Dear School Employee...

I've finished one week of work in my new school.  I am still absolutely in awe of God.  Of the things He's lined up for me to see upon starting this new job. I've cried tears of joy and gratitude almost every day on my way in...on my whole 10 minute car ride!  I know God is good and capable of amazing things, I just don't every remember being this aware of the things He is doing!

As exciting as it is to be back at work, at the job I've wanted for quite some time, there is still a level of uncertainty.  I've watched and listened to teachers this week try to figure out just how this new way of school is going to exactly work.  I've seen administration do and redo schedules and class lists over and over trying to make it all work. I've seen smiles of excitement and looks of fear. And I'm exhausted! 

If you work in a school building and haven't gone back in yet, here's my advice...

No one knows all the right answers, because no one has taught like this before. Everyone is doing their best right now, and that is different for everyone. Kids are amazing, I truly believe they will roll right along with whatever we tell them is gonna happen. 

We have to take our grown up expectations of "this is never gonna work" and throw it out the window.  You are right, it's never gonna work if that's what we are bringing to the table. We have to put on our "Cool Blue Magic Sunglasses" (thanks Pete the Cat) and see things in a whole new way!  Our students are finally going to get to see the people they love again.  They are going to have routines and scheudles again!  Kids are going to get their favorite school meals again.  Teachers are going to get to create relationships with 10 kids at a time, instead of trying to get to know all 20 of them at once. Kids that never had an ipad before, will now have one for their school work...how cool will they feel?!?!  The quiet kid in class, may now have a chance to speak up because they aren't intimated by the large room.

Is there going to be hard things...of course! Hard things can ruin us or make us grow.  I pray that everyone headed back into a school building can remember that things will not be the same this year.  We cannot change that and the longer we grieve over that the harder its going to be to get started on this upcoming year. I pray they will help each other come up with solutions and strategies. I pray they will listen to each other and maybe even feel safe enough to shed a tear of frustration and then move on.  

You work in a school because you love kids and you love helping them.  Let's show them that even a pandemic can't affect our love for them!

Prayers, Praise and Pink

~Carly