Happy first day of school! I hope that everyone enjoyed a nice long weekend, finding ways to soak up the last days of summer before we begin on Tuesday. We were fortunate to be able to head down to the Cape for a few days with my parents, before spending Sunday in Boston as Katie's father took Maggie to the afternoon Sox game. We ended the weekend on Monday afternoon with a BBQ with friends - again, stretching that summer sense as long as we can!
I want to thank and recognize our entire staff for their professionalism during our opening meetings. The commitment and dedication exhibited this past week has laid the groundwork for a positive, healthy, and successful year for our students. I know that there is an underlying current tugging us to take care of the many, many details (room setup, rosters, materials, etc.) during these opening days, and I so appreciate the presence, attention, and vision that was in place. I feel fortunate to work with such a talented staff and I know that the community shares that sentiment as well.
For your interest this week, I am sharing the two opening quotes and article, Willing to be Disturbed,by Margaret Wheatley, we discussed Tuesday morning as a staff...
While I think quantum leaps are possible, real success - sustainable success - happens based on day-to-day, simple behaviors and habits. - Jack Canfield
Habit is a cable; we weave a thread of it every day, and at last we can not break it - Horace Mann
I do believe that these elements (habits and a real 'willingness to be disturbed') are at the core of our work with middle school students. We need to remind ourselves on a frequent basis that it is the simple and small behaviors and habits that we both model and foster for and in our students that will lead to the greater results that constitute the strong character we hope that is developed. Wheatley's words also underline the importance of being open to change, something that is certainly hard for me, at times. At the heart of her message is a key and salient reminder - the simple importance of listening.
I have posted a copy of This We Believe to the blog. This posted excerpt is from This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents, a position paper from the Association for Middle Level Education, formerly known as the National Middle School Association. The paper outlined the association's vision for a successful school for middle level adolescents. Each year our staff signs the pledge and it is framed and posted in the front foyer of Blake. Amidst all the busyness and hectic chaos that can take place the weekend before students arrive, I encouraged our staff to each take a moment to read these words before we greet students Tuesday morning, and I encourage all of you to do the same. My hope is that you will find it affirming and centering as you make your final preparations for your students. I will also strive to keep the closing words in mind throughout the year: Therefore, I proudly dedicate myself to becoming the best middle level educator I can be and an active advocate for all young adolescents. Once the entire staff has had the opportunity to sign our poster, we will have it framed and posted in the front foyer. In a similar vein I encourage you to take a moment when you walk in the building Tuesday morning to read the Blake Mission Statement hanging on the banner: 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. Our mission statement encourages the members of our community to address the following questions: Will you adapt to the needs of the individual? Will you account for the goals of the community? Will you learn to recognize the indicators of a strong, positive character? Will you know how it feels when you do the right thing? Will you know how to emulate the admirable traits of your peers? Will you know how to be the peer your peers choose to emulate? Throughout the year we will be 'checking in' to acknowledge, inquire, and explore ways that we are establishing experiences for all of us in the context of our collective mission.
With the intent of framing our year and ideas noted above, I am highlighting two more readings of interest this week. The first, A Question That Can Change Your Life, by Peter Bregman, emphasizes the importance of being present as much as we can. Working with students in the context of a school day does not allow much time for reflection and 'pause', and the number of questions we are asked as educators and parents is countless. However, slowing our reaction time down, and taking a moment is critical. Embedded in the article is the clip of Billy Joel that I shared Tuesday morning with our staff, and this highlights the importance of being present and remembering that our responses and our work have an impact. I do recognize this is not always an easy thing to do, but the reminder is important to ask ourselves this question: 'What can I do, right now, that would be the most powerful use of this moment?' The second reading is a brief blog post by Vicki Davis, Bringing It: The Most Important Thing a Teacher Can Bring to School. This 'pep talk' is a reminder for teachers that the only 'essential ingredient' in teaching is to make sure that they bring their authentic selves to class. I am reminded on a daily basis that this is at the heart of our Blake staff - with all of the external and internal challenges that confront our work, I see Blake staff 'bringing it' in the best interest of our students. I truly thank them for this. I encourage you and will work with you as parents to continue 'bringing it' to maximize the use of each moment for our children - presence is important. I hope to be there for all of our students and for all of you.
This year I will be continuing with weekly blog updates for the Blake community, sharing general thoughts, highlighting reminders, announcements, and pertinent information. My hope is that this will continue to provide a structure for consistent communication with the community in a timely manner, while recognizing the need to centralize the information. Updates from the CSA and Medfield Coalition for Public Education will also be shared via this forum.
I look forward to our work together. Here's to a great year!
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Take care.
Nat Vaughn