Streaks

Happy Monday Everyone,

Well, I guess every streak is meant to be broken, right?  I would have to do a lot of work to go back and count how many consecutive school days I have posted to all of in this blog, but it was a lot...until Thursday.  I got to school on Thursday at about 6:30 and didn't finish up and leave until about 3:15 (which isn't super late, but...).  Despite writing, "blog post," on my to-do list, I never got to it - it was a good busy day, and after creating my to-do list, I never gave it a second thought until driving to school this morning.  I was reflecting on the day ahead today and realized I never jotted my thoughts down on Thursday.  I am hoping that I can start a new streak and continue to post each day until June 11th rolls around!      

What kept me so busy on Thursday you ask?  Well, the best kind of stuff...spending time in the classroom with you all!  I got the privilege of hanging out with our lovely 8th graders most of the day preparing them to enter high school in the fall.  Why was I doing this in March when next year's school year is still 5 months away?  Well, it's because this is a big transition for our 8th graders (and a big one for our high school staff in preparing for their arrival), so we start early! I love this time of year!  

In general, with spring comes rebirth and renewal.  It is a time to start thinking about possibilities, and fresh starts, and it is a time to plan and prepare for what lies ahead (think gardening...we plant now and reap what we sew later).  As we prepare all of our students for transitions - 8th graders to the high school, 7th graders to a position of leadership, 6th graders upstairs into a true middle school model, and our 5th graders to role models for our incoming 4th graders, who I am sure are feeling just a little bit of nerves mixed in with their excitement, it's important to keep in mind that you are ready and well prepared for what lies ahead!      

Your amazing teachers and caregivers have guided you all year to this next step, and though some worry that they won't be able to manage the new "expectations," remember that you have it within you to accomplish anything you put your mind to.  For I see in all of you amazing qualities - determination, compassion, humor, persistence, loyalty, drive, growth mindsets, curiosity, team-spirit, respect, resourcefulness, and bravery!  Whenever you doubt yourself, remember that you have in spades, all you need to conquer the world!  

This transition, this rebirth, always presents kids with new opportunities to think about who they are, to reinvent themselves in positive ways, and to find joy in the unknown that lies ahead.  Embrace this transition.  Don't be afraid to do it your way, to do what fits and is right for you (especially you 8th graders as you start to create your schedules - do what you are interested in, not what your friends are interested in.  That's how you broaden your horizons and create new friendships and connections.  Trust me, your friends will be right there waiting if your goals and theirs merge on the same path).  

So good luck to you all as we start this season of change..."Oh, the places you'll go..."



Be well,

Mrs. Hempey

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