So when you walk by my office window this week you’ll notice a message on my whiteboard that reads, “school is my favorite time of the year!”, and I think I’ll keep it there for at least the rest of the month.
I don’t know about you but I couldn’t wait for the school year to begin and for the kids to arrive. I could barely sleep the night before and when those first students arrived through the gates last Wednesday, I could barely contain myself. Actually, I didn’t, as I danced and sang and high-fived everyone in sight. There’s something about the start of a new school year that makes my heart want to burst, and in my opinion it is absolutely the most beautiful day of the calendar year.
From an educator’s perspective, that first day of the year represents so much hope and promise. It’s such an opportunity, and a perfect clean slate waiting for us to make the year the best year of our teaching lives. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been teaching, or what role you play within the school, the level of excitement that is mixed with that little bit of nervousness is magical and unique to that first day. From a student’s perspective it’s kind of the same I think, with so much excitement and nervousness and hope and promise. It’s all there, rolled out in front of us all and ready for the taking. That first day of the year, a perfect white canvas, and it just doesn’t get any better than that.
I love standing back at times throughout that first day and watching the teachers interact with the kids and the kids interacting with each other. I love the noise and the smiles and awkwardness and all the connections, new and old. Everyone is trying so hard to make the first day go smoothly, and perfectly, and when it does, like it did for us this year, you leave at the end of the day inspired and feeling on top of the world, and eager for day two.
My challenge to you, and the challenge that I’m giving to myself this year as well, is to find ways to bottle up that first day feeling, that magic, and keep that level of joy and excitement rolling throughout the year. Finding ways to treat everyday like the first day, and to bring our best selves to work each and every morning. We might not sing and dance and jump up and down like I did last Wednesday, but the focus, the purpose, and the commitment that we all brought to that first day of school can become a daily occurrence if we pay attention to it. I love coming to school, I always have, and just like another little kid said to us on the first day this year, “our school is my favorite place in town”, and you know what, it’s mine too.
I want to wish you all a fantastic beginning to the year, and I want to thank you for making the first few days so amazing for our kids. Let’s keep it up and open that bottle of magic each and every day. Like I’ve said a few times already, there’s something special in the air this year, and there is no reason why this year can’t be our best year ever. If we all treat every day like the first day of school and there’s no way that it won’t be. Have a wonderful week two everyone, and remember to be great for our students and good to each other.
Quote of the Week…First day of school! Wake up! Come on. First day of school! – Finding Nemo
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