To help encourage conversations and dialogue about Teacher Appreciation Week, our topic/question for the dinner table is: What do you appreciate most about the teachers in your life? Appreciating Our Teachers (Week of 5/6/18) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Blake's Guiding Lights
Our Students
Blake's Core Values: Respect, Responsibility, Resourcefulness, Reflection
Our Essential Question: How can we cultivate and curate the progression of student learning and growth?
Our Mission: Blake Middle School believes in a living mission statement, based on the concept that our community seeks and respects knowledge, integrity, character, wisdom, and the willingness to adapt to a continually evolving world.
It was a very busy weekend on our end - attending a friend's opening art reception (The Pianista Traveling Museum) before seeing Brandi Carlile in concert on Friday, baseball/softball/soccer games on Saturday, and Sunday was 'Opening Day' for Holliston youth baseball/softball - all good, but quite busy! I am doing my best to 'slow it down' in terms of my own racing thoughts as the actual (and perceived) 'to do lists' in my head feel as though they are growing.
Ending the School Year Well
by Aaron Hogan (@afhogan)
We often start to see 'end-of-year countdowns' in schools and I would be lying if I said I never counted down the days to summer. That said, Hogan offers an important perspective with this post and I particularly commend his outreach for ideas for how to 'end the year well' from colleagues - a direct and indirect way to appreciate one another by seeking input.
We cannot afford to do anything other than continue to pursue our students. Our students and colleagues are worth more than our survival mode efforts. We can make just as great an impact in our last days with students as we did in our first hours together.
Never stop getting to know your students (even at the end of the year). Invest in them. Let them know that they are loved. Much like a successful start to the year, a successful end to the year is an active pursuit.
I find myself sharing similar sentiments at this time of year and I hope everyone finds some time to appreciate each other this week - and, if possible, carve out some time to reflect upon those teachers who had an influence on you. A few come to mind right away for me (Mr. Fischer, Mrs. Goldsmith, Mrs. Mack, Tom Lynch, Professor Grossberg, Professor McKee, John D'Auria - the list could go on) and their presence had a profound impact and I do my best to carry forth their presence into my practice. As I say quite often, Blake Middle School is a special place and I am so proud to be a part of the collective mission to enhance the learning experience for our students. It is a privilege and a joy to come to work every day with such a fine team of educators and this recognition is a reflection of our students, staff, and community.
I look forward to the work that lies ahead for all of us.
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Take care.
Nat