August 21 from 12:00-2:00.

I want to emphasize the importance of getting you child back into the routine of school as we begin the year. Now is the time to re-establish bed times and getting used to reading and homework every night. This will help for a smooth transition to the beginning of the year. Also, I want to emphasize our policies that are in place for safety. With the road construction in front of school, it will be tempting to cut corners (literally and figuratively), especially when you are in a hurry. Please understand that our procedures and policies are in place are for safety. We have the luxury of taking care of 600 students daily. We need everyone to follow procedures, especially at carpool and bus loop, to keep our students safe! Thank you in advance for following all of the systems we have in place to keep you and your child safe, nurtured, and loved. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Finally, I want to post a quote that I found from Goethe, famous German author from the 1800's. I hope you take time to revel in the beauty of the words and see how it is particularly appropriate for parents and educators. I look forward to all of us living these words:

I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.

Until next time, remember our school vision: Everyone will Learn and Succeed!

Jim