I watched a movie the last couple of mornings while I was in my basement exercising before school...I know, I know, I watch way too much TV, but at least I was exercising at the same time, right!?! Anyway, the movie was called, The Map of All the Tiny Perfect Things...I don't want to spoil the movie if you decide to watch it, but it centers on the idea that mixed in with all the broken parts of life, there are many, many, tiny perfect things that happen too. The movie reminds the watcher that if we focus only on the negative, we might miss the tiny and perfect. It's those perfect things that get us through - tide us over - when the hard parts seem to want to take over.
So what kinds of tiny perfect things do I mean?
Think...
A flower growing through a crack on a sidewalk, belting out, and nailing, the lyrics of a favorite song, a perfectly shaped cloud in the sky, looking at just the right place at just the right time to see a whale breaching in the wide ocean, or The last slice of apple pie a-al-mode on a summer afternoon!
Tiny. Perfect. Things. I want you to watch out for them over the break! In fact, make a list, keep a journal, or simply make a mental note. Bring me back some gems after the break. I want you all looking for perfect things among the hard ones and I want to hear about how they help you see the beauty of this sometimes challenging life.
A former CBMS parent posted a song on social media that I listened to yesterday and I felt like it matched this idea of life's beautiful things mixed into everyday normalcy. Have a listen.
"Cover me in Sunshine...shower me with good times...tell me that the world's been spinning since the beginning, and everything'll be alright." So don't forget, bring me those good times, those "perfect moments" after the break! I want to hear about all your little things!
For today's last Black History Month Spotlight, I want to bring your attention to two individuals I think you should know about. (Since I didn't do a spotlight during my busy day yesterday I am glad to highlight two today).
William Henry Hastie was an accomplished lawyer who was one of the first African American members of the President Roosevelt Administration, serving as a race relations advisor. He was the first African American Federal Judge, appointed in 1937, and as was the first African American to hold the post of governor of a U.S. territory, (The Virgin Islands). Hastie had an esteemed career and held many other important posts, both political and academic. He certainly helped pave the way for others to follow in his footsteps.
In 1967, another African American lawyer and Judge, Thurgood Marshall, became the first black man to be appointed to the United States Supreme Court as an Associate Justice. He was appointed by President Johnson and became widely respected as a Judge who stood proudly as a champion for civil rights. During his time on the bench in the highest court in our nation, and in his 30-year career prior to that, he was passionate about civil rights for all Americans.
This afternoon, as we close our formal celebration of Black History Month, we send a silent (or maybe a loud) thank you out into the universe to all those unsung heroes of our culture and history that we didn't have time to touch upon here in these blog posts. We remember that it is on the shoulders of those that come before us that we ride. I hope that as a society we live our lives in such ways as to make them pound and to not let their hard work be in vain.
Have a great vacation everyone! Stay safe, and have fun!
If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately. From the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) : September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month—a time to share resources and stories in an effort to shed light on this highly taboo and stigmatized topic. We use this month to reach out to those affected by suicide, raise awareness, and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to treatment services. It is also important to ensure that individuals, friends, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention. Here are your local resources for suicide prevention : Who can you connect with at CBMS for help ? Mrs. Hempey, School Counselor - 802-583-8071 or jhempey@huusd.org or just come to my office! Mr. Estes, Vice Principal - joshestes@huusd.org Hillary, Dean of Students...
The Crossett Brook Staff wishes to cheer your spirits on this rainy Monday morning! Enjoy these messages from all of us to you! Remember, we put out lots of information about supporting you through all of this, you know reminding you how to keep a positive frame of mind - look on the bright side - all of that, but it's okay to feel sad too... Sadness is part of the human experience, so when it comes, let yourself experience it, and when it moves past, use a strategy to get your brave back on. Be well today Cougars! Mrs. Hempey
Good Morning Everyone, Today I'd like to continue addressing social justice and antiracism from my blog. What is antiracism you ask? Well, let me explain what I have come to understand. Antiracism is when we actively take a stance against racial injustice. It is fighting for equality. It is going beyond just thoughts and feelings and taking action. That action can come in many forms. It can be in the form of educating your self or others, peaceful protest, monetary support for organizations like Black Lives Matter or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), or it can be about simply lending your voice to someone in need. Some people would argue that topics such as these are wading into the water of politics and taking sides and that we shouldn't be talking about them in school or with young kids. My response is that I don't care what political side people are on. This is a human rights issue! It's...
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