a word of friendship

As many of you know, the 41st president of the United States recently passed away. And no matter which side of the political spectrum you find yourself, his funeral was touching. His son the 43rd president provided his eulogy.  When watching a portion of this eulogy with my son Luca the next day, I was taken back by both the intimacy and power of the words shared by George W (43rd) about his dad George H (41st). I also found connections to the work we are aiming to do here at St. Anthony New Brighton Schools.

“We cannot hope only to leave our children a bigger car, a bigger bank account. We must hope to give them a sense of what it means to be a loyal friend, a loving parent, a citizen who leaves his home, his neighborhood and town better than he found it.”

These words taken from President George H. Bush’s inaugural address, these words are reflected in our buildings.  Recently, staff created a random sample of (anonymous) parents and requested their time in taking a survey. I also asked key leaders in our school to take this survey, along with the entire staff at St. Anthony New Brighton Schools. This survey consisted of just a few questions and question three asked participants to describe what success would look like for a graduating senior from St. Anthony Village High School (SAVHS). This question generated the most similar responses. Many parents, staff, and leaders outlined a SAVHS graduate as not only knowledgeable, but also one who is kind and ready to become a citizen of the world. I just know, if any school, any community, any group of people can embody those ideas set forth for our country by our 41st president, it is St. Anthony New Brighton Schools.

I know this is possible, because the first question from this same survey asked participants to identify what about St. Anthony New Brighton schools makes them the most proud? One of the most stated responses was: the staff.

We have a staff who is not only willing to develop rigorous lessons with relevant content, but also go out of their way to build caring relationships with students. In addition, this staff is willing to put others’ needs ahead of their own.  What I see in the hallways of Wilshire Park, St. Anthony Middle School, St. Anthony Village High School, and the Community Center are adults who are willing to, in the words President George Bush, “stop and ask if a sick child had gotten better, and stayed a moment there to trade a word of friendship”. There can be no better role modeling than adults in the lives of children showing kindness, friendship, and love to each other. I think this is why many are most proud of our staff.

In just a few days we will be on break. Many students, families, and staff will be celebrating holidays, and everyone will be bringing in a new year. Although we will miss each other, I doubt many staff will be sad about having a few days off to celebrate and rejuvenate. I also know many families will use this time to connect with friends and family. I know that is my plan! I appreciate all of you. Thank you to St. Anthony New Brighton staff for taking such good care of each other and the students. Thank you to our parents/guardians, for trusting us to educate and care for your child(ren). We are honored – it is a gift.

My SAMS Family

Winter break is close, just one day away actually. This is always a bittersweet time for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love a few days off, just like everyone else. I sincerely love spending tons of time with my family and extended family. Remember, I’m 100% Italian, spending time with your family is what we were made for! My mother will have enough food to feed a small Minnesota town, my brothers will tease me, each other, all their nieces and nephews, and anyone who shows up at the door. I will be in my happy place for sure.

My Italian Family:F1F2B759-0231-4048-9A15-19259D8EDE4F

But there is something special about my SAMS family. The adults at SAMS make a choice every day to come to SAMS to live out a vision for all our kids. A vision that drives us to see each kid as our own. I get to do this with adults who dedicate their lives to the lives of the children at SAMS. Adults who, even when things are hard, do the right thing, adults who work way to hard and for way too many hours – to make sure ever kid feels not only loved, but has the best opportunity to learn. This family, my SAMS family, is just like my big Italian family. We know collectively, we can make this world a better place, because we get to do it together. And furthermore, we do it with humor, humility, and hardwork.

My SAMS Family:

56E43159-E151-421B-99DA-0BBD951AA0E0

Thank you St. Anthony Middle School Staff – thank you for giving of yourself to make this school a place for all kids to feel loved and to excel academically. I also want to thank you for not only contributing to my most favorite present (to those who don’t know, I was given a hover board see below), but for knowing how much I would love having a hover board at school!

10113811-28B1-4AAB-B282-F1DA797A360D

SO – in honor of the hard working staff at St. Anthony Middle School, the Corneille Family will be donating $250 dollars to our SAMS Community Fund. This fund was set up last year, to make sure, no matter what, our kids have access opportunities.

