Be water, my friend

We are about to embark on an adventure like no other. This year is sure to test the limits of our patience and flexibility, while it stretches us to meet the needs of our students in ways we never have before. If there is any staff who can meet the potential challenges of the year ahead, it is our staff at Paint Lick Elementary.

Thinking about change and the unknown can be really scary. If you have these feelings, know that they are normal and expected, but also know that in the midst of the uncertainty, we also have a tremendous opportunity. We have the opportunity to make history—to do something no one has ever done before. We can be the school that meets our students where they are and makes incredible learning pathways for them despite a worldwide pandemic.

Very rarely do amazing accomplishments come without hard work, courage, and letting go of old habits. We will have to change what we do, how we do it, and in some cases what we focus on. We will need to be flexible. We will need to be open and willing to grow.

If the martial arts legend, Bruce Lee, were advising us he would say...

Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend

We will need to let go of previous images we had of our teaching and our roles. You are not your past; you are not locked into one way of being or teaching. Be the water. To do what has never been done, we will need to take on roles we never have before.

The great news is we will train to take on these new roles. We have been given two weeks to prepare ourselves, our lessons, and environments to meet student needs in creative and diverse ways. We will train like NINJAS! We got this! I believe in you and I know that we can meet the challenges presented to us.

Our ninjutsu (Ninja Training) starts on August 11th if you are participating in co-teaching training and August 12th for everyone else. I will see you then!