As this school year begins my thoughts drift back to the final days of last school term.
Testing. Last minute science fair projects. Field trips.
All were important and some rewarding and fun. However, none of those events can hold a candle to the most important day of all - FIELD DAY!
Ah, yes ... That is the day it all comes together - a day of fun, sweat and -maybe- tears! A day in which the students get to show what they've got and compete for the first place prize, whether that is just a ribbon or a class ice-cream party. A day for parents to come and support their children and take pictures. Lots of pictures!
I was one of those parents, camera in hand, ready to cheer on my child and his classmates. I even photographed children of friends, especially if I knew the parent could not be present. As the camera shutter snapped, my eye caught something and I paused in reflection. It was the last event of the competition - the infamous Tug-Of-War battle! As the students lined up along side the rope their teachers were already excited and encouraging them. The kids were hot and tired after a good hour and a half of activities, but this was IT! This was the defining moment.
As the students took hold of the rope, teachers on either side of the pink flag began shouting and firing their "babies" up! The signal fired and the tugging began! I watched these same teachers - professionals, mind you - morph into loud, exuberant, yelling machines. Their body language was not that of desks and podiums and decorum. They were "hunkered down" getting in the faces of those rascals with a tenacity not often seen in the classroom - but always felt in their hearts.
And a lump lodged in my throat.
I realized that what many saw as a comical moment was actually an incredible picture of what these teachers do all year long. For many in the profession it was a living visual of their entire career.
"Come on!"
"You can do this!"
"PULL!"
"GO!"
"You've got this!"
"DON'T STOP!"
"Keep pulling!"
"I LOVE YOU!"
Pause here. Breathe. Wipe the tears.
My camera shifted focus from the students to these fearless leaders, trying to capture their heart and energy. Some of those pictures are posted with this piece. (Teacher friends, you can kill me later!).
Here we are at the beginning of a new school term. Everything that is about to commence is the ultimate tug-of-war. You will work, encourage and fight to get the best out of our children! You will come up against obstacles - some easy and some that may seem insurmountable. Some students may seem like the Hula-Hut competition where you have to get the parts to balance so he or she can stand tall. Some are like the relays - always going, going, going - overachievers that run hard for first place. Some kids are the rescuers in the Rescue Relay - always finding ways to help someone else. Some of your students will be the ones that wander off for a heaping cup of Kona-Ice - just before their next event. They'll show up in the nick-of-time, out of breath, but needing your encouragement all the same. You will have some students that resemble the Balloon Pop with personalities that BURST onto the scene, never short of laughter. You will have skilled students whose mental coordination resembles the Jump Rope Relay - once they hit their stride, they charge forward! And you will have students that are the picture of the Water Balloon Toss - you can see the fear and uncertainty in their eyes. But because you smile and keep your cool you watch as that fear turns into excitement and confidence.
And then .... you watch as each of these precious hearts and minds stride up to the rope. Some have come prepared with gloved hands and their game face. Some will just be hanging on for dear life! But they will not cower down. They will take that rope and look their competition in the eye with such determination and courage. And you will "hunker down" and shout their send-off with the passionate battle cry they have heard all school year long - "YOU CAN DO IIIIIITTTTTTTTTT!"
Thank you, teachers. Thank you, fearless captains. Enter this new year knowing we love you and pray for you. As you prepare your classrooms, we know the children aren't the only ones with butterflies in their tummies. But you know something? You've got this!
PULL! Pull out of your students their very best!
TUG! Tug their hearts as much as their minds! For some, THAT will be the lasting impact of your legacy.
DON'T STOP! Don't give up, even with the toughest child. If all you can do with some is assure them of your belief in them, you have done your job well.
WE LOVE YOU, TOO! Thank you for nurturing and educating our children and for loving them and what you do! It doesn't go unnoticed.
Now .... let's go get some ice-cream!
