Dear Village, 

What a wonderful week.  Friendly faces, smiling, screeching kiddos.  Visitors, concerts, sing-alongs and more.  Treats, pastries, breakfasts and gifts galore.  While this week is often hurried, stressful, overwhelming and purely exhausting, it is also an excellent reminder of what you are a part of.  Every day, over 1,000 children walk into this building to spend the majority of their time with us.  What a wonderful and awesome privilege we all have to be a part of their lives.  

While a good deal of this past week feels like  biding time, it is also a time that the children show all of you exactly what you mean to them.  They are safe and comforted at school, loved and nurtured, cared for and challenged every day.  Their smiles, participation in class wide activities, hugs and gifts all show they value you and care about your life's work.  

As you clean up this afternoon and begin thinking about the work ahead in January, I encourage you to pause.  Take a breath.  Look around your space and acknowledge the privilege we have been given as educators, care givers, nurturers, pseudo parents, friends, confidants ...

Thank you for being here every day.  Thank you for loving our students.  Thank you for every extra step you take to give the children the very best.  Thank you for taking care of each other.  You are inspiring.  

Happy holidays, 

Tracie