Dear Parents and Friends,

Our character trait for December is caring.  Why practice caring?

Caring is a key ingredient for our personal and social lives and for citizenship.

Caring is a critical glue that binds us to family, friends, and community.  Without it, community-even on a small scale within family life-would be impossible.  Healthy and enduring relationships depend on caring.

Caring says:  "What happens to you matters to me," "I want the best for you," "I am here for you," "I am willing to help provide support when you cannot stand alone."  It is important that we practice caring because we are models for those around us.  This is especially important for those students who do not know how to care or how to show caring.  A nurturing relationship with even one other caring person can mean the difference between despair and success.

Caring comes from our deepest-held convictions about the value of the human race and of the individual.  To model caring, it must be lived.

School communities form an important link in the caring chain.  We are there to help each other celebrate and grieve, laugh, and cry, and cheer and admonish.  We band
together for common causes and concerns.
We can care in serve our larger community by volunteering to work with homeless,

Red Cross, a food bank or a toy drive.

And, in the really big scheme of life, we can also care about our planet.  Global caring is a necessity, not a luxury.  Our very existence is at stake-environmentally, socially, and economically.  As the 2009 year comes to a close, it's a good time to reflect on ways we can improve the quality of life for all citizens in our neighborhoods and the world, by demonstrating that we care.

Most sincerely,

Diane Hemmes, Principal