Dreams

As we get ready to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, I'm sure many of our students are hearing parts of his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. I think it's important for students to realize that the civil rights that many Americans now enjoy were at one time, only a dream. From taking flight in an airplane to walking on the moon, all of the accomplishments we have ever made (as humans) started with a dream.  And many times, those dreams may have seemed silly or impossible to everyone but the dreamer.  As educators, we do a great job of reminding our students to hold on to their dreams and we share lots of examples of people who have made their dreams come true.  However, we also need to give them the strategies to help make their dreams a reality.

This month, our school is working on the habit of "Beginning with the End in Mind".  To me that is starting with our dream and then working backward to find the steps that turn that dream into a reality.  Where do we want to go?  How can we get there?  What do we need to take on the journey?  Who can help us along the way?  Students need to learn that dreams can be hard work and that success rarely proceeds in a straight line, but often comes when we take the long road and after many stumbles and set backs.  It's sounds cliche, but it's not how many times we get knocked down that counts, it's how many times we get back up. (I think Rocky Balboa said that:)  So, keep on encouraging our students to dream, but remind them that the recipe for success calls for a lot of hard work and perseverance!

PEARLS OF WISDOM

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney

“The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.” - Paul Valery

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." - M.L.K. Jr.

NEXT WEEK AT A GLANCE

Monday, January 20: No School

Tuesday, January 21: 1:30-4:00 pm OSS Committee at Board Office (Jon and Sherry Lynn)

Wednesday, January 22: 8:15 am IEP (Benson)
                                          10:00-10:45 am Observation (Benson)

Thursday, January 23: 8:00 am Staff Meeting in the LMC
                                      12:00 pm Administrative Book Study (Pathways to Common Core)
                                      1:00-4:30 pm Elementary Principals Meeting

Friday, January 24: No School for students/Teacher Work Day (Optional report day)
                                 Joe and I will be in the building and building is open from 6:30am-4:30pm