Superintendent’s Message

            Inhale  .....................                                             Exhale.................

Smell the Flower, Blow Out the Candle

Recently, I was standing in the halls of one of our elementary schools when I heard wailing and screaming from someone out of my sight. Within seconds, a four-year-old student rounded the corner with his teacher walking right beside him. His fists were balled up, not in anger, but in frustration. Saddled with an overburdened frustration that he most likely brought from home and combined with being overwhelmed with the structure his classroom required, this young boy just let loose his ache. This is not out of the ordinary. Many of our students carry in their imaginary backpacks more junk than should be expected of them. Sometimes conforming to school just doesn’t always mesh with what they bring to school.

I think we all understand that outbursts at schools will happen. But what we don’t always see is the marvelous magic that our teachers do to help our students regain composure. I saw it happen! His teacher lowered her head and slowly repeated these words, “Smell the flower, blow out the candle.”  It took me a second but then I realized she was simply asking him to take deep breaths and then exhale. This process continued for a few more seconds and then there was no crying, no screaming, just smelling flowers and blowing out candles. Our teachers do an awesome job teaching our students. Sometimes the best lessons take place outside the classroom in the midst of having a bad day. I walked away from this experience still smelling flowers and blowing out candles!

Dr. Richard Rosenberger

Mission & Vision