Patience is...

A dad told me this week that he admires that work we do at school, for he doesn’t have the patience that he sees our staff exhibit.

It is now September and we are three weeks into a new school year. The beginning of the year always brings excitement and energy to a school. A new year also means that new relationships have to be built between students and adults that are not yet familiar with each other. Routines and procedures have to be established to create an environment that will foster success for the duration of the school year.

Teachers start day one of the year by teaching their new students how school works in this new grade level. Time is dedicated early and often to practicing routines that will now fill each school day as students work through each subject area and learn how to collaborate with others. Teachers know that pouring time and effort into building routines will help them in the long run as they raise learning and social expectations for their students throughout the year.

The beginning of the school year can be the most difficult time of year for teachers. I am reminded of the amazing individuals we have working in our schools during this stressful time of getting to know our new students and their individual needs. Patience is underestimated in schools, EVERYDAY. Our teachers and school staff pour themselves into finding out what makes our kids tick and what most helps them be successful. They take time to be patient when things are hard and when students need more support.

Schools should be filled with positivity, and one way we show this is by having patience with every situation that comes our way. I am proud that I work with individuals that exhibit patience with their students through the hardest situations, and at the beginning of the school year. Educators are patient beyond words, and when someone from outside the school recognizes this, it is a much appreciated compliment.