MMM--August 31--Welcome Back

Monday Morning Memo!

August 31

The future of the world is in my classroom today, a future with the potential for good or bad....Several future presidents are learning from me today; so are the great writers of the next decades, and so are all the so-called ordinary people who will make the decisions in a democracy. I must never forget these same young people could be the thieves and murderers of the future. Only a teacher? Thank God I have a calling to the greatest profession of all! I must be vigilant every day, lest I lose one fragile opportunity to improve tomorrow.
Ivan Welton Fitzwater

On Monday, I begin my 16th “Opening Day” with a confidence that this could be the best one yet. This sense derives from the confidence I have in every teacher in our county, from Anne Clark, to Stacey Moser, to Katie Tracy, to Karla Neuschwander, and, well, to every adult in our schools. As many have shared in the teaching profession, we all have the opportunity to be a little part of something big because we are teachers. I love this sentiment and the quote above by Fitzwater hints at it, too. Yet, it suggests that our “little” part is “little” only in the sense that it happens slowly, minute by minute, and typically in unison with the efforts of others with whom we work. The “big” opportunities we have to impact the future are the result of thousands of “little” efforts. This Monday, we set the stage for yet another year together leading impressionable young students. I take great comfort in knowing that these impressionable adolescents are at your school, where their minds, emotions, and values are shaped by some of the finest role models in the history of education. These young people will become our future. We will produce many noble citizens who will go on to greatness. We must also confront the fact that others may take a different path. Yet, all we can do is remind ourselves to “remain vigilant every day lest we lose one fragile opportunity” to do whatever we can to encourage the former and reduce the likelihood of the latter. At our school, we will do this both purposefully and intuitively, because you have fostered a culture of care which permeates within your school. Individually and collectively, the care we have for our profession is palpable.

            In Harney Schools, we are widely known for caring about our curriculum and—even more importantly—caring about our kids. 

            The first week of school—, even the first minutes of the first class session—sets the tone for the entire year. If your students leave school today feeling serious and excited about themselves as learners, and about you as their teacher, then, we are halfway home. As you progress through the remaining weeks of this school year, I encourage you to reflect on our mission and values. Recall also the import of our charge as quantified by Fitzwater. Remember, too, that our kids will meet any expectations we set for them as long as we are firm, fair, and consistent with these expectations and build relationships with our students so that they will want to meet them. Finally, remember that the primary way we accomplish this positive relationship-building with our kids is simply by caring deeply about them as learners and as young people.

 Again this year, each of us has a fantastic opportunity awaiting: to be “a little part of something big”…i.e., playing a role in what our own future will look like! Because I get to work with the best teachers anywhere, I am confident that our kids will make us all extremely proud throughout the year and later in life. Thanks for molding the minds of our future politicians, ranchers, lawyers, actors, athletes, and doctors. May you be blessed with a healthy and happy year at school and at home. 

Have a great week! 

Eric

Tribute to J. Zoul for skeleton of this post.

Videos to check out!:

If I knew then..... (4min)

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Great way to start the school year: Every kid needs a champion (8 min)

Articles you might want to check out:

The Little Things

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7 questions educators should ask

Calendar of Events:

Deadline to signup for DTC webinar with ODE--Sept 1
Kindergarten Assessement Collection Webinar--Sept 16, 2pm ODE
Art Integration @ rural schools Sept. 16-17.
Homeless Liason Training--Sept. 18 @ Harney ESD
Class Size Validation Due--Sept 22
ODE/CIP Indistar Training--Sept 25 @ Harney ESD
Number Sense Training Opportunity--Oct 23-24 @ Harney ESD
DTC Training online from ODE--Nov 3-5