Growing Up
One of my favorite Christmas songs is "Mary, Did You Know?" (Warning: if you click that link, be in a safe space to possibly have an ugly cry. I always do). The singer is asking Mary if she knows the child she just delivered is going to do all the miraculous things that Jesus does for mankind. As a parent, this song hits me right in the feels. Holding a newborn and wondering what they will be like as they grow up is something I imagine that all parents have done.
Watching my own kids grow up and learn to manage the world fills me with all sorts of emotions. They are starting to have their own identity; a particular sense of fashion (thank goodness for the sanity of uniforms during the school day); have a like or dislike for particular movies (current fave: Empire Strikes Back, super exciting for mom and dad); and what activities they like to be involved in (basketball and play practice dominating our schedule).
I am extremely blessed to watch over 300 children "grow up" every day. They make amazing choices-like the students who get up on Saturday mornings to serve at the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen every month (and so many more stories of kindness, too multiple to list them all!). They sometimes make questionable choices... because after all, they are teenagers. (Humans? Teenagers don't have a corner on the market of questionable choices, I am sure of it). It's our job as administration and staff to help them figure out the better choice for next time. They change physically in front of my eyes. I feel very adult when walking past the 6th graders and suddenly by 8th and 9th grade, students are towering over me. They become more confident around adults. They become more responsible, balancing school, sports, jobs, friends.
When we created the JFK - Leaders of Courage, Integrity, and Dedication video (attached below) this fall for a fundraiser, I was trying to collect a variety of alumni who had distinguished themselves in different ways in life after JFK to showcase. It was not hard to find many people doing amazing things that have their roots in this very building. Additionally, the ways that we help our young people grow and learn and build capacity for them to do wonderful things in their future is no secret. We provide programs they can find what their passion is and room to pursue it. We say YES as much as possible to student interest. The people that work in this building every day make it happen.
We are watching your children grow and we are all waiting together to see what their future holds. I know that there are future doctors and scientists that will solve important problems; business owners that will meet the needs of the community; entertainers that will put smiles on our faces; philanthropists within the church and our neighborhoods that will make the world a better place. They are here. Some have started to become those people who will make a difference. I know there is greatness among us, we just need to wait for it.
Christmas blessings and wishes for the best year ever,
Mrs. Alyse Consiglio
Watching my own kids grow up and learn to manage the world fills me with all sorts of emotions. They are starting to have their own identity; a particular sense of fashion (thank goodness for the sanity of uniforms during the school day); have a like or dislike for particular movies (current fave: Empire Strikes Back, super exciting for mom and dad); and what activities they like to be involved in (basketball and play practice dominating our schedule).
I am extremely blessed to watch over 300 children "grow up" every day. They make amazing choices-like the students who get up on Saturday mornings to serve at the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen every month (and so many more stories of kindness, too multiple to list them all!). They sometimes make questionable choices... because after all, they are teenagers. (Humans? Teenagers don't have a corner on the market of questionable choices, I am sure of it). It's our job as administration and staff to help them figure out the better choice for next time. They change physically in front of my eyes. I feel very adult when walking past the 6th graders and suddenly by 8th and 9th grade, students are towering over me. They become more confident around adults. They become more responsible, balancing school, sports, jobs, friends.
When we created the JFK - Leaders of Courage, Integrity, and Dedication video (attached below) this fall for a fundraiser, I was trying to collect a variety of alumni who had distinguished themselves in different ways in life after JFK to showcase. It was not hard to find many people doing amazing things that have their roots in this very building. Additionally, the ways that we help our young people grow and learn and build capacity for them to do wonderful things in their future is no secret. We provide programs they can find what their passion is and room to pursue it. We say YES as much as possible to student interest. The people that work in this building every day make it happen.
We are watching your children grow and we are all waiting together to see what their future holds. I know that there are future doctors and scientists that will solve important problems; business owners that will meet the needs of the community; entertainers that will put smiles on our faces; philanthropists within the church and our neighborhoods that will make the world a better place. They are here. Some have started to become those people who will make a difference. I know there is greatness among us, we just need to wait for it.
Christmas blessings and wishes for the best year ever,
Mrs. Alyse Consiglio
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