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Dolphin Families,
As we enter the 2nd full week of October, the last week of Quarter 1, at Pine Island we have established routines and practices, started to build traditions and memories, and the final touches and finishes have begun on our facilities. It is hard to believe that just two(2) months ago we were greeting each other for the first time and it wasn't a typical new school greeting. For many it was the first time back in a school building in over a year, for some it was a new state and a new school building, and for others the building seemed very familiar, yet had substantial differences in appearance.
At the time, I will now admit that I couldn't "see" what today would look like, but in my heart I knew that given the heart and soul of the staffulty that we had hired, our vision and dream of what Pine Island would become would be reality. And so, on this October day, we celebrate the growth, strength, and progress we have seen both in the facility and the family we have become at Pine Island.
As we move forward, I would like to encourage you to look back across the last two(2) months and celebrate the progress your child(ren) has made. We celebrate the whole child at PIA, as we believe that our students and staffulty mental/emotional health is just as important as their academic success. Look for specific ways to celebrate, whether it is as simple as getting out of the car in the morning, making new friends, coming home speaking about great things that are happening in their class, or just the excitement you see and hear in conversation. In a world that can become focused on what is going wrong, we want to shift the lens of our students to positive, forward thinking, kind citizens that believe they can make a difference in anything they do.
Finally, after celebrating with your child(ren), look ahead at what is to come, set a goal, an attainable goal that could be a way to engage with your child(ren) daily. As adults, we too set goals for ourselves and think how we feel when we achieve those goals. Our students are no different! Set an attainable goal with your child that focuses on what they do well. Let your child be creative, but specific on what they would like to see for themselves this year. Maybe, they want to finish a chapter book in a week, maybe they will commit to doing their homework without an argument. Although these goals seem simple, they will make a great difference in your child’s learning. Just the commitment alone makes a difference!
A continued thank you goes to all our families for your constant involvement, support, and encouragement that you provide to our students each and every day. The saying, “it takes a village to raise a child,” has never been as important as it is today. It takes “all of us” to educate our children, today, tomorrow, and forever! Set your goals, attain to the end, and achieve EXCELLENCE!
We are Pine Island Academy - Home of the Dolphins!
"Discovering Strengths and Pursuing Dreams"
Most Appreciative,
Mrs. Riedl
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