Week 233

Positive post Sunday, August 8, 2021- Week 233. 

It’s that time of year again when many of our children and grandchildren are heading back to school.  This is usually a very exciting time when we take them shopping for new school clothes and supplies and take pictures of them on their first day back.  Our family also has another tradition of taking the kids to Baskin Robbins after their first day as well.  Actually, I think our tradition started as an excuse for Michele to go to Baskin Robbins herself😊.

Even with all the excitement and fun traditions, this year will continue to be a challenge.  Due to the recent resurgence of the pandemic, I’m sure there will be much anxiety and trepidation. It will be critical for parents, guardians, teachers and administrators to continue to work together to create a positive, inclusive and safe environment that supports the success of our students.

As the guardian of 3 of our grandchildren who are in middle and high school, I am committed to support them as they transition back to fulltime onsite learning.  In an effort to model collaboration and to determine how prepared our local schools are, I contacted a member of our Redlands Unified School District (RUSD) Board of Education, my wife Michele 😊.

As a member of the RUSD Board of Education, Michele had the privilege of attending a Teacher Professional Development Day with teachers from throughout the District this past week.  She thanked the teachers and let them know how grateful she is for their professionalism, focus and concern for their students and their commitment to excellence in education.  They were all very excited to get back in the classroom with their students!

Michele was also very pleased and impressed with how our District has worked so hard to prepare for the safe return of our teachers, students and staff.  Learning about the innovative and thoughtful plan, including leveraging the use of technology and services available in our community, gives me comfort that our students will return to a safe and healthy environment.  This focus and preparation will allow students like my grandchildren to remain focused on learning.

Please join me in saying a prayer for our students, seeking the Lord’s wisdom and blessing upon them as they work hard to devote themselves to their schoolwork in pursuit of academic excellence.  Let us also pray for our teachers and all those in our education system as they prepare for the return to the classroom.  May the Lord guide them as they develop our students for future success and prepare them to be respectful and responsible citizens.

How do you support the schools in your community?

If you have students returning to the classroom, how are you preparing them?