September 8, 2017

Photo by Darren Bockman on Unsplash

We are off to an outstanding start. The 2017-2018 School Year began with bright smiling faces, optimistic attitudes, and the promise of a new beginning. Regardless of how last school year ended for you, each September we have the unique opportunity to hit the ‘reset’ button. Hit the button for you, hit the button for your students, and most importantly hit the button for those who upset you or with whom you were angry. Time for forgiveness. Holding onto anger and resentment is not healthy. It is stressful and potentially harmful to your health, not to mention what a grudge does the overall community.

So as this is the season of new beginnings, make up your mind to have the best year ever. Be positive, be hopeful, take exciting risks is the classroom with your students, most importantly – stumble often. It is in our failures we learn the most valuable lessons. So there it is, I am recommending that you make mistakes, lots of them. Try something you have always thought would be cool in your class… if it works – great, if it doesn’t simply learn from it and try again.

In this short few days I have been most impressed with how our buildings look, feel, and sound. There is a buzz from having the buildings full again.

Today I had the privilege of meeting a little 1st grader. She is having a great deal of difficulty communicating. With this comes frustration because she cannot interact with others so she lashes out. In addition, she tends to be a ‘runner’. At the first chance, she will try to escape. I mention my experience only to highlight how emmensely rewarding our work is…but at the same time it is uniquely challenging. I spent perhaps 20 minutes with this young lady – I worked up to actually taking a walk through the building with her (despite the very real fear by the social worker, principal and office staff that I may lose her). I am happy to say she did not try to run from me…I feel we actually made a little progress together in that I was able to better understand her needs by the end of our time.

You are all heroes! Instead of 20 minutes, you have the privilege of working day in and day out with students just like this young lady. Each challenging in their own unique way. You don’t quit on them and because of that they depend on you. So for all the moments already this week that you have wondered if you make a real difference, the answer is absolutely yes!! Keep up the great work.

Have a wonderful weekend!

-Dr. G.
Go Bolts – beat Egg Harbor
#greatdaytobeabolt

Published by Spike Cook, Millville, NJ