It’s a beautiful day in our SPS neighborhood, too. – Dr. Tim Travis, Superintendent
Don’t you enjoy how Thanksgiving’s spirit of gratitude just seems to effortlessly roll right into December’s spirit of peace, goodwill, and anticipation?
I do!
As I wrote previously, nothing warms my heart more at this time of year than for my wife and I to get together with our children and six grandchildren.
Although it’s hectic, somehow we’re able to keep cherished family traditions alive and well while also creating new ones.
No doubt the magic of the holidays helps with this!
Mr. Rogers described this magic this way.
“I like to compare the holiday season with the way a child listens to a favorite story. The pleasure is in the familiar way the story begins, the anticipation of familiar turns it takes, the familiar moments of suspense, and the familiar climax and ending.”
Mr. Rogers is right, you know.
All around us – whether it’s at home, school, or in the community – there really is a unique blend of the familiar and the surprising to take in.
It’s magic.
I’m also thankful we have so many caring individuals and groups in our community who generously go the extra mile to support our families in need this holiday season.
That’s part of the magic, too.
And it doesn’t end there.
Another big part of this season’s magic for many of our families, neighbors and friends, are the holiday performances our students, staff, and parents help make happen every year.
Our middle school band students, high school concert band, jazz band and choir, and our elementary music students are truly amazing.
If you come into one of their performances with even a smidgen of the Grinch in you, it’ll be gone within minutes, I assure you.
Our DES students recently served up their smile-inspiring holiday concert to a jam-packed audience of parents, grandparents, and siblings in our high school gym.
Music teacher Amie Winningham and her students deserved every “bravo” that came their way. And Principal Michaelle Gust and our fantastic cast of teachers, support staff, and helpful parents all did their parts and more!
I’m glad an overwhelming number of parents and students caught a brief glimpse during this concert of the great people and programs I know we have “teaching and learning” together at DES every school day.
I’m glad the standing-room only crowd also heard Mrs. Gust’s expression of appreciation for our DES PTO, as this
terrific group contributed more than $8000 to purchase of percussion and other instruments for our elementary music program. (And this barely reflects all that they do!)
So there you have it.
Our SPS neighborhood is “beautiful” every day during the holiday season!
There’s holiday magic in the air.
Along with YOU, we’re blessed to have a marvelous community of students, staff, parents, and supporters – and I’m grateful this season gifts us with several opportunities to share this with others.
Now in looking ahead to the holiday break and the New Year, I want to express my sincere Season’s Greetings to you and your loved ones.
May both the “familiar” and the “suspenseful” of the holiday season bring you great hope and joy.