Have a great break everyone.

 

#ThankfulatSAMS

It’s easy to have gratitude walking the halls of SAMS these days.  Not because it’s been a particularly slick year (though it has been a pretty good one), not because the grades have all been As (though there has been deep learning going on), not because no kids are getting in trouble (let’s be real, they are middle schoolers).  The feelings of gratitude I have about SAMS is rooted in a deep knowing.  A knowing that allows me to speak with certainty about the ways in which we are a school where all will learn and contribute.  I can share stories and lift up student voices as evidence of the ways in which we are growing, moving, and getting better at authentic learning in a caring environment.  Every kid, every day.  Every family welcome here. This is what I know about SAMS, and this is why I’m grateful.

This deep knowing that gives me gratitude doesn’t mean we get it right every day, every time.  And it’s uncomfortable, to say the least, when we get it wrong.  But, as Renee and I learned from Dr. Tyrone Howard (look him up, seriously, he’s brilliant) last summer, that’s where courage comes in. I’m grateful to be working with a school and a community where we have systems and networks in place to learn to do better and do right by our kids. Just this past week, as a group of CORE teachers led staff development for the rest of us, and the conversations were designed to get us to examine all the ways we can overcome barriers while doing our work.  This reflective practice helps us guarantee we will find the courage to do what’s right by our kids, all kids. For this, I am grateful.

This deep knowing that gives me gratitude doesn’t mean our SAMS team doesn’t have important learning still to do.  At the end of the first quarter earlier this month, Mr. Anthony Galloway joined us to help us understand more precisely the patterns and practices that have existed for centuries that guarantee an inequitable, fragmented, hurtful experience for many of our students and families not just in our schools but throughout our St. Anthony community and beyond. As one of our teachers wrote in response to the learning we did with Mr. Galloway, “The past matters, people’s stories matter, and there’s so much I haven’t learned.”  Yet that wasn’t a bad thing, our work together that day was an experience that focused our team’s work toward building classrooms and a school where all belong, where systems of racism and whiteness are interrupted.  Community leaders were there, even a neighboring educator, and our experience together built our sense of collective efficacy.  As another teacher wrote, “We have a group of largely willing learners, which is pretty fantastic.” And this is why I’m grateful.

Lastly, this deep knowing that gives me gratitude doesn’t mean only serious, contemplative work is valued here at SAMS.  There’s joy here too.  Six men grew beards throughout the past month, and they are allowing kids to vote on who among them should be the pie-in-the-face victim in front of the entire school at our Thankful assembly (while raising money for cancer research simultaneously).  8th graders stayed after-school with Ms. Schwintek and Mr. Geske to start a Pet Rock Club. 6th graders had a whole science lesson on what type of Halloween candy is the most dense.  Research shows us again and again that non-cognitive skills are MORE important than cognitive factors when it comes to raising and educating successful, engaged citizens and grown-ups.  In these light-hearted, jovial opportunities, our students and staff share themselves more completely with each other.  So great, and so, more gratitude.

Dr. Jay McTighe spoke to a group of metro area teachers last week at the West Metro Education Program (WMEP).  Four of our teacher-leaders, Renee, and I attended (plus some school board members and a few staff from our other schools).  He opened his workshop with a quote:  “Do not confine your children’s learning to your own experiences for they were born at a different time.”  I can’t remember who said it, but I can’t forget these words.  This is a different time.  The information our kids have access to is wide and vast, the messages they get from media can seem scary and toxic, and the future is unpredictable.  At SAMS, we are more focused than ever to do right by every kid, every day.  We are more committed than ever to stay engaged in learning, reflecting, and refining our practices to become more open, equitable, and welcoming for all .  We are more eager than ever to pursue this hard and important work in a school where it’s okay to be silly, have fun, and be ourselves.  This is what I know about SAMS, and this sense of deep knowing is why I’m so grateful to be a part of the SAMS family.   

And so with gratitude, we say thank you to all of you, our larger SAMS community. Thank for your partnership, your trust, your hard work, and, most importantly, for your kids. Wishes for a safe and healthy holiday season to everyone.