As our children count down the hours to the holidays and their vacation from school, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a wonderful and joyous holiday season. While we rush towards our holiday celebrations, let us remember that, despite what happens outside our sphere of influence, we still have the ability to control our own actions. As Lou Holtz wrote, “Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.”
Despite the issues facing the district with the potential withdrawal of Worthington and the challenges the district currently faces with proposed 9C reductions to regional transportation reimbursement, I am grateful for the overall support shown to the district, our staff, and our students over the past year. I fully anticipate that whatever happens, our staff will continue the excellent work they do in making a difference in our students’ lives, that learning will continue, administrators will deal with their myriad issues and responsibilities, cafeteria workers will provide a smile with every lunch, custodians will maintain the facilities, paraprofessionals will provide the additional personal touches students need to succeed, secretaries will keep everything running smoothly, maintenance staff will keep the buildings operating in an efficient manner, and together, we’ll all struggle with the seeming contradictions between what is expected of public education by politicians, state bureaucrats, the ‘one percent’, and our students and families.
These various expectations are especially evident during this time of the year as families struggle with their financial obligations, the government seems to be on recess, the weather changes daily, and we view the very different ways in which people celebrate the holidays based upon cultural differences, ethnic backgrounds, and the differences between secular icons (Santa Claus, Christmas trees) and religious icons (Kinaras, Nativity scenes, the Menorah). As we move forward in facing these challenges as individuals or organizations, it may help to remember that we have many more similarities than differences and that common ground may more easily be found if we are willing to look at the greater good rather than individual desires.
In this season of celebration my hope is that, as individuals, we look for ways to assist in making the common good a guiding tenant of our actions. I am normally optimistic; for example, even during the deepest and darkest days marking the beginning of winter, I know the daylight hours are increasing, that preparations for the beginning of spring—from maple sugaring to lambing—are in process, and that even the cold and snow bring opportunities for fellowship that are often overlooked during the height of summer. My optimism regarding the future of Gateway remains unabated and I have faith that our communities will find a way to use our challenges as a springboard for positive change. My hope is that every individual finds a way to become a positive contribution to ensure that our students become positive members of our society.
May this season bring you faith in the future, hope for better times, and opportunities to share this time with family and friends.
