AVA Has Heart
Nearly 6½ years ago I was asked to come in and teach a sample lesson after completing the rest of the interview process. Wouldn’t you know it, I chose the craziest day of the year, or at least I thought it was. Who would want to teach a lesson to a group of students that they have never met when they are having a FUN RUN? Apparently, I would. You could feel the excitement in the building, and I must have done a good job because I am still here over 6 years later.
That was the day that I felt the heart that was in Aspen View. Through all of the changes that have occurred since the opening of Aspen View, the heart of the school has always been evident when you walk in. It is that welcome feeling that students, staff and parents get upon arriving. It’s the fist bumps and high fives students receive when they walk through the doors. This feeling has been communicated by many people who walk into the school for the first time whether it is a tour, to see a student, or by a substitute. They talk about how at home they feel and what a great school we have.
The question then is where does this feeling come from? I believe that it is rooted in one of the four H’s from Capturing Kids Heart which are heart, head, hands, and habits. We believe that capturing the heart is where it all begins.
We all know that students come to school with a wide range of comfort when entering a classroom. Some students are confident in what they do at school and are risk takers who will try most anything. Others are less confident and need some encouragement to take a chance.
In order to capture our student’s hearts, we have learned that we need to know what our students are passionate about. That doesn’t just mean their favorite subject in school, but what are they interested in outside of school as well. What sport do they like? What is their favorite TV show? What did they do over the weekend? But just asking these questions alone does not mean that you have captured their heart. Listening to their answers and asking more questions to get a better understanding is important. Following up with them after their big game or event means more to them than we will ever truly know.
Showing students that they are not just another student in their teacher’s classroom means the world to them. It makes them feel special when we come alongside them on this journey that we call school. It gives them the courage to take chances and to make mistakes, but it also helps them raise their own bar. It allows them to want to do better when they feel supported. This is not a have to be better, but a want to be better. Students thrive in this type of environment not only academically, but as a whole person outside of the school as well. Capturing a student’s heart is the first step in helping our students grow as a student, an athlete, an artist, a musician, or any other passion they are following, but the most important part is that it allows them to grow as a person. Aspen View has captured the hearts of our students, staff, parents, and visitors for more than eight years. It is one of the hallmarks that makes Aspen View special.
David Bodiker
Assistant Principal Grades 3-5
