The Year of the Bee

On Opening Day, I announced that this year is the Year of the Bee.  Our students come to us with all kinds of backgrounds, histories, and for many, limitations.  It's our job as public school educators to see past those and to teach our students to fly; to create options and opportunities for students and maintain high expectations for all.

I believe this attitude is key to our history of success.  We named it as having a "whatever it takes" attitude in our Panther Principles: ·      


Our staff will:
Use Teamwork
Have a Growth Mindset – Change is Necessary
Have a “Whatever it Takes” attitude
Help All Students feel Loved and Safe
Support our Community/Family-Oriented Culture

If we will do whatever it takes to help our students succeed, we won't focus on perceived limitations but will keep on trying. 

Each month I will highlight a different Panther Principle for staff and one for students.  This month we will focus on this Whatever it Takes attitude.  I encourage you to look for this quality in yourself and your teammates.  These first few weeks as you set expectations and teach students to follow your classroom and school procedures you are displaying this attitude.  With your actions, you are saying, "I recognize that each of us comes to school with a different set of values and experiences at home.  I will teach you what we expect here so that you can be successful.  I will not just assume that you should 'know how to behave'."

Thank you for being so amazing!  I appreciate your hard work and positive attitudes.  I know that you are all individuals with your own sets of worries, personal and private struggles.  I also know it's not easy to have a large class or challenging students or internet connection that you can't always count on. I appreciate the resilience and positive attitudes you have regardless of your circumstances and the vulnerability you displayed when you filled out your "What I Wish my Principal Knew" papers.  I loved reading them and was truly touched by many of your personal and meaningful comments.   

I know this is truly going to be an exceptional year and look forward to deepening our connections to each other and our students.