"When asked if my glass is half full or half empty, I say - I am simply thankful to have a glass." - unknown
This past weekend we celebrated Thanksgiving. Thinking about what I was thankful for this year I decided it would be Fall. Fall used to always be my favorite season. The bold pops of color, thick layers of leaves crunching underfoot, the crisp change in the air signaling a change to come. There truly are so many things to be thankful for at this time of year. School has settled into it's comfortable routines, warm sweaters and boots make their way out of closets, and we have the opportunity to put one season to rest in anticipation of another. This year we have had some exciting new changes that have led us to work in new ways. The harvest of our Dream Catcher Garden was definitely one of those celebrations of thanks. Last week students and teachers put our garden to rest for the winter - for some this might be a sad time, but for us it is a celebration. There were many things for us to clear away and discover what had been so diligently growing underneath the green all season; carrots, potatoes, beets! There were many lessons to be learned- we learned that frozen tomatoes, "Smell - I mean they really smell!" and that while they are not good for eating, we can put them to good use for their seeds and work like scientist to experiment with ways to preserve them for our next growing season. Our Harvest also signals the beginning of cooking season for us as we work with Chef Kaitlin to plan creative ways to use our harvest and learn how we can turn ordinary into extraordinary. “Did you know Catsup doesn’t have to come from a bottle? You can actually make it!” The garden is a part of our Story at Haysboro School and we love that we can participate in it’s growth. The cycles we go through help us to understand change and see that even our ‘best laid plans’ can sometimes require some adjustments. Many of our students thought that with all of the hot weather we had this summer, our garden would generate giant vegetables, what we actually learned is that the hot weather affects different vegetables differently and while some flourished, others suffered. These lived experiences in the garden help us understand how change can impact us in positive and detrimental ways. We can take these lessons and work with our students to apply them in other situations. This is one of the reasons why Fall is one of my favorite seasons… I am thankful for Fall, I am thankful for our Garden, I am thankful for this incredible group of students who continually challenge us with their curiosity… I am thankful for change – because without it we would be stagnant. (Or as the kids say – “B-ohhh-ring!”) I am thankful for my 'glass' – I am also thankful that I have the opportunity to see it as half full. Thankfulness goes far beyond just one day of the year. I wonder … what are you thankful for? |
AuthorI am a Calgary Board of Education Principal, proud to be leading learning. I am driven by curiosity and believe that each day welcomes new learning. I am passionate about intellectual engagement and task design and I treasure "wonder-filled" moments with students. Archives
July 2018
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