Greetings, Westview families,
In the last 18 months, we’ve lived through a dozen new normals. It feels like we’ve pivoted a hundred times. As a school, we’ve leaned into new ways to approach education to meet our students’ and families’ needs. We’ve spent so much time reacting that I sometimes feel like we haven’t taken as much time as we should to reflect, connect, and share the things we are most thankful for. Fortunately, Thanksgiving gives us an opportunity to pause and remember what is most important.
Expressing gratitude has a positive impact on the expresser and the recipient of the appreciation. There’s actually a science to it all. The giving and receiving of positive affirmation causes our brain to release dopamine and serotonin that makes us feel good. When our students see and hear expressions of gratitude, it supports their physical and mental well-being. Expressions of gratitude are just one more way to give positive self-care to ourselves, others, and our students. So, let it begin with me.
Here are some of the things for which I am thankful:
I am thankful for our teachers, assistants, therapists, and support staff, who do a remarkable job each and every day with our students. Our students are incredibly fortunate to be with professionals who create a supportive and nurturing environment. Our staff really listen to our students in a way that demonstrates that even children have something valuable to contribute. Whether they are convincing a kindergartener that she doesn’t need a crown to be beautiful or a middle schooler that it is okay to make mistakes, our staff work tirelessly to build relationships that support learning and growth. I am most in awe of how Team Westview helps our students develop a strong sense of self and an appreciation for others. My heartfelt admiration and gratitude for the dedication of our team!
I am thankful for our students who bring us joy, hope, and inspiration every single day. They are an absolute gift. Yesterday, while I was giving someone a tour of our campus, we stopped into an Upper Elementary classroom, and Mrs. Minns paused the lesson for a moment so the students could introduce themselves. The students welcomed our visitor to our school, inquired about the nature of her visit, and told her what a wonderful place Westview is. We had a similar experience when we visited a middle school classroom. Our students are warm, welcoming, and positively charming hosts. As someone who has worked in and visited many schools, I can tell you that the way our students engage with others is impressive.
I am thankful for our non-instructional staff and leadership team, who support us in delivering our mission. They graciously help with carpool, health screenings, cover in classrooms when we are short substitutes, and ensure that we have what we need to do our important work. You may not have noticed the new and improved lighting throughout the 1830 building, but the students certainly appreciate the improvements to Largent Hall (Shout out to Mr. Chris, our facilities manager!). A huge helping of gratitude for our business office for their incredible work on our EANS grant (Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools). This project was (and continues to be) an enormous undertaking that will provide funds for a new social skills curriculum for students and high-quality professional development for staff to be rolled this spring. These are just a few examples of the essential behind-the-scenes work of keeping our campus running smoothly and efficiently so our teaching staff can focus on educating your children.
I am thankful for our families who collaborate with us to help our community thrive. It has been wonderful to see so many of you in person at Popsicles on the Playground, Trunk-or-Treat, and the Walk for Apraxia. I have always heard such wonderful things about our welcoming parent organization, POW. As our on-campus activities start to emerge, it is a joy to see all the creativity, time, and support POW gives to our Westview family. We are hopeful that the spring will continue to provide even more opportunities for us to gather as a community. We are truly grateful to all of you, our families, for your partnership and trust.
We wish you a safe and healthy week with your families.
