You made it!

You made it!  You made it through a year that was guided by a pandemic.  You made it through a year of in person and virtual learning.  You made it through almost a full year of masks.  You made it through in person and Google meet conferences and IEP meetings and parent meetings and interviews.  You supported one another through good times and difficult times.  You made it through a year that was like no other.  And I couldn't be more proud to have gone to school with you every day.  It was a great year and I hope that you can look back and enjoy the view.  Thanks to George Couros for sharing these words.

Calendar

Wednesday, June 9th    Half day/ Last day of school

Thursday, June 10th    Sleep in, check in with family and friends, and enjoy.  Summer begins!

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"I believe, every day, you should have at least one exquisite moment."-

Audrey Hepburn, actress

(from inspiringquotes.com)

"There are years that ask questions and years that answer."-

Zora Neale Huston

(from @woodard_julie)

"Whatever you do, the only secret is to believe in it and satisfy yourself.  Don't do it for anyone else."-

Keith Haring, artist, social activist

BLT notes from June 7th

During our BLT meeting on Monday, we discussed a few things which can be found in these notes.  Two things are important for today, the yearbook and ice cream adjusted schedule as well as determining a time for your grade level (5th grade) or curriculum (6th, 7th, 8th grade) flex day meeting for the summer.  The flex day needs to be scheduled by August 19th.  Please communicate your selected date with me.  And don't forget about packing up your classrooms!

8th grade graduation was amazing!

Thanks to Becky Oppermann for her creativity to pull off an fantastic ceremony.  Thanks to Barb for her impressive organizational skills, and for the idea for my message to the graduates and their families.  Thanks to Leah for her caligraphy on the diplomas.  Thanks to the 8th grade staff for being there for our kids, not just last night but all year.  Thanks to Jenny and Jon for their work so our 8th grade Choir students could perform.  Thanks to Jim, Mike, Jordan, and Kirk for their set up and tear down of the gym.  Thanks to Carey for coming in after to help Becky with reorganizing all of the stuff for next year.  I am always so impressed about how a team comes together for our kids.

Good byes are not easy

Thanks to Barb for her 25 years of exceptional work for our school.

Thanks to Patrick for his 6 years of caring for our kids in Merton.

Thanks to Becky Pizzo for her wonderful classroom instruction and leadership with NJHS.

Thanks to Brian Vassak for his successful year sharing his love of Social Studies with our 8th graders.

We will miss you next year.

Daring Greatly

I'm nearly finished reading Brene Brown's book Daring Greatly.  I can't wait to read a bit of it every morning.  In her "Final Thoughts" section, she shares a quote from Theodore Roosevelt that seems to describe our 2020-2021 school year.  Maybe it will resonate with you in the same way it resonated with me.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again,

because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause;

who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly...

You may not see yourself in this quote, but I sure do.  You give your best to our kids and each other every day, and that's why it's so great to come to school with you every day.

Have a great last day of school!

Jay

Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell