The Great Flood lasted for 40 days
Moses spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai
The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 days
Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days
and here we are during our 40 day period of preparation and cleansing for something great that is coming. Lent is the perfect time to refresh our hearts and refocus ourselves on what really matters. This is why we give up the things (good and bad) that distract us and lead us away from God.
During a parent/teacher conference this week, and after reading many parent emails, and having meetings with parents, I was forced to look at what really matters to our community. While our families love our school and want desperately for their children to be here, they are not all completely happy. I feel we have failed to provide what really matters to them. It was during this one parent/teacher conference that I had to explain what contract law is. Students are not protected by Constitutional Law once they enter our building, but they are covered by Contract Law. Our contract is with the parents/guardians who register the students in our school. Our "contract" is what we set down in our school handbook, our grade level syllabi, our newsletters, etc., and we are bound by that contract. If our contract says we will have 4 summatives in a trimester, we must have 4 summatives. That is in our contract. If our contract says we will post homework in ParentsWeb, we must put it in ParentsWeb. That is in our contract. What is in our handbook is not a list of suggestions, it is the rule. The same goes for the parents. If the contract says students will wear all black shoes, we are in our right to enforce that. However, a contract is only good if both sides are demanding the other must live up to the contract. I can tell