Dear EMS Families,
It’s hard to believe that this is the last EMS Family Newsletter of 2020.
It has been quite a year. One year ago, none of this current reality was on our radar; so much has changed in a year. We have all been pulled and stretched in ways that we wouldn’t have imagined, and it has impacted everyone in very unique ways.
I am grateful. I am grateful to be a part of the EMS community. I am grateful for a community that believes in always advocating for kids, in always pulling kids closer. I am grateful for the amazing kids with whom we get to work each day. I am grateful for their energy, their enthusiasm, their talents, their thoughts, and their voice. I am grateful for a school and community that believes in equity and social justice and realizes that we have a lot of work to do to address inequities. I am grateful for the communication and thoughts from parents as we all try to bring forth the countless strengths of each individual. I am grateful for the flexibility, resilience and understanding that has been demonstrated by every individual in our community. It has been one of the most challenging years of my 30 years in public school education, yet I find so many reasons to be deeply grateful. Thank you.
I am hopeful for a 2021 in which we can have all students in the EMS building all week. I sincerely hope that you all can take time during break to reset, and to immerse yourselves in connections and relationships that bring you joy and energy. I truly hope for only the best for each of you and yours.
James Kiefer