Parma Plan It: #ParmaSTRONG

Monday, September 1, 2014

#ParmaSTRONG

The beginning of a new school year is always an exciting time. We have the chance to put into practice new ideas and strategies and to refine and master old ones. Most importantly it is the beginning of building relationships that last a lifetime and impact everything! Think about your class last year on the first day of school. Now remember that same group of students at the end of the year. Magic happens between tomorrow, our first day of school, and June. A list of names on a class list become "my kids", "our kids". Though we do many things well at Parma Elementary, it is the development of strong relationships with our students that I feel we do best!

Richard Elmore. "The relationship of the teacher and the student in the presence of content must be at the center of efforts to improve performance."

I am excited to see this year unfold as we explore the greatness in every child at Parma. We will have students who need extra encouraging, extra nurturing. We will have students who take a little longer to realize that they truly matter to us. Some find it harder to believe than others, and some actually fight it. This is what I know because I have watched it happen year after year within our school walls; every child will know he or she matters to us and that he or she has qualities of leadership and greatness by the year's end. This takes ALL of us. Our strength is in knowing this and working together to reach every child. We are #ParmaSTRONG!

Tomorrow begins a journey that on paper ends in June, but we know what happens this year will last a lifetime and yes, it impacts everything. I'm excited to be with you on this journey!