CANCELED School Board Meeting: November 23, 2021, 7:00 pm CANCELED

Thanksgiving Holiday (NO SCHOOL): Thursday and Friday, November 25 and 26

“Be thankful, Dr. Joe.”

That was the message on a sign a student handed me at an elementary school during my last week here while visiting schools and classrooms. And while this week has been full of both joy and sadness, this student’s message stuck with me the entire time.

Be thankful.

I am. I am very thankful for all the students with whom I have connected and spent time. Thankful for how they engaged me in conversations or asked me questions or thanked me for visiting their classroom. Thankful they come to school every day with hope for their own futures.

I am thankful for the staff who come to work every day giving their best for each student— especially two years into a pandemic that has changed how we live and work. They have been, and will continue to be, tireless advocates and mentors for students for the thirteen years they spend with us in school.

I am thankful for the community members who stand up and show up to support our schools when we need them most. Your advocacy for students and staff has buoyed the tired and powered the batteries of many. And as we see volunteers return to our schools, it’s hard to even believe we ever made this happen without your help.

Next week is a great time for all of us to be thankful for the people we have around us and for the people who take care of our kids each and every day. I was fortunate to speak to so many of them this week on my visitations, and I know they could use your grace and your thanks as they try to be the light in every student’s school experience.

Be thankful. I know I am.

Thank you, Newberg Public Schools, for everything. 💛

Joe