Friendship

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Friendship —

My son has been talking to me about how he has not had many close friends in his time in school. We have this conversation every year when things get a little tough at school and he says he doesn’t have anyone that will help him with school or just to hang out with. Of course family doesn’t count in his mind. I understand. I’ve been in that position at that age. But I read something that I thought was profound and gave it to him. We discussed it and I hope it helps him feel more comfortable about how to make sure he is being the friend and the friends will be there, and are there if he just stops to see them. Here is the passage I read.

“The dynamic of friendship is almost always underestimated as a constant force in human life: a diminishing circle of friends is the first terrible diagnostic of a life in deep trouble: of overwork, of too much emphasis on a professional identity, of forgetting who will be there when our armored personalities run into the inevitable natural disasters and vulnerabilities found in even the most average existence.

[...]

But no matter the medicinal virtues of being a true friend or sustaining a long close relationship with another, the ultimate touchstone of friendship is not improvement, neither of the other nor of the self; the ultimate touchstone is witness, the privilege of having been seen by someone and the equal privilege of being granted the sight of the essence of another, to have walked with them and to have believed in them, and sometimes just to have accompanied them for however brief a span, on a journey impossible to accomplish alone.”
— David Whyte

This is a hard concept for young people to understand. This is what we need to keep teaching students, to believe in those around us, to see the essence of those we call friends. See them for who they can be and forgive the mistakes they make. To make sure those around us are seen, truly seen. Friendship is important. Our journey is impossible to accomplish alone. 

Quote I’m pondering —

“Your kids don’t really listen to a word you say, but they pay a great deal of attention to how you are living your life. And if there’s a discrepancy between what you’re telling them and how you’re living your own life, you lose your audience.” — Tom Waits

What’s Happening —

This Coming Week	In Two Weeks
Mon. Dec. 9 - Teacher Training Afternoon Wed. Dec. 11 - TAT Kinder Thu. Dec. 12 - Choir Concert Fri Dec. 13 Choir Christmas Assembly 9:30	Tue. Dec. 17 - Acadience Training Paras 9-12 Wed. Dec. 18 - Intervention Meetings Thu. Dec. 19 - Paraprofessional Training 9-12
Dec 21-Jan 3 - Christmas Vacation Jan 15 - Acadience Testing All Day

Favorite Article This Week —

Subtract

This is an article that I have needed for a while. Priorities. What is important. Being purposeful. So much in such a short article. 

A Big Thank You —

Thank you Sparks and Kim and everyone that makes the holidays special. All the activities and fun that happens just brightens each day. Thank you for spending time to make sure everyone is included and for just giving everyone a way to have fun at a job that can be stressful at times. Thank you for bringing the fun. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.