Much can come of small acts of kindness, gratitude and appreciation. We can help one another feel valued. We can model for young people how to lift each other up. We show hard-working and devoted members of our community how much they mean to us.
The week of May 8 was Staff Appreciation Week at the Rindge Memorial School, and acts of kindness, expressions of gratitude and gestures of appreciation were what it was all about.
Teacher Appreciation Week is observed nationally during the first week of May and is an opportunity to celebrate and support our country’s educators.
Over in Rindge, Principal Nicky Fraley was sure to make this a special week at RMS, but not without one important adjustment – all staff deserve to be celebrated, not just classroom teachers. Fraley declared the week at RMS “Staff Appreciation Week.” From custodial workers, to specialists, to office staff, all would be recognized.
In the school’s weekly newsletter, Fraley emphasized that “it takes a complete and well-rounded team to make a school as amazing as RMS.”
RMS Staff Appreciation Week was also a chance for families to reflect on how important the school’s staff are to our children and to express their appreciation. Parent Sarah Taylor recently shared some of her thoughts on the RMS school staff.
“I am reminded daily of how amazing all the RMS teachers are when my daughter comes home and tells me about her day,” she said. “About all the teachers that make her feel special and included, the friendships she’s made from such a welcoming environment. I am happy to show my gratitude to the staff for all the amazing work they do.”
Lisa Dumont also has a child at RMS, and was glad to have the opportunity to celebrate the wonderful staff.
“I have a deep appreciation for the staff at RMS,” she said. “I could name every remarkable teacher that my kids have ever had. Communication is always open, the kids are cared for, and school is fun! It is incredible that we live in a charming community with such a wonderful school to send our kids to.”
RMS Library Assistant Anne Maher and Instructional Associate Casey LeBreque, are also RMS parents. They took the lead in planning for Staff Appreciation Week, organizing a schedule of delicious food for each day, holding daily raffles of donated gift cards and even coordinating with local fitness instructor, Kara Beall to hold a free barre class for staff after school.
With the support and contributions of many RMS families and students, the week was bursting with love. Third-grade teacher, Kim Sulin certainly felt that love throughout the week.
“It was so heartwarming to see all the goodies for staff, to hear the staff members names get called for the donated gift cards, the adorable notes that students have been writing and all the other wonderful things planned. It truly means a lot. We, everyone at RMS, love the kids and hope that they feel that when they come to school each day.”
Jen Booth, the school’s occupational therapist, and kindergarten teacher Courtney Lambert also felt the overwhelming support from the parent community during Staff Appreciation Week.
“We were definitely spoiled!” Lambert said. “Breakfast, an ice cream social, lunch and snacks, daily raffling of gift cards!”
Lambert described the eventful week, which included a bulletin board with handwritten notes for staff from students and the free barre fitness class.
“It was a great stress-reliever at the end of a Monday! It’s going to make the work week so much better!” Booth shared about the barre class.
As for me, I am also grateful to the RMS staff, though, admittedly, I didn’t offer too much to the week, just some fresh fruit and a few decorations.
However, I think I can continue to show kindness, gratitude and appreciation long-term. I can remember that educators have an incredibly important and demanding, though undoubtedly rewarding, position in our children’s world. I can trust that they are skilled, and engage in constant learning and growth in their profession.
I can appreciate their expertise as educators in our partnership, just as I have my own expertise as the parent. I can show a regard and respect for school staff, even when things feel hard or we don’t see eye-to-eye. And I can be sure that we all want the best for our children as they make their way through school.
Thank you, RMS staff – you are appreciated.
To share your stories, contact me at rindgecommcorr@yahoo.com.