Off to a Great Start…
One of the many things I value about teaching at Rockway is how we do beginnings. The start of a school year can be tumultuous, however Rockway is very intentional about giving both their teachers and students a solid start – grounding us in our mission, and providing us with the tools we need to be effective both academically and interpersonally.
What does a great start look like? Here are some snapshots of this year.
Eating Together: Before students are even thinking of school, Rockway staff & faculty were gathering together to dream and plan. Here we are picnicing (and laughing!) together at Rockway Gardens.
Learning together: Our pre-school meetings include lots of intentional professional development for the heart, mind, and soul. Highlights this year included a session on Mindfulness/Resilience in the classroom and continued IBL (Inquiry-Based Learning) training.
Welcoming together: The Kick Start BBQ provides a chance for us to meet and get to know students who are brand new to Rockway. It’s a key event for students making the major transition to a new school community. Here we are being welcomed by our Student Council presidents.
Singing together: Our opening chapels help set the tone for the year – we sing, we listen, we pray together as a community. Here we are singing about our theme for this year: Trust for the Journey.
Planning together: Our Student Council spends an entire day in retreat dreaming up special events for our community. Here they are (looking a little chilled!) as they do their planning and develop as leaders.
And there’s more to come!
Our great start continues with a few key events:
Family Welcome Night – Sept. 14th, 7 pm. Parents are invited for an evening of connection.
Student Council Lunch – Sept. 18th, lunch time. The food trucks are coming! And so is the bouncy castle! This student-led event is designed to help students get to know each other and mingle with people in other grades.
I feel blessed as a teacher to be able to serve the Rockway community, and am so very grateful for this great start to the year.
Sara Wahl, Rockway Teacher since 2003
The post Off to a Great Start… appeared first on Rockway Mennonite Collegiate.
Source: Rockway.ca
Tags: Academics