My turn to say thank you
You may have heard your child come and talk about writing an affirmation for another student or for an AVA staff member. Affirmations are positive reminders or statements that are used to encourage and motivate yourself or others. These are important pieces of the AVA climate and culture and another example of what makes AVA so special. I see the sparkle a staff member has when they receive a positive affirmation from another employee or a student. On many occasions I have had a staff member share with me an affirmation that they received and expressed just how much that meant to them. In times when there is so much negativity in the world, these affirmations become that much more appreciated and needed.
Every decision I make is what I truly think is best for our students. Having our students in the building where they can see their teachers every day, interact with their friends every day, have the caring support of our entire staff especially during these times when things in the world and our community appear crazy at times, and knowing they are learning from the best group of staff I have ever worked with. Our kids need to be in school and we have remained open everyday for our students and parents. We put the needs of our students first. Thank you for doing the same and putting the needs of your kids first.
Now it is my turn to provide some affirmations to our amazing staff, students, and parents. By far, this has been the hardest school year any of us has experienced. Navigating the pandemic the past couple years requires a commitment from everyone to make it work. We remind everyone that kids still need to be kids and that they need support and encouragement to keep them moving forward. We all understand that the pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we educate kids, however, it has not impacted our resolve nor our resiliency to keep doing what is best for our students and to keep the educational process moving forward.
Thank you for the support you provide our teachers and staff. The random acts of kindness are so appreciated by all and definitely puts a smile on everyone’s face. We appreciate you more than you know!
I am impressed with how strong our staff, students, and parents are. We do not accept excuses and lower our standards. We change and adapt and keep pushing for excellence. This can only happen with everyone on board and doing their part. Thank you to the AVA staff for their hard work, commitment, and flexibility to provide an outstanding education for our kids. Thank you to all the parents and guardians who partner with us to make sure your child is attending class, completing their work, and working with the staff to address concerns that may arise. Finally, thank you to our students for hanging in there and adjusting to all the curve balls that have been thrown our way. The can-do attitude is amazing. Adapting to a new norm and the resiliency to make it successful, while not surprising, is great to see.
Sometimes the simplest words mean the most. I appreciate all of you and thank you for everything you do.
Mr. Barber, Principal
