Maybe I was just a bit tired, but I found myself in tears twice during the past few weeks. The first time was in late November, near the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy. Some of our fifth graders were learning about the event through one of their news subscriptions (most teachers use Scholastic, CNN or Time for Kids). I realized that I was one of the few adults at MBS who lived through that horrific event, so I offered to stop by and tell the kids what I remembered. After I described my experience as a six year old, I said, “So, guys, that is why I feel so strongly about teaching you to resolve your issues without fighting or bullying. I want you to be safe!” Much to my surprise, I felt tears welling up in my eyes. The world DID seem safer when I was a child. When I was little, my bus route was really long and I hated riding the bus. Our driver would let my brother and I off at a crossroads in Jericho and we would walk the two miles home. Can you imagine a driver doing that today?? While we practiced “duck and cover,” the reality of a nuclear bomb actually seemed pretty distant and unlikely. Today my Ospreys are all post 9/11 children. Their country has been at war their entire lives. They practice “lock down” drills every other month, and hear about mass shootings at an alarming rate of frequency. The responsibility of keeping our children safe both physically and emotionally is one we all take very seriously at MBS. The world may be a wild and wacky place, but we endeavor to create a welcoming “home away from home” where each and every child feels a sense of safety and belonging.
My second emotional moment came following the loss or theft of the funds being raised to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. The young student leaders who were steering the event were so upset and disillusioned about the loss or theft of the money. Officer Fontaine took their police report very seriously, and we all searched and investigated to try to recover the loss. Sadly, the money was gone. However, within the next few days, donations began to pour in. The money came in amounts ranging from $30 to $200, all from families of modest means. As I tallied the donations and wrote thank you notes, I kept tearing up at the generosity of the response. Our Ospreys learned a hard lesson when the money was lost or stolen, but these donations taught them that there is good in the world to balance disaster and loss. We earned more than money for the Red Cross, we earned the chance to show these young leaders that their community will pull through for them in tough times. I personally felt the love and support of this wonderful community. While I bear my responsibility toward your children with all due gravity, it is very nice to know that you all have my back!
I imagine I’ll have a better handle on my emotions now that I’ve had a good long rest. I enjoyed plenty of Benay family time in spite of multiple power outages during this long holiday break. I hope you all had a chance to rest, relax and reflect. I am very much looking forward to seeing “my kids,” and am excited about the weeks and months ahead as we venture forward into 2014! Happy New Year to one and all.
