"Mrs. Hankins - I Wish This Day Would Never End!"
A Principal's Reflections on the Beginning of a School Year
Mortensen Staff 2018-2019
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| This is my second grader, Kylie who (on the first day of school) said, "Mrs. Hankins - I just wish this day would never end!" I agree, Kylie - it was a very good day! |
Year #37 working in an elementary school was launched for me last week. It also began my 20th year as an elementary school principal.
First of all, it is so amazing to me it has been that long. In some ways, I feel like I am just now starting to figure it out. It is also hard to put into words the feelings associated with the beginning of a new year. A myriad of emotions flooded over me periodically last week as I worked with my teachers for the few days before students arrived. Balancing what must be presented is always tricky - just the right amount of team building and motivational activities while keeping in mind that what teachers really want is to be in their rooms working to get their environments "just so" in order to be ready to greet their students with confidence and optimism.
Photos of our team building morning together:
At the designated conclusion of the morning, teams gathered back at the barn. It appeared that everyone was able to find all of the locations, take the requisite photographs and answer the questions correctly. No one, however was able to find the golden egg. Everyone seemed disappointed even though they had gotten all of the requirements accomplished. Was there really a golden egg? The answer is yes - it was quite close to one of the locations each team found. Here is a photo of two members of our facilities team with the egg after I guided them to the location after everyone had departed back to school.
I decided that there were probably lessons from a Golden Egg that would become apparent to us as we traveled through the professional development days leading up to the first day of school - what would they be?
First of all, it is so amazing to me it has been that long. In some ways, I feel like I am just now starting to figure it out. It is also hard to put into words the feelings associated with the beginning of a new year. A myriad of emotions flooded over me periodically last week as I worked with my teachers for the few days before students arrived. Balancing what must be presented is always tricky - just the right amount of team building and motivational activities while keeping in mind that what teachers really want is to be in their rooms working to get their environments "just so" in order to be ready to greet their students with confidence and optimism.
On the day that teachers reported back to school we had a morning of team building and fun activities at Chatfield Farms which is a lovely venue just a few miles from my school. It is a part of Denver Botanic Gardens. Here is a link to it's website:
After a group photo of the staff, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast inside the Green Farm Barn. Introductions of new staff members led us to see that we have many fresh faces ensuring that the make-up of our team will lead to our success this year. Finding out about how our colleagues spent their summer encouraged much conversation at each table.
At the conclusion of breakfast it was time for some fun. Teams were given scavenger hunt questions with destinations all over the farm! They had to find the locations, answer the questions, and then take a photo of their team at the location. A bonus was the addition of a hidden golden egg somewhere on the grounds. Teams were told that any team that found the golden egg would be given time off with Mrs. Hankins taking over their duties. The race was on!
Photos of our team building morning together:
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| With Herb - our amazing volunteer |
Lots of learning, getting to know each other, planning, preparations, and anticipation filled our days leading up to Meet and Greet and the First Day of School.
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
The beginning of the school year brings excitement, nervous feelings, and hopefully a fresh start for everyone in the school community. I can assure you that Mortensen Elementary School was buzzing with teachers eagerly preparing their classrooms for their students last week. When our annual "Meet and Greet" finally arrived on Tuesday (August 14th), we were ready! Kids and families began gathering on the grounds outside the front doors at least 30 minutes early. We posted the class lists on the glass windows at 4:45.
Little noses pressed against the glass at "Meet and Greet" always make me smile.
"Who did you get"
"Oh - that's a new teacher, I don't know that name."
"Yippee - I always wanted Mrs. ___ - for my whole life!" (Only a first grader)
"Yay - I am in the same class as my friend. I've always wanted to be with him/her"
Doors opened promptly and everyone began moving through the front doors - making their way to meet the person with whom they will spend the majority of their waking hours during school days for the next year.
The quotes that I heard from teachers centered around two themes: being anxious and excited at the same time. Here are a few that I gathered throughout the days before students arrived:
Excited. I can't wait to figure out what the schedule will look like and what I will be teaching!
Anxious. I am always nervous to meet my new students and see the make-up of the students. I can't really prepare until I know my students and how they interact together.
Excited! It's sort of like Christmas — it's fun to start unwrapping each child's personality and figuring out how to help them learn and grow.
Anxious about all of the unknowns the upcoming school year will bring, but excited to get to know the students and implement new ideas that the previous year initiated.
Like there are a million ways to be better than I was last year. It's a little overwhelming.
Excited and refreshed, yet completely overwhelmed.
Excited for a brand new school year, yet nervous about the upcoming and unknown challenges.
As nervous as I felt as a kid on the first day of school, but ready to fill little brains with knowledge.
Anxious and excited. It's basically the same feeling the kids feel about going back to school. You worry if your kids will like you and if you have prepared enough fun and not too cheesy, ice breaker activities for the first week back. I also always make sure I have new first day of school outfit; I basically feel like it's my first day of school all over again.
Ecstatic. The first day is my favorite day of the year as it is ripe with possibilities.
Ready for battle, but in a good way.
It is no wonder that a new year brings out many emotions in all of us as we prepare to live, learn, and grow with each other for the coming year.
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
As I was preparing for the final meeting with my entire staff on Wednesday, August 15th at 2:00 pm, I pondered just what it would be that would focus us all and energize us to work together for a successful school year. Sometimes I feel like a preacher trying to come up with just the right story or sentimental vignette that will do the trick - what will touch their hearts in such a way that they might be able to draw on it when the going gets tough in a few weeks?
So, on Wednesday, August 15th at 2:00 we enjoyed our annual "Kick Off to a New Year!" We first considered these "Lessons from a Golden Egg:"
- Sometimes an answer to a problem is right under our noses - we just need to stop, slow down a bit, and focus.
- We need to think about that student who maybe does not stand out among the other students - what is it about each child that is special and unique?
- There will be times that we don't succeed. It is at those times that we need to get back up, encourage each other, and try again.
- There will always be a golden egg for us to pursue - keep trying to learn, grow, problem solve, and create an amazing life for yourself and your students.
We also considered what our theme for this year really means:
We decided that it is not muscles that will measure our strength or that will measure the character strengths that we will instill in our students this year.
We considered the castles and cathedrals of England where I spent two weeks this past summer. How is it that these structures have been standing and utilized for nearly a thousand years? How strong are these castle walls?
Each staff member was given their own small "castle stone" and were asked to consider a character trait that they will commit to the efforts of instilling in our students this year.
Mine is TEAMWORK!
We all shared our commitments and enjoyed the following music video by Jason Mraz:
Thursday, August 16, 2018: First Day of School!
Here are some fun first day of school photos!
My friend, Clara who also had the "best day of her life!"
Personally, I am grateful and elated to continue this journey with my staff and students as principal of this special learning community. Over the past ten years, I have developed an endearing connection with the Mortensen community, and I look forward to continue the building of strong relationships with all of our new families in the upcoming year.
As we enter this new school year, please know that your Mortensen Staff will be engaging in conversations around having a growth mindset, both for themselves and all students. We believe that every person in this building should always be growing and learning. Despite obstacles that may arise, we must always believe in our ability to rise above challenges and come out stronger on the other end.
I encourage you and your family to attempt to make each start of the school year an opportunity to gain a new appreciation for lifelong learning and individual student success.
Best wishes for a wonderful school year where we are all "Bulldog Strong!"
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