Page 21 - DistanceLearning

As a principal, I begin each day with a very I received countless emails with
brief announcement over the PA system wel-
coming the children to school and encouraging era phone, I had helped bring
them to be positive, kind, and hard working. I
usually sum up these ideals with a simple statement, “Let’s Make
Today... A Great Day.”
I truly believe that we each have the power within ourselves to
make our days good ones, bad ones, terrible ones, or great ones.
Our days often depend on how we, ourselves, react to the situa-
tions before us. We can look to the good. Or not. We can see chal-
lenges as chances to grow. Or not. We can see disagreements as
chances to understand another person’s perspective, and honestly
share our own. Or not.
I choose to try to always look for the good, because there is so
much good to see and to find. This is especially true if one works
in a school - a place filled with teachers and students. A school
is a building that overflows with good on a daily basis. (Especial-
ly my school, one of the most wonderful anywhere. But that’s a
different story.)
Early on in the lockdown, I recorded a brief audio message for the
students that I sent over the e-mail system to all homes. It was
brief, short, as always. I welcomed them all to school and said,
“Let’s Make Today A Great Day.” (We also, of course, recited the
Pledge of Allegiance.) I soon realized that the words were not
enough. (A terrific teacher also encouraged me to do more.)
I asked my college-aged son, now taking his neuroscience courses
at Lafayette College online, at home, to film me delivering a short
video message to the kids from our home. We found a good spot, a
small stairway in the entrance foyer, and we commenced filming. As
I always do when I speak to children, I spoke from the heart.
We sent the video out to the school community. I figured it would
bring a smile. Maybe a laugh. It brought more than that. The re-
ception was unbelievably positive.
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words of thanks and praise. I received countless emails
Somehow, by talking to a cam- with words of thanks
and praise. Somehow,
some calm and peace and by talking to a camera
normalcy to the kids. I helped, in phone, I had helped bring
a small way, to make this scary some calm and peace
new life a little better. and normalcy to the kids. I
I am one who thrives on positiv- helped, in a small way, to
make this scary new life a
ity. I believe goodness begets
more goodness. Thriving on the little better.
positive response, I figured that
I would make another video for the next day.
The positive reactions continued. So as to not burden my son on a
daily basis filming his dad, always in a suit and tie as if he were at
school (that is, of course, how the students picture me), I learned
how to use computer programs like Screencastify to record myself.
(We learn how to do things, most often, not when we are forced to,
but when the need presents itself.) I brought my videos to new lo-
cations in my home. And around my property. The messages went
from just a minute or two to many minutes. I talked to the kids
about the weather, about toys, about caring, and thanks - appre-
ciation, kindness, and so much more. I used nature and the toys
and such to help deliver these important messages to the kids.
My Morning Messages are not scripted. I develop an idea and
speak right into the computer’s camera, as if I were looking at
each child and talking directly to them. And I speak from the heart.
The filmmaking process hasn’t been easy. Sometimes a five minute
message takes me quadruple that time as I stumble over words,
make mistakes, and have to start again and again from scratch.
I’ve filmed these, at times late in the evening, after an exhausting
day. (Principaling remotely is not easy. It’s often a 24/7 job.) It’s not
always easy. (But good things aren’t supposed to be easy.)
I have always been a principal who works to inspire my school
- the kids, the staff, and the community. I always speak from the
heart. I visit classrooms regularly to read to the kids and have