HOPE SPOTS--I Spot HOPE

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Superintendent Noreen Bush speaks to staff

A little over a week ago, we held an All-Staff Kick Off Event at the Ice Arena for the 2019-20 school year. Our theme captured Cedar Rapids Community School District as a "HOPE SPOT" for our students, staff, and community. As I listened to our speakers--all employees of the school district--share their experiences of witnessing hope in our school district, I found so many new opportunities to consider what builds hope in all of us. I have spotted hope all over our district and community this past week:
  • kindergarten students entering school for the first time and their parents making it through emotional mornings, days, and afternoons.
    A Jefferson high school student opens her Chrome book for the first time.
  • middle schoolers hugging each other because they missed one another over the summer.
  • a high school teacher explaining his #1 goal as closing the opportunity and equity gap for his math students through ACCESS to Algebra and a lot of instructional support.
  • communication from staff members describing professional learning time and workshop preparation that helped them be ready for their students this week.
  • laptops getting in the hands of thousands of high school students with high expectations and support.
  • employees shifting their work to participate in a transportation call center to support families and the transportation department.
There are countless other hope spots not captured here...thousands of moments of kids helping kids; adults helping kids; adults helping adults. Over and over again, I see that collective efficacy and achieving things together is perhaps the greatest factor in creating hope. Even when things are challenging or difficult for kids or adults, supporting each other develops a sense of belonging that connects us to hope. 

Here's to another great week of school and many opportunities to support each other--especially with our kids in mind! 

In hope,
Noreen


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