It's Only Been Three Days!

It is a sunny Sunday this Labor Day weekend, and it is the perfect time to reflect on the Opening Three Days of school in Montpelier.  In short, it was a tremendous week!



We started with some new signage at MHS, reflective of Principal Adam Bunting's challenge to every student and adult:

I shared some Opening Remarks with the entire District, inspired by a Ted Talk by Rita Pierson.  Here's a link to her presentation.  I put my own spin on her remarks by challenging each employee in Montpelier Public Schools to be a hero for a child.  Not a super hero with a mask, cape, and tights; an adult that listens, validates, empathizes and educates.  That is a hero - something every adult can do for every child in MPS, everyday.  

Wednesday, our heroes opened the doors to of Union Elementary, Main Street Middle, and Montpelier High School to Grades 1 - 12 (our Kindergartners start Tuesday, September 3).  Here are just a few pictures of what happened this week:

At UES, Emmanuel Riby-Williams one of our Physical Education Teachers directed a warm-up activity.

At MSMS, Team Summit got to know each other better over a friendly game of Scrabble.  Did you know QAT is a word, per the Scrabble Dictionary?

At MHS, students in Sue Abrams Algebra class were challenged to build the largest tower as a team,  using just the items on the desk (batteries, dice, white out, magna tiles, a binder, a box of paper clips, an eraser, and a package of index cards).  Higher order thinking!

There two milestones at MHS this week.  First was the debut of Recess!  MHS was featured in USA Today for this student-centered approach (click here for the article).  Here is what it looked like:

Students reviewed the options and made their selections.

Mike Martin, new Director of Curriculum & Instruction, and Jen Wall-Howard await students to join them to make music.

And what started as one game of 4 Square on Thursday...

 Grew to three on Friday!

And I must admit, these MHS students are good - this Superintendent was bounced out many times over the two days!

We also said goodbye to Dennis Maranville, after more than 30 years of service to MPS.  There was cake for everyone and the students gave him a standing ovation to celebrate his commitment to MHS.

I can't remember a building that I've worked in where students participated enthusiastically in a standing ovation to thank and say goodbye to someone on the Facilities Staff.  That is a credit to the education they have received in this District - from UES through MHS!

Finally, Union Elementary Principal Chris Hennessey started a blog called The Wise Owl.  Click here to visit his blog and follow along with all the wonderful things happening at UES!

As I reflect on this wonderful week we had together, the last three with students, the temptation is to downplay what has happened.  It's just the first week... Wait until things get harder... Everyone smiles on the first day... The real work hasn't begun... It's only been three days...

I choose to resist that temptation.  It's only been three days - and look at the amazing things that we've done!  I've heard words like peaceful, thoughtful, fun, transparent, engaging, curious, thank you, welcome back - not just from students but from adults as well.  I choose to think that these were our first three days with students, and imagine how much more we can do this coming week, and the week after, and the week after that!  I choose to think that it's only been three days - just wait and see what we've done with our next three!

"Today is your day, your mountain is waiting... so get on your way!"

~Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!