Synergy – Combined Efforts Being Greater Than Parts

“Excellence can be obtained if you care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more that others think is practical, and expect more than others think is possible.”

Have you ever experienced true synergy? Well, tonight I did! A year’s preparation came to full fruition at our annual Open House and Art Expo. Right this moment, I pause and smile as I reflect on the event. How do you explain something in words that was so powerful to experience? Let me try to capture the occurrence…
Tonight was the culmination of a year’s work of teaching and learning on behalf of the students, staff, parents, and community. The evening officially began at six, but parents and staff had been putting final touches on their masterpieces for the past few days. As families began arriving a feeling of joy permeated the air. Perchance it was the beautiful spring night that was sandwiched between two rainy days? Regardless, I keyed up the audio system with Jack Johnson’s Curious George CD and went to greet everyone. Faces beamed with radiant smiles as students entered the building and guided parents, grandparents, families, and friends through the school and individual classrooms. One thing that surprised me the most was the unusual number of alumnae that had come back to visit. Some didn’t have siblings, but tagged along with a neighbor to visit their “old” school. I had to laugh out loud as one former student wore their Sleepy Hollow Field Day T-Shirt since all student were encouraged to wear his/her spirit wear. When I complimented her on her choice of attire, she exclaimed, “This shirt is from the best school ‘ever’.”
At that point, I retrieved my video camera and began capturing the night on video. This is where I discovered that something unique was taking place. As I went from classroom to classroom, it was as if I were at a family reunion. Parents, seemingly old friends, greeted each other with warm, hearty hellos, and hugs as they visited classrooms, the art expo, raffle, and waited in line for the book fair. The staff glowed as they welcomed families into their classrooms to enjoy the fruits of the classes’ hard work. Yes, it was packed - yes, it was warm, but that really didn’t seem to matter. Everyone, including me, was “in the moment.” Perhaps we all became transported to that wonderful world of our childhood days – the elementary school. Thinking about it now, the night seems surreal. For me, it was magical and I hope that one day the students remember this night with fondness. I know I will never forget this night.
Prior to families arriving, a dad and his daughter, whom I have known for five years, purposefully sought me out and presented me with an envelope for “our library.” Before families began arriving, I opened the envelope and inside was a check and a letter. The funds enclosed were a gift to our library and six books were to be purchased and donated on behalf of the Brownie troop. It was such a generous gift that I found myself thinking about how lucky we were to have such caring families that would think about donating funds to support our library.
During the evening, as families were lingering enjoying one another’s company, a mom who had been volunteering at the book fair stated that she would like to talk to me before she left. I have known this “graduating” mom for five years and have had many memorable experiences with her and her family, i.e. field days, silent auctions, classroom parties, field trips, etc. Well, this mom ended up bringing tears to my eyes. When she left, she hand-delivered an envelope, looked at me with a bit of melancholy in her eyes, and gave me an envelope. She said she wanted to say thank you. With that, she turned and left.
Later, in my office, I opened the envelope:
Anastasia, PTC Board, and Staff,
Sadly, this is our family’s last hurrah at Sleepy Hollow School. I can’t believe it! And have we seen changes over the years! All for the good, no doubt.
Be proud of all that you have accomplished. You have a wonderful school, an awesome reputation and a strong parental support system. I’m sorry that for the last few years I haven’t been able to be as involved. I really enjoyed being a part of it all.
Please use this donation towards the purchase of your next “Smart Board.” We were very impressed by the versatility of this new teaching/learning tool. What a great addition to the classroom!
Thank you for taking such wonderful care of our children over the years. Here’s hoping that the remainder of their D300 experience is as awesome as their elementary years.
Fondly,...
Enclosed was a check to cover the costs of a SmartBoard.
It was at this moment that I realized that somehow, and in someway, this night was not like any other. This feeling caught me off-guard and I felt tears well up in my eyes. Not tears of joy, not tears of sadness, but tears at the awesomeness of the night. I thought about this family, and of all of our fifth graders that would soon be departing for the middle school. I reflected on the students as first graders and growing through the years- picturing their faces, their successes, their challenges. I considered my relationships with their parents and how sad I was to see all of them leave. Then, I was reminded of an adage along the line that states, “The true goal of parenting is to give children strong roots in which to grow and wings to soar.” It is my belief that the partnership that forms between the school and home has made us all parents of “our” children. I personally know that due to one community’s combined effort, our children will grow, thrive, and blossom as they transition beyond the walls of the elementary setting.
As the principal, I have the ultimate honor of watching these young persons come back to visit – year after year – and share their accomplishments of academic success (this evening, one former student informed me that she received “straight A’s”), competing in the arts, and finding success in sports. For a very long time, I have professed that the best job in the world is teaching. Tonight, I find my perspective changing, perhaps the best job in the world is teaching, leading, and learning.

Elated, exhausted, and content,
Anastasia