It should come as no surprise that everyone in schools is filled with a mix of excitement and sadness when the school year comes to an end. Obviously the kids are excited about two months of freedom and adventures... and, well... so are the staff.
The staff, however, are also a bit reflective of time gone by and progress made. As adulthood teaches us, when things change, they are never the same again. Each of our students grows up a little over the summer and the quirks and characteristics that really made them stand out will sometimes fade or disappear, replaced by the new version of themselves. Each version is just as quirky and interesting as the past ones but it can be sad to consider that you will never get to have a conversation with the 6 year old version ever again. This is why parents cry at graduations and other key events in life and it is why teachers have some measure of sadness when another school year closes. Never wish away time.
I have a background in team sport and learned through those experiences that when you change any component part of a team, you create a whole new one in it's place. With Mrs. Minty moving on and Mr. Coates coming aboard, the team here is going through some change. However, the core values of the staff in Roland remain. Staff here have proven to believe that kids are great, that learning matters, and that citizenship is at the center of all great communities. Good luck to Mrs. Minty and Mr. Coates in their new challenges. Enjoy the experience. Likewise, Mrs. Benner is shifting into the Principal's chair for the first half of the year. Good luck to her as well as she tackles a new challenge in her career.
My final comment will just be to say THANK YOU one more time. I have loved my time here and appreciate all of the support I have received. Go Raccoons!!!
Roland School
I took this photo on one of my first mornings at the school. The sunrises here are something special.
