Appreciation from Wentworth

I thought it would be meaningful to pair Mr. Sloatman's appreciation card assignment with a post reflecting on the important work Scarborough teachers do each day to promote kindness and compassion. Principal Kelli Crosby, of Wentworth Intermediate School, offered this lovely tribute to her staff:

The RAK challenge for Tuesday is to "find the good in someone around you," and I am fortunate to be surrounded by oh-so-much "good" each and every day.  It is my privilege to be the Principal of Wentworth School because, not only do I work with the most wonderful children in the world, but I am also surrounded by an incredibly caring, compassionate, dedicated and professional staff.  I would like to express my deep appreciation, and immense pride, for the work our teachers do to foster, not only strong academic growth, but also caring and compassion in our students.

Every adult in our school, from classroom teachers to nurses and ed techs, to the front office, kitchen, and custodial staff, are teachers because they put students at the center of everything they do.  There are not enough hours in the day, but teachers create the time by getting up at a time many would still consider night and leaving school long after the final bus. Teachers often spend their weekends planning creative lessons and providing students with timely feedback on their work and progress. They never stop thinking about how to make learning meaningful, how to quietly ensure every student has a snack, or when to find just a few extra minutes each day to make absolutely sure every student understands that new concept and also has someone to play with at recess.

Though it would be easy to understand if teachers sometimes seem a little tired, stressed, or low on patience, day after day I see the opposite.  They arrive bright and early to make sure everything is just-so in the classroom, and they are right at the door to greet their students with a smile, a warm good morning, and the expectation that the day will be important.

Teachers make every student feel like a crucial, contributing member of our school community, and this feeling transfers to such a sense of pride among our students. Our teachers give high fives and celebrate big and little accomplishments, dry tears, clean up spills, apply bandaids, and help students make more expected choices.  They facilitate friendships and assist students in navigating social situations, join in on foursquare games and eat lunch on trays in the cafeteria.

Teachers are smart, and they realize that the future of our world is sitting right in their classrooms today.  I couldn't imagine a crew more capable of this awesome responsibility. Thank you, teachers.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Kelli Crosby