Before my general thoughts this week, I wanted to offer a note of care and concern for those in our community that may have been touched by the devastating events in North America and the islands off her coast with the recent storms of Harvey and Irma. I know that we have families and friends affected in Florida and further up the eastern coast and I’m guessing that many whom we know were also affected in Texas. While I have heard mostly good news in the various reports of safety, I know that the challenges of the cleanup and recovery still lie ahead for these large populations and I know you all join me in wishing them well in addressing the challenges of the weeks and months ahead.
I’m always thoughtful about the changing seasons and how the cycle of the school year so closely matches the wisdom of mother nature. With the waning days of summer, we are seeing the fruits of the final growing season all around us. Similarly, the beginning work of the school year, fruits of our early labors, becomes the foundation of work that lies ahead, sustaining us through the deeper study and increasing independence in learning. With each iteration of the cycle, students find themselves more and more at the center of their learning until it leads them to the lifelong pursuits of profession and career. From the learning on display so far, I can only see great things ahead!
We have a particularly important waypoint coming up this weekend with the annual PTO BBQ on Saturday starting at 12:00p. It is a wonderful time to build community and expand important relationships that will support and enrich us throughout the year. Like at the PTO Mixer recently, it is a time where we encourage everyone to meet new people or find those that you maybe met recently and expand that relationship further. We’ll have lots of entertainment, great food, and a unique opportunity to put your raffle tickets in on amazing baskets filled with valuable prizes gathered from our broader community. This is the main annual fundraiser for the PTO and critical to their mission of supporting the school in important ways throughout the year.