This morning I had the opportunity to stop by a celebration ceremony for high school students who were demonstrating the attributes of our Portrait of a Graduate.
Their parents didn’t know who nominated them or why. This was revealed during the breakfast.
Smooth jazz played in the background. Name cards were thoughtfully placed at circle tables covered in table clothes and adorned with centerpieces.
Before students arrived, I milled around the room a bit and sat down with a couple of parents. The story I was telling myself was that they didn’t want to talk to me, a lady they didn’t know from district office, but I stopped by anyway. I asked them about their son. I asked them which of our four C’s (character, curiosity, collaboration, communication) they thought their son was nominated for. They speculated that it might be character, and it touched my heart to learn more about him and to discover that today was his birthday. A Friday birthday as a freshman in high school and receiving his FIRST ever award with both of his parents there to see it. My heart grew two sizes.
The students were brought out in a procession. Every stood and cheered as they made their way to their seats with their families. I could instantly spot the son of the parents I just mentioned before he walked over to them. Not because I had ever met him, but because he smiled with such pride when he saw his family there to support him. I’m emotional writing this. If I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone to chat with strangers, I’m not sure I would have caught that smile and how much this morning meant to this young man.
Teachers were seated at the tables with the families. When it was time to recognize each individual, a picture of each student with their name was projected on a large backdrop, and the teacher took the podium to read their nomination while the student stood next to them.
And while those podium moments were so heartwarming, it was the reactions of the parents that moved me and those around me. Many took videos on their phone and every single family was beaming with pride.
This really has me wondering how we might open our doors more often to our families. Instead of worrying about the worst that could happen, what if we asked ourselves, “What’s the best that could happen?”
This work takes a village.
And I love seeing that village side-by-side in a circle, caring for our kids and figuring it out together.
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