Dear Blake Families:
As we head into this week of Thanksgiving, I have been reflecting upon what I am thankful for this year. And, as I shared last year, I believe this quotation from Cynthia Ozick rings true once again: "We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." This past week I asked our staff to send me a brief note highlighting one or two 'things' that they are each thankful for this year. It has been a real joy for me to read the 'thankful thoughts' that they shared, and I feel privileged to read and 'hear' the gratitude that we, as a collective, share. I always look forward to our school-wide assembly the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, as we gather as a community to share the sense of gratitude and thanks that we have.
As I have shared the past two years, the holiday of Thanksgiving has particular meaning for me and our family, as it is a few days away from the third anniversary of my accident. During this time of year, Katie and I find ourselves thinking back with a deep sense of gratitude for the Blake and Medfield community. You have heard me share this before, but I feel as though I can not thank this community enough for the professional, personal, and familial support you have given and provided to me, Katie, and our children. At the core, I am truly thankful for the opportunities I have been given at Blake, for the relationships that have been established with all of you, and for a profession that I find rewarding, meaningful, and energizing. Thank you. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I have posted an article that I shared with staff this week, and one that I believe the community may also find of interest - 'Five Reasons Why Teaching is Still Great', by Paul Barnwell (located on the Articles tab of this blog). I hope you will be able to find a few minutes this week to read this article, as I believe it captures some of the truly positive elements of our profession and it helped to ground and center my thinking. As Barnwell shares at the beginning of his article, "I'm downright tired of the negative news. There are still countless reasons to celebrate the profession and we educators are due for a reminder." In a similar vein, I have copied the link to a 'Thank a Teacher' YouTube clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_pGiUeVFEU) that I highly recommend to everyone. I hope it will bring forth memories of teachers who have made a difference in both your child's and your own life. I know it did for me.
While the holidays can be a wonderful time for many of us, it is equally important to be mindful that this can be a particularly stressful and emotional time for some of the students and adults in our community. Whether it is a personal situation, the loss of a loved one, or perhaps memories from past years, this time of year can bring to light a wide array of emotions, so please take the time to look out for one another over the next few weeks. Lean on one another for support. I know that I am not able to have the opportunity to say it personally to everyone before the end of the day on Tuesday afternoon, so please accept my best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving. Each day I am thankful to be a part of this community, and I hope that you all enjoy a restful and relaxing time off with family and friends. I believe that we all are making a difference and for that I am grateful.
Nat Vaughn