SPRING ARRIVES (kind of)

It's the end of March, and with it, the anticipation of spring. So you think of warm temperatures, flowers blooming...all of those iconic images. As a principal I think of: WASL, increase behavior problems, spring love in the 5th grade, programs, special activities, planning for next year, reflection of this year...all of it. Gotta love spring. It is by far the fastest part of the year.

This month has been one of pride for me personally. A couple of our student council members were recognized for outstanding student achievement at a youth awards ceremony in Yakima, and the sport stacking team from our school took home 18 medals in the state competition. I'm also excited for the many things we have planned for spring that are both new and tradition. I'm thinking talent show, 5th grade graduation, tetherball tournament, sports stacking tournament, author night...

With spring also is our annual administrator results survey. Each year we ask staff to take a few minutes to evaluate us on how good of job we're doing and identifying areas for our own growth. I've had a chance to view the data and the comments, and was both pleased and humbled to know there's plenty of room for growth as a leader. We'll be sharing this out with staff when we come back from spring break. It's incredibly useful data, but I'm always apprehensive with it because it leaves you quite vulnerable as a person, and you have to have a thick skin, knowing that you won't be able to please everyone, no matter how hard you try. You have to stand on the ground you believe in and hope to listen to understand concerns and ideas.

As I reflect on this year and the staff, I've seen more creative, outside-the-box thinking and ideas than ever before since I've been here. Maybe that's due to people feeling like they CAN think outside the box and feel supported knowing that trying something new is totally okay.

We have a lot to celebrate at our school. We've made major improvements in our system, structures, conversations, student behaviors, relationships...does that all translate into better test scores? Don't know, but I have to believe it does, but of course, this spring and next fall will give us the definitive answer to that question.

This year we've seen a lot of new staff step up to the plate and take on duties and roles that are important to the school. I've seen great teamwork and collaboration around important key ideas and events. Case in point: Our latest writing work we've been doing as a school.

Spring reminds me that we're coming to the finish line, but like a horse race, we've got to go harder to the end than ever before. When I reflect on last year at this time, we didn't push as hard as we needed to at the end. This year will be different.

Parent conferences are upon us now and it's great to see parents here to find out about the progress of their children and for me to get a chance to mingle with such a supportive community. Our staff has it tough as it makes for two long nights, but it's worth it...it's all for kids.

Enjoy the break!