The New Year

I start this year with a blog about teamwork and the common bonds we build at work with each other. I love William Bernback's quote, "An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it." This is so true and I'm so proud of the ideas that have sprang forth into magic because of the dedicated folks on staff.

With this new year, it's a time for us to reflect on what we want to accomplish and to keep the education of the whole child in mind. We want ideas to keep bubbling, enthusiasm constant, and to always remember our paramount duty to produce productive citizens of the world.

I've just finished a great book, Catching Up or Leading the Way: American Education in the Age of Globalization. In it, author Yong Zhao, discusses a host of issues plaguing American Education but also what makes American education so incredible. I'll be talking about this book in future blogs.

The first piece I'll share is the evidence sited that even a small reduction in a family's poverty significantly improves school behavior and performance of students. This is common sense for us in the education community. It's also why we need to do everything we can to stress the importance of education with our students and to actively bolster their sense of the future.

Don't Forget About Me

"I can think of no better instrument than the human voice."

___________________________

Watched our EMS (Early Morning Singers) and 5th grade perform tonight. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. I'm still humming, Down By The Riverside. Kudos to Charlene and the kids! Bravo!

After our concert finished up, I headed down to Sierra Vista to watch the 6th and 7th grade orchestra concert. And there I saw our alumni making music and I got teary eyed. How proud I was of those kids that a) stuck with cello from cello school and b) had the courage to attempt to learn a musical instrument in middle school.

Look, I'm a product of a balanced childhood. (Thanks Mom and Dad). I had the privlege of learning and studying music and it made a profound impact on me as a learner and human being.

Yet as I watched the students perform, I was struck with the thought... Once these kids leave Outlook, do I ever really think about them? Do I ever really stay somehow connected? Sadly, my mental answer to this was NO. And it's a shame.

So many times in my busyness of life and work, once those kids leave, part of me leaves with them, yet is that part never to return? As I listened tonight, I was filled with pride and a little shame. I haven't stayed connected like I should have with the kids once they leave.

I don't know how I do this, but somehow, someway, I need to.