I had a plan, and a tightly scheduled plan, for how I wanted to spend winter break this year. However, the weather has disrupted how I intended to spend my time. Somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to get in the car to run errands and finish last minute shopping for the holidays when the temperature and windchill were so frigid. So instead, I spent a quiet day at home, drinking coffee and reading a good book. I set my list aside and just took the day to relax.
While I didn’t finish my task list, I think having a restful day is precisely what I needed. It allowed me time to reflect on what is essential rather than focus on all the things I have allowed to claim my time and energy. As a result, I woke up this morning feeling refreshed and ready for a new day. I looked at my “list” with fresh eyes and eliminated a few things that were not so important. In addition, it was good for me to take the time to recognize that my family celebrations and holidays that I celebrate will be a beautiful time without my “list” being complete. So it was a good day and helped me center my thoughts a bit.
I thought I would share some recent events that may be of interest to you. The Board held its annual reorganization meeting in December. This is the meeting where officers are elected, and other appointments are made. Jean Fichter was reelected as the President, and Adam Van Der Vliet was reelected as the Vice President. Their ongoing dedication and commitment to service are much appreciated. At this same meeting, the Board approved the purchase of new stage curtains and an LED lighting project. Both projects will be notable improvements once they are complete. Several policies were read for the second time. Most of the policy changes are related to making the curriculum and instructional resources used in the classroom more transparent.
The new equipment for the weight room has started to arrive. It is an exciting transformation to watch! This has been a long overdue project. I am very pleased that our student athletes will be able to have access to such high quality equipment.
Our Middle School TAG students recently participated in an online quiz bowl competition called the Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl. This is a nationwide quiz bowl. The 5th and 6th grade TAG students joined together to form a team. They won 2nd place out of 130 teams in their division! Their work was quite impressive; they won 2nd place! The 7th and 8th grade TAG teams also performed well. The 7th grade team came in 4th, and the 8th-grade team came in 10th in their respective divisions.
Many great things are happening in the District, and I am proud to be part of this great system. I look forward to seeing you next year! I am confident that 2023 will bring good things.
