Partnership Educators,
One of the top-ranked archers in the United States is 36-year-old Matt Stutzman of Fairfield, Iowa. There aren't a lot of people making a living in this sport but Matt does. "The last time we looked at it, 1% of archers in the world make a living shooting a bow," he says.
He is really just that good and has the medals to prove it. In 2011, he made the U.S. Team and by 2012 he had won his first Silver medal.
And he did it all with his feet. That's right. One of the most celebrated archers in the world was born without arms.
I hoped to be discussing our Portrait of a Graduate with all of you at campus chats this last month but we got sidetracked. I will say that the work of the 72 plus individuals who put together our Portrait may have been prophetic in their choices. I have attached a flyer of the six traits within this email. It is my hope that our entire system will work towards celebrating and helping our students learn and demonstrate our six traits. Many of us have been looking at Character Counts traits and College Ready traits over the years but this group had a collective belief that these six encompass many if not all of the traits that we hold dear for success. Our current situation tests our resolve to really use the Portrait as it was intended. Check these traits out as you think about what we are currently trying to do for our students.
- Empathy - To the extent others are different and/or distanced from you (by either time or space), attentive concern and perspective-taking are all the more needed.
- Adaptability - Thrive in an environment of ambiguity, new, and changing priorities.
- Communication - Use communication for a range of purposes and audiences (e.g. to inform, instruct, motivate, persuade, and conflict resolution).
- Perseverance - Risk-taking is part of most any progress, so forward movement may involve stepping into uncertain realms.
- Critical Thinking - Consistently challenge and refine one's own understanding by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing information.
- Responsibility - Act honestly and demonstrate care for the interests of the larger community and greater good.
These are just parts of the definitions of our six Portrait traits. But you can see how our actions during these last few weeks and the coming weeks will do more to teach our students about these traits than all of the lectures we can give on those topics.
James Baldwin, American Author, said, "Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."
As we prepare to help our students through Distance Learning, Starting Tuesday, April 14, 2020, look for ways that you can commit to each other through the above six traits. I believe in our staff's ability to rise to the occasion for our students and families just as Matt became one of the best archers. We will surely have successes and failures along the way. But those failures are only the beginning to a better way the next time.
The schools will remain closed until May 3, 2020, as advertised to our families. I will be making another decision in the coming weeks as more information is presented to us by the Department of Education and the Department of Health. It does feel like we may be out of school for the rest of the year but time will tell us about that as we go. I am committed to keeping you informed about any changes as I get them.
Enjoy the holiday and I miss you all,
Rob
Superintendent
Redding Elementary School District
New Millennium Partnership
5885 East Bonnyview Rd.
Redding, Ca 96001