Greetings,

 

The joy of it all!  The school year is, again, off to a fresh start!

 

Here’s to another Coventry September celebration of so many new relationships and possibilities!  In schools, we greet the opening of each new year in much the same way most of us have greeted school opening ever since our very early childhood. 

 

My enthusiasm is just as rich this very month as it was when I entered Burns School, in the “Frog Hollow” section of Hartford, as a five year old.  (My kindergarten teacher was quite a piece of work!  She called in the principal to take over the class, as we were unmanageable!) The good news is that I didn’t let that experience color a wonderful career as a student and then almost forty years as an educator.  Opening a new school year is still the best!

 

The annual cycle of newness and adventure makes for great festivity.  Students are so interactive with this cycle, whether it’s totally new plans and promises they’ve made, a “look” they’ve invented, or just parading as being “too cool” to even care about any of it.  (We know different!) 

Most students celebrate seeing their friends and forming new attachments to teachers, staff, and other students. 

 

We know that the things you maintain in long-term memory are probably those connected with emotion (e. g. my kindergarten teacher!).  On another note, one of my high school English teachers (Penney High, East Hartford), was strategically important to my academic and developmental achievement.  What was the emotion?  I really liked this teacher, I thought he was smart, and I knew how much he cared.

 

I encourage you to think back about your school experiences and consider the following: 

 

What stands out in your memory? 

What conditions helped you learn? 

What teachers were important forces in your development? 

What incidences demand an olive branch?

What strengths did you develop?

 

Some memories don’t come to a conscious level until after many years.  Reflect on your learning…especially the positive moments.  Sharing and celebrating the joy of learning is good work that we do with young people.  They need to know that they are not alone in their academic struggles and triumphs.  They need to hear our stories of challenge and success. 

 

A new school year always provides opportunities for growth and development. 

 

I wish you and all those in your community new learning adventures!

 

Enjoy your next connections,

 

Donna

 

PS:  We have set the first “Donuts with Donna” session for the school year.  I will be visiting with attendees at the Lisicke Beach Pavilion on Route 31 on Wednesday, September 29 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.  I look forward to our conversation.