We are 75% done with our school year and during this time we have had a lot of students accomplish a variety of goals. Yes, many of them achieve excellence. This is not just limited to activities, but also academics. We have celebrated students achieving excellence in our newsletters, social media, highlight page, awards nights, and so much more. So what does this all imply? Yes, there is a direct correlation between our students’ success and our culture of hard work, high expectations, and a priority of treating people the way we want to be treated. This is something to celebrate and things we should not take for granted, but along the way I have noticed something else to celebrate.
Have you ever stopped and thought about the involvement of our students in school? Their commitment to academics and involvement in activities and various enrichment opportunities? This is not just a high school or middle school thing, but it starts in our elementary school. Just think about the students that are involved in school-based activities like the Cardinal Branch (TS Bank), Mulch Madness, and Invention Convention, just to name a few. Additionally there are outside organizations that provide opportunities for our students to get involved, such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, youth sports, church groups, and so much more. This early involvement in our school and community sets the stage for what continues through middle school and on into high school.
By the time our students become seniors in high school it is common, not uncommon, to see a single student involved in fine arts, clubs, athletics, college courses, youth groups outside of school and more. In fact, it is very uncommon to see a student not involved in any of the academic, extracurricular activities, clubs, etc. provided or available at our school. Not sure I can think of any off the top of my head.
I’m writing about this because in many schools in which there is success in academics or activities it is common to see students leaning toward specialization or having one or at most two areas in which they focus their time and attention to achieve success. I’m not saying that is bad, I’m just saying it is very special to have the opportunity to do it all and not feel like you have to choose, in fact, be encouraged and supported to be involved in a variety of academically challenging courses and involved in a variety of activities.
All schools tout the opportunities they provide to students and likewise schools share their successes and achievements, as they all should, but what sets us apart is not only do we have many of the same opportunities, but our students can and are supported to do it all!
Thank you for supporting our students to not only do it all, but achieve excellence in what they do!
Treynor ~ Where you can do it all and achieve excellence!
Roll Cards!
Dr. Joel Beyenhof
Superintendent
jbeyenhof@treynorcardinals.org
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