Today is one of my favorite days of the year…and I am sure it is for our students, staff, and families too. It marks a new start for everyone. It brings hope to many. I believe that today – and the whole year for that matter – will be excellent because:
- We have great students. We are lucky to have a truly outstanding group of kids in Northfield. All kids are learners — not always learning at the same rate or in the same way. Our job as a school system is to meet them where they are at and help them reach new heights this year — both academically and socially. A highlight of my day today was greeting Middle School students as they came in the building today. As I greeted a group of students at the door, I noticed one student’s tee shirt that had the slogan “throw kindness around like confetti.” We should regularly remind ourselves how great Northfield kids are to serve. When we remind ourselves of this as school staff, each day has significant meaning.
- We have an excellent staff. These folks bring incredible skills to our school district. They care about kids and believe they can learn. They are professional. They are committed to continuous improvement. I am proud of their efforts to make Northfield the top shelf district it has been and will continue to be. There is no question we have areas for improvement, but our staff is prepared to meet those challenges with vigor and determination!
- We have great parents. Parents are their children’s first and best teacher. They expect all of us to bring our best every day and are going to ask tough questions about our practice. We welcome this level of expectation. They are our partners.
Relationships are so critical to a successful school year. The top three reasons we had a great first day of school and will have an excellent school year is because of the people coming together for the common good of all of Northfield’s kids. I am so proud to serve a community who so values its children. Enjoy the start of the 2016-17 school year!