Gratitude
“Always be grateful. Have a grateful day.”
Gratitude
breeds gratitude. Gratitude is powerful. Gratitude creates climate. Gratitude
creates culture. Gratitude is an icebreaker. My first year as the principal of
a middle school was challenging but that is what I expected. As I enter my
seventeenth year as a middle school principal, it is shaping up to be the most
challenging of all. I did not expect that. So I’ll dig deep into hard work and
commitment because I know people are grateful.
Ask
yourself: Why do I do what I do? For who? For what? Are you better than that?
Now, what are you going to do? Where will you find your sense of success? What’s
your measure of success? Accomplishment? Never let anyone tell you, you cannot
accomplish something. What do want your legacy to be? What’s your measure of
character? I don’t know but you do! Wake up, people! Rise! No one owes you
anything.
“The only people to get even with are those that
have helped you.”
My
first year as principal, I created a file called “Nice Thoughts.” It evolved into
“Great News.” This became a collection of thank you notes, letters, emails, and
success stories. Each year, I reflect back on some of the stories that molded
the last ten months. This past month, I started to compile the best stories
that keep me coming back each day. I am creating a book of gratitude. Everyone
has a story. What’s yours?
Here
are a few stories:
Hi Dr.
Rudnesky!
I wanted to send you a quick e-mail
to let you know how one of your Renaissance activities made such an impact on
someone in our community! I was cleaning up my daughter’s desk one day about a
month ago, and I came across an envelope with Mrs. C’s name on it. My daughter
asked me to drop it off to the C’s mailbox for her. I did that and then
received a call from Mrs. C very emotional about the “letter” my daughter wrote
to her about why she inspires her. I don’t know what my daughter wrote, but Mrs.
C did tell me that between the starfish poem, pin and my daughter’s simple
words to her it touched her more than we could know. I ran into Mrs. C again
last night and she said she carries the letter around in her purse and told me
I was doing a great job raising my daughter. As you are well aware, middle
school can be a really tough time for kids socially and emotionally.
I think many of the Renaissance activities you do with the children at Belhaven
helps them navigate their way through middle school and I want to thank you for
having such an impact on our children.
I
hope you are having a wonderful summer and we will see you in September!
Dr. R -
As
my daughter and the rest of the 8th graders prepare to graduate
tomorrow, I just wanted to drop you a line and say thank you for all that you
do at Belhaven Middle School.
Both of our kids had a
great experience at Belhaven. My son was prepared very well for high
school both academically and socially and hit the ground running when he
arrived. I am happy to say that his first two years of high school have been
excellent – academically, socially and athletically. He has worked hard
and made good decisions. I am confident my daughter will do the
same. Interestingly enough my daughter is in no rush to get to high
school because of the great time that she has had at Belhaven. My guess
is that deep down she knows that she experienced something very unique and
doesn’t want it to end.
I
am a firm believer that in any organization the “tone at the top” is paramount
and works its way down through everything the organization does.
You have a great team at Belhaven, but the energy, enthusiasm,
creativity and guidance you bring to the school cannot be understated and
fosters the atmosphere that allows the kids to flourish. I am still
amazed when I go to an event at Belhaven and see you interacting with the kids
and how you know every kid’s name and really connect with them on a personal
level.
At
a time when it seems that the world is always complaining about something,
I just wanted to let you know how very much I appreciate all that you
have done for our kids. The foundation which you and the Belhaven team
have given them will serve them very well as they move on.
Have a great summer!
My best,
Dear
Dr. Rudnesky,
My
son will be graduating tomorrow night so it will be our last day spent at
Belhaven. Both of my boys have had such
rich learning and social experiences at Belhaven and I can't thank you enough. You encourage leadership, involvement, and
hard work on a daily basis and that will carry on with our sons through high
school, college, and life. Thank you for
always leading by example and showing students that you can work hard and have
fun while doing it. You have an amazing
staff of teachers, two which deserve a special mention ~ Mrs. Wrigley and Mr.
Napoli. I hope you have a wonderful
summer and thank you again so much for everything you do....it does not go
unnoticed.
Sincerely,
Get Fired Up!
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