Mustang Message
December 6, 2019
A Principal's Perspective
As my family had our extended family Thanksgiving gathering last Saturday, we discussed if we were having a family Christmas party this year. Last year we chose just to have a family gathering at Thanksgiving. If my parents were alive, this question would not have even come up. Of course we were having a Thanksgiving AND a Christmas family gathering! This got me to thinking about the value and importance of extended family gatherings and yes, even faculty social gathering opportunities. My sister sent me this article which I though was very timely this time of year. Take a look (To read the complete article go to the following link: https://community.today.com/parentingteam/post/the-death-of-the-family-gatherings ).
From Alison Wright, Today Parenting Team:
"As a youngster I have vivid memories of being around my extended family. It was so meaningful to the older generation to sit around talking and spending time together. Seeing someones child, the extension of your family play and run with other family members was a joyful and celebrating occasion. It wasn't really something you had to plan and it just happened instinctively. Everyone is getting together at Aunt Janes Saturday, bring potato salad. Uncle Fred is frying chicken. Family gatherings took precedence.
...Recently our family celebrated my grandmother's 90th birthday. Family from miles away traveled to my small hometown to visit with her, drop off a card and enjoy some food. This was the first time in many years that I saw many of my family members. My aunt continued to remark about how much she misses everyone and how we don't do this enough. But even with this being a milestone event as well as an opportunity to see family, many people did not make it. And to be honest I was usually the one never there. Having lived hours away from home since I was 21 years old I have missed more family gatherings than I have made. But this past one made me realize how much I am really missing.
Studying several faces and then realizing who I am looking at while saying hello with open arms is strange. I don't know them anymore. I found myself saying many times to people, "You probably saw on Facebook..." I had little to discuss. They know most about my life, husband and children. It took away from the importance of why we were together. We set and enjoyed catching up with one another. People that always seemed so young now look old. Several people told me we should have a family reunion soon if only everyone wasn't so busy. But something tells me the people of my grandmother's generation were much busier yet still found time to visit with family. Family meant something back then. People understood the importance of visiting one another, of shaking hands and laughing. People understood that time was fleeting and those you care about most won't be here forever. Family was all you had.
Today we focus on our careers, raising our own kids, getting away when we can. Our extended family isn't the center it once was and if a reunion were to be planned most wouldn't bother to come. Besides we keep in touch on social media.
What we miss is the potato salad, the moments of laughter and sudden bursts of excitement when we hug someone we haven't laid eyes on in over 10 years. Sitting next to someone that makes up our childhood memories and remembering their smile from years ago that you haven't seen in person in a really long time. We are missing this. What we don't get that our grandparents did is that although the next get together is always a year or so away, people aren't commodities and everyone has an expiration date.
I left my grandmothers party with a much better sense of who I am and where I came from. I laughed at jokes I heard (and told) and I got to spend time with people that contributed to who I am today. I had forgotten how good that feels. I had forgotten how much I love them and I was reminded of how much I am loved. That alone deserves more respect than "I will make the next one."
These days are flying by and my hope is that we stop being so focused on our own worlds and instead open the door to a family we have missed, that by the way, really misses us too."
As a member of the GP staff, I hope that you feel that you are not just a commodity. I hope that you don't miss opportunities throughout the year to laugh, share stories, create a sense of community and build a sense of who you are as an educator. The faculty party hosted by the Rhines is a great opportunity not to be missed to build our school family which is important to each one of us. This will be a time to laugh, to share a meal, play some games, meet our significant others and have fun while building school family memories that will be treasured for seasons to come.
Donna
GP Family Christmas Party 2018
News & Notes
Frosty's Snowbash: The Snowbash is coming up Saturday, Dec. 7th, from 9-11. This is an event where GP families and staff can talk to Santa, eat pancakes, shop at Mustang Market, write letters to Santa and listen to great holiday music.
Faculty Holiday Staff Party: RSVP for the Greens Prairie Holiday party at the home of Josh and Sarah Rhine, Friday, Dec. 13th, beginning at 6:30 pm. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0949adad23abf85-christmas
Gift of Time: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jRJ_h_I46A18O5JdI0L7uhBrEP-PZ-UWtQ9jdBNGffA/edit?usp=sharing Please make sure that your after school duty is covered.
CSISD School Calendar Survey: https://survey.csisd.org/index.php/2021?lang=en Please review the two calendar proposals and add your comments.
District Policy Regarding Recess (Refresher): CSISD believes that recess is an important part of the school day where students have an opportunity for physical activity and to develop and practice social skills. While the state requirement for physical activity is met through our PE program, we are committed to recess time in order to support the development of the whole child. Occasions may arise where a student may miss recess time. Teachers may utilize up to 10 minutes of an individual student’s recess to provide practice time for behavioral and/or academic skills. In order to accomplish the dual purposes of recess as a time for physical activity and social skill development, students may not be required to complete punitive tasks or physical activity during recess (i.e. walking the track, push-ups, etc.). A student may be removed from the entirety of recess on a given day only by campus administration for purposes such as to enforce a natural consequence or to provide time for specific, targeted practice of social skills and behavior.
Happy Birthday
This Week Birthdays:
Jennie Fortner, Dec. 10
Liz Luman, Dec. 13
Mustang Yee-Haws
Congratulations to Patricia Hadnot, former staff member! She will be graduating from Sam Houston State University on Saturday, December 14th, with her degree in education.
Shout out to Kristy Sullivan for creating such beautiful Christmas trees for all to enjoy during this holiday season!
GP Kinder Funny: Upon hearing the sleigh bells ringing for attendance, a student in kindergarten cries out, "It's Santa!"