Well, it’s that time of year again. Even after my many years in
education, I am still startled by how quickly June arrives every year.
This has been a year of changes. Change is an important part of who we are and tests how we manage ourselves inside and out.
I have watched as well as participated in many changes this year.
Some personal, some professional. All will stay with me and remind me
that change is necessary.
I say good-bye to our 5th grade students (in a way) this year. We
will still share the same building, but I will no longer know where they
are at all times. They probably won’t hug me as often, if at all, but
they’ll be with me, in my heart. This is where all my changes live. I
remember them in my heart.
I hear people often say that they dislike change. I don’t know if
many embrace it, I know a lot of people wish they could. My goal will be
to embrace the changes that inevitably find their way into my life and
everyone else’s.
Today, I am concentrating on the positive changes of the past school
year. I am proud of our first year as an Elementary School. We have made
many sweeping changes throughout the school. We have many clubs, we
offer parent/caregiver workshops on a consistent basis, our staff
continues to better themselves and their vast expertise weekly, we offer
longer lunches for the children and fabulous linked to learning
challenges that were epic. It’s been a pretty terrific year at our
school. We’ve rolled when we needed to, but mostly, as is Peabody’s
signature tradition, we rose to every challenge put before us.
It was glorious this year to have 2nd and 3rd graders approach me
about starting their own groups to raise money for the Planet and for
Animals. What this has shown me is that as a Community, we are doing a
great job. Raising civic-minded children at such a young age is most
impressive. Surely not one I’ve encountered before. A wonderful,
unexpected change.
Thank you for another year. Thank you for your support, your concern and mostly for your partnership.
I leave you with this quote from Nelson Mandela:
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Have a wonderful summer with your families. Enjoy your children’s
changes and keep them with you. See you in August at our Annual Back to
School Potluck (details coming soon).
Ms. Ford