So when you enter the front gate of our school this year you’ll notice a large photo of a beautiful little boy in our early childhood program. His smile is wide and he’s bursting with joy and the caption below is a quote of his from last year when he had just turned four…it reads, “school is my favorite time of the year!”, and you know what, I absolutely agree with him.
I don’t know about you but I couldn’t wait for the school year to begin and for the kids to arrive. I couldn’t sleep the night before and when that first bus arrived in the parking lot last Wednesday, I could barely contain myself…actually, I didn’t as I danced and sang and high-fived and hugged everyone in sight. There’s something about the start of a new school year that makes my heart want to burst, and in my opinion it is absolutely the most beautiful day of the calendar year.
From an educator’s perspective that first day of the year represents so much hope and promise…it’s such an opportunity, and a perfect clean slate waiting for us to make this year the best year of our teaching lives. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been teaching, or what role you play within the school, the level of excitement that is mixed with that little bit of nervousness is magical and unique to that first day. From a student’s perspective it’s kind of the same I think…excitement and nervousness and hope and promise. It’s all there, rolled out in front of us all and ready for the taking…that first day of the year, a perfect white canvas…it doesn’t get any better than that.
I love standing back at times throughout that first day and watching the teachers interact with the kids and the kids interacting with each other. I love the noise and the smiles and awkwardness and all the connections, new and old. Everyone is trying so hard to make the first day go smoothly…perfectly…and when it does, like it did for us this year, you leave at the end of the day inspired and feeling on top of the world, and eager for day two.
My challenge to you, and the challenge that I’m giving to myself this year, is to find ways to bottle up that first day feeling, that magic, and keep that level of joy and excitement rolling throughout the year. Finding ways to treat everyday like the first day, and to bring our best selves to work each and every morning. We might not sing and dance and jump up and down like I did last week, but the focus, the purpose, and the commitment that we all brought to that first day of school can become a daily occurrence if we pay attention to it. I love coming to school, I always have, and like another little kid said to us on the first day this year, “school is my favorite place in town”, and you know what, it’s mine too.
I want to wish you all a fantastic beginning to the year, and I want to thank you for making the first few days so amazing for our kids…keep it up and open that bottle of magic each and every day. There’s something special in the air this year, and there is no reason why this year can’t be our best year ever…treat every day like the first day of school and there’s no way that it won’t be. Have a wonderful week two everyone, and remember to be great for our students and good to each other.
Quote of the Week…First day of school! Wake up! Come on. First day of school! – Finding Nemo
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