Students, Parents, and Guardians:
I wanted to take a few moments and welcome everyone back to school for the 2014-2015 school year at GCMS Middle School! The dust has settled and we are all starting to settle into our routine and groove.
Routine is an interesting word to use when describing a school, because there is no such thing. We are all a part of the process of educating and providing for young people with a common cause of maximizing potential and encouraging growth. This is no easy task, and it is most certainly not perfect. We are dealing with human beings, young and old(erJ). There is no such thing as perfection, only practice towards perfection which can never be attained. The staff at GCMS Middle School are a highly motivated and dedicated group of educational professionals, but we are also human. We will make mistakes in the things we say and the things we do. Many things we do will be different from your idea of correct, but I can assure you our methods and deliveries are always with the best of intentions for student growth and learning. When this occurs reach out to us so we know of your concern and start the conversation towards correction.
The fine balance of “I am their parent and I know what is right for my child,” and “we are the educational professionals and we know what is best for your child,” can be a dicey one. That said, an open “Mindset”, and open communication will allow us to work together to reach our common goal.
Today, I walked around the building and in three different classrooms students were talking about the people most important in their lives and there was a common theme of parents, grandparents, and siblings. We will do all we can on our end to support these young people, but you have so much power and influence! What can you do? Value education! Ask about their day, ask about their homework, encourage self-discovery and hard work, support them in fighting through adversity, support failure as an option that can be overcome. Give them your time! Time is the most valuable commodity that we can never have more of. Most middle school kids won’t thank you for it today, but the day will come that they look back and say thanks, or they simply become the person you want them to be and you will know the time was well spent.
Thanks for all that you do to support students, GCMS Middle School, and the surrounding community. This is a special place to teach, learn, and live.
Best,
Mr. Darnell