The New Year always seems to bring about a change in focus. We go from the beginning of the school year and all of the excitement that it brings to the shortening of the days and the realization of winter. It always seems like fall comes and goes so quickly. Before you know it, we have our Christmas Season, and the opportunity to reflect and give thanks. With the beginning of the calendar year, it brings with it the realization that we are about halfway through the school year. It also provides an opportunity to start fresh with any goals we may want to establish, or to realign our priorities. It also brings a renewed excitement that longer days and warmer weather will be upon us in couple of months. Even though the snowiest months are ahead of us, the hopes of spring and warmer weather will soon be a reality for us in Minnesota.
As a school leader, it is always a blessing to see the way students can find the positives in every day life at school. The cycle of the school year always brings about opportunities for students to look forward to. It can be a winter storm or a day off of school that gets our students excited, or it could be that their favorite dish is being served at lunch. Students find the positives every day. Even though they may say otherwise, it is evident to me that one of the greatest things about students is their ability to find the positives and excitement in the routines of school. Walking the halls or hanging out during lunch, you can see genuine expressions of happiness. I realize that there are those that may being dealing with difficult situations, but coming to school is opportunity for students to engage in a structured environment that provides structure and predictability. It is in a sense, an opportunity to escape from some of the pressures of the outside world that can be so unpredictable. Whatever the reason, it is great to see students experiencing joy and happiness in school.
With the change in the calendar year, it is an opportunity to look for things that we can be excited about, and look forward to. Our students provide us with a great example of how to find joy in the simple things, or to be grateful for the things we have. It is an opportunity to look for what is going well, and be grateful. As adults, we have the responsibility to create our own routines and structure. We have the opportunity to find the positives and joy that life offers us. It does require effort, because the reality is that life also brings with it plenty of opportunities to worry and get frustrated with things that don’t go the way we planned. We can certainly get caught up in a negative thought tornado if all we do is worry and look for the next thing that creates a barrier in our pathway. We indeed must look for the positives and celebrate the structure and routine that provide an opportunity to smile at what we have and to look forward to the longer days and sunshine ahead. The new year is an opportunity to adjust our focus to the things that are going well, and the things we can be grateful for. I know that I am extremely grateful to have our students in school and to have all of the issues with COVID in the rearview mirror.
Please reach out to me with any questions that you may have regarding our school district. You can email me at schlich@triton.k12.mn.us or you can call me at 507-418-7530 to reach me at the district office. I would be happy to set up a time to meet with you or your organization. I believe that communication is an important aspect of my job responsibility, and I welcome the opportunity to learn from your perspective. GO COBRAS!
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