Before my role as Spectrum Middle School Principal, I was a Curriculum Specialist. This position works with teachers and administrators with professional development, along with leading curriculum reviews (units, resources, teaching strategies, etc.). One of our main areas of training and development was with AVID (FYI - Spectrum schools utilize these “best practices” in a school-wide approach), so I benefited greatly from going to Summer Institute conferences in different parts of the country and even presented at the AVID National Conference one December.
A group of us would fly into Chicago or Dallas, for example, and spend the work week learning, collaborating, and preparing for the next school year. It was very exciting, and there was so much energy, not just by my team but from everyone attending. It was a lot of fun to be with others who also wanted to learn and grow as educators. By the end of the week, while mentally exhausted and wanting to be back in our own beds, we felt a sense of achievement and anticipation as we flew home and thought about starting school that fall.
Similar and yet very different, Jud Wilhite (author and pastor) writes how interesting the Friday night flight into Las Vegas can be. It too is full of excitement, and there is so much energy from everyone on board. They are excited for the fun to be with others who also want to be a part of the energy in Vegas nights. They are a bit rowdy and often happy: “People come to Vegas believing that those environments will produce happiness.” By the end of the weekend, they are mentally drained (possibly financially and physically as well), wanting to be back home and realizing that their “hopes of joy were pinned on the wrong [place].”
Now I have never been to Las Vegas, so I am in no position to criticize the city. I know a number of people who have truly enjoyed it. And I am not making a fair comparison between an educational conference with the lights, sounds, and energy of casinos and shows. But when I heard Wilhite’s words, I thought of the end of the school year. The year begins so much excitement and energy. But like those teachers who were tired from all their mental efforts of the week, students get tired when the month of May arrives. It is because of both achievement – and celebration -- for a job well done and the anticipation for the next year. There is even more emotion for those that are soon to graduate.
We have three weeks left, and I think about how these days will never come again. I think about ending strong and still working hard just like we started the year, to not pin hopes in the wrong place, but to be confident that everyone is working together with that sense of achievement that we can do it.
If your child is challenged with the days ahead, if the end of the school year looks to be drastically different than the beginning of the year, whether academics or conduct, know that the SMS staff is (still) here. Not only do we believe that this environment produces great results, we know that it has and it will. So join us for these last days to still work collaboratively, not being afraid to pin your hopes of happiness on this place because we are.
**SPECTRUM ENROLLMENT INQUIRY for 2024-2025**
Our desire is for each of our students to remain for their entire middle and high school experience at Spectrum to fully benefit from the top-notch college preparatory education offered. We recognize that there are times when that is not possible. If attendance plans for your student have changed and they will not be returning to Spectrum for the 2024-2025 school year, please click this Spectrum Withdrawal Form link to fill out and submit your student’s official withdrawal to our Registrar, Christy Siegel, at admissions@spectrumhighschool.org so that we can forward their records to their next school. If your child will not be returning to Spectrum, we sincerely wish them the best with their education.
Weeks at a Glance
- Tuesday, May 7 - Friday, May 10: Student Council's Dress-up Days
- Thursday, May 9: Directed Study Ends
- Friday, May 10: Quiz Bowl heads off to Nationals in Chicago
- Friday, May 10: Sixth and Seventh Grade Picnic Lunch
- Week of May 20: Monday - Delayed Start A day, Tuesday is a B day, Wednesday is Full-8 Period day, Thursday is A day Early Release for Graduation, and Friday is B day early release for Chromebook Collection and End-of-the-Year Celebration