If you have a child’s heart, you have a child’s mind. Over the past couple of months we’ve heard about the Capturing Kids Hearts model and the four H’s: heart, head, hands and habits. In a nutshell, it’s all about building relationships. We have the pleasure of spending about 7½ hours with your student. About ⅓ of the day. From the moment your student arrives at Aspen View Academy, they are embraced with smiles, words of encouragement and staff that are beyond happy to share their hearts with them.
As the year progresses, and relationships grow, we see a change in the students and how they interact with others here at AVA. From the moment they come across the crosswalk in front of the school, or get out of their car at morning drop off, students have a little more pep in their step and appear happy to enter the school. Students have smiles on their faces in the hallways and classrooms. They are more respectful when interacting with their peers. Engagement in the classroom tends to increase. We start to see negative behaviors and discipline on the decline. They are happy and have smiles on their faces at dismissal (I’m assuming it’s because they can’t wait to come back to school the next day!).
As the student grows, so does their heart. Metaphorically speaking, as our school grows, so does it’s heart. With the addition taking place in front of the school, and the new gym addition and performing stage on the back of the school, we are giving our students more programming and curriculum opportunities. Opportunities to succeed inside the classroom, as well as outside. It shows the students that our heart is invested in them and their success.
To be able to provide for our students and to be able to give back to them. To build relationships. All of this is because we have captured the students’ hearts. And the students have captured our hearts.
Mr. Tony Lamb, M.Ed.
Assistant Principal, Grades 6-8
