For decades, the first day of school came and went and I
never gave it another thought. When I
was a student I just showed up and the school year began, as a parent I just
sent my child and the school year was underway, however this year, I had the
honor of seeing the start of the school year from behind the scenes (to be
honest the school year has not started yet for the kids) and all I can say is
wow! I never really thought about how much preparation it takes, about how many
small details need to fall into place and how much pride the teachers and staff
take in making sure everything is just right for when the students arrive.
Teachers actually started planning for the start of this school
year before last school year even ended.
They needed to submit certain maintenance requests regarding what desks
may need fixing, what equipment they might need and what colors they may want
their room. Over the summer, our amazing
maintenance team did everything they could to prepare and there is still more
to do. The natural wear and tear takes
its toll but everyone does the best they can with the equipment they have
available to them. It is also wonderful
that our building is in use 11 months per year and that demands that every part
of the building receives proper attention.
That is just the physical pieces. Throughout the summer, the school leadership
team has been working hard to enhance the protocols for the entire staff
regarding social media usage, professionalism, enhancing our communications
with each other and parents and the community.
The leadership team also reviewed new curriculum and evaluated the best
way to educate and prepare the teachers and staff to implement these new
creative and critical methodologies.
There were numerous conversations had that seemed mundane but each one
was carefully approached with care and intention. In a facility with limited space, coordinating
schedules is proves difficult but not impossible. Communicating with parents so that we receive
all the proper forms, working with teachers and parents to make sure their needs
are addressed and making sure every staff members has a parking assignment are
just some of the items that need to be addressed.
All this work and then the teachers are back and it is now
truly crunch time, just two weeks until the students arrive. The new staff arrive first, nerves and
butterflies abound, not sure what to think, but eager to jump in and explore policies
and procedures and implementing curriculum.
Then the returning teachers appear, there are warm greetings, hugs,
tears of joy celebrating simchas and tears of sadness consoling friends that
had very difficult summers, but overall, each person is glad to have their
network back. Then it is time to jump
right in, discussing the theme for the year and how it will permeate every
aspect of our school. The teachers
approach and address the theme with intention, which is wonderful because that
is our theme, Kavanah, intention.
The teachers and staff spend two full weeks learning and
growing together. They spend time
preparing their rooms so that they are warm and welcoming when the students
arrive in a few days. I am in awe of
the joy, the care and the intention with which the teachers approach each and
every task. They are fully aware that
the more they invest into staff week(s) the greater the impact they can have on
their children (and they do treat them like their children).
The words above do not do justice to what I observed and
what I was a part of this past week (and few months). From the maintenance team to the Head of
School, from the parking valet to the teachers, from the security team to the
administrators, each person completed their tasks with care and with
intention. They understand the
importance of what they are doing and also the potential impact it has. I will never look at the start of the school
year the same, for even before the first child steps into the room, the teachers
have already put their heart and soul in framing the students' experience from
day one through the end of the school year.
It is a wonderful experience to be a part of and I look forward to
hearing amazing stories this coming year but for now, I tip my hat (or my tie
knot) to the amazing work of all those involved with making sure our children
have the greatest possible experience that fosters their growth and love for
education.
It takes a unified effort of a whole team working hand in hand together
.
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