Tis The Season

I love this time of year.  Things are busy but in a different kind of way than the normal muss and fuss of the daily grind.  People are moving around for family and friend events.  People are seeking to bring joy to others. People are gathering to celebrate and find joy in being together as humans.  The busy nature is hectic but in a way that seems to bring peace and prompt the quiet silence and stillness that is winter break and holiday celebration.  Given our work in the APA cohort around holidays, I've been more reflective through this time, paying attention to details and celebrations that highlight particular cultures and practices.  I've noticed how the celebrations and events that I love may isolate others and how we need to do better as a system to celebrate all voices, traditions, and experiences.  I find myself wondering about the feelings and thoughts of those that go unnoticed through the celebrations we cherish and the spaces we create to usher in the winter break period.  I worry for those that won't be in school for two weeks that need us for safety, stability, and security.  I wonder how I can better serve families and students that need help that doesn't take a break and find respite in holidays and time with family outside school.  I need to check in with my people and my students that I know need me and I need to look for those who haven't had space to communicate their needs. 

Still, through this reflection and a heart full of new worry, I am excited for a few moments of pause to reflect, nap, and take time for myself.  Self care is so important physically, emotionally, and mentally.  My brain has been tossed around a lot lately and I was struggling to find my innovative spirit and to spark ideas. I found some new mental invigoration at the EL National Conference last week.  This event is always one of my favorite spaces.  The deep dives and well executed professional development inspire me every single time.  I serve best when I'm learning and my brain is firing on all cylinders.  I attended a session on school culture assessment and walked away inspired with clarity on next steps with my change project work.  I have new tools and ideas to create a school culture team whose soul purpose is to continuously assess the culture (behavior, climate, etc.) to respond with interventions and work plan goals for improvement.  I've been grappling with how to get my staff team to meaningfully analyze our discipline and intervention strategies to work towards a new matrix and incorporation of practices that better meet the needs of our students and disrupt traditional mindsets and beliefs about appropriate behavior and consequence.  I found it!  I walked away with a tool to start the conversation and some tangible examples of how to overlay alternatives to suspension onto a more traditional discipline matrix.  The best of both worlds so to speak. Just when I thought I would never get there, one session inspired a whole new train of thought and belief that we can make it happen.  That's the power of life long learning and being around educators that understand the daily struggle and share in the grapples.  The next idea is just around the corner and can spark movement and innovation even in the midst of holiday celebrations, semester conclusion, and burn out like no other.  Tis the season to sit down for reflection and embrace the silence of winter break.  It's a time to recharge and plan while I drink coffee at 10 am in my pajamas.  For that space and time, I am grateful.