I have always enjoyed Christmas songs and the joy they bring each year.
Working in schools, one of my favorite things has always been attending the annual Christmas concerts put on by our students in each of our schools.
I love seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces as they sing and the flash of cameras as parents take pictures. I also enjoy seeing the letters to Santa that students are writing and the giving trees scattered throughout our community.
This season is truly about giving, and I cannot help but reflect on the many gifts that I am grateful for this year.
I am so appreciative of the support that our community shows our schools and students every day. There are more ways than I can begin to count, but here are just a few.
I want to thank the many businesses who offer teacher discounts.
I am grateful for the businesses who donate generously time and time again to our schools and provide school supplies, backpacks, and other materials to our students.
I also greatly appreciate the community members and organizations who help support the backpack program at Manaugh and help make the holidays a little sweeter for our students by helping sponsor Christmas gifts.
I also want to say a huge thank you to our teachers for the countless hours they spend planning for just the right lesson to engage our students, grading homework and providing students with opportunities to explore and demonstrate their new learning.
I also know that what students remember the most is the relationships that teachers and other adults take the time to build with them. I’m grateful for all of our teachers and staff who go the extra mile to get to know students, offer a hug and just check in to see how their day is going.
I want to thank our families and parents who volunteer in our schools on parent-teacher committees or in the classroom and the dads who volunteer as Watch Dog Dads and take time out of their days to be in schools supporting their children and other students.
I also want to thank the many parents who take time to help their children with their homework, read to them, and encourage them to do their best every day in school.
On behalf of our students, I would like to give a warm holiday thank you to all of you for your support. I hope you have a wonderful holiday break and look forward to seeing everyone when schools resume in the New Year.
Lori Haukeness is superintendent of Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1. Reach her at lhaukeness@cortez.k12.co.us. Education Update appears in the Journal on the fourth Friday of every month.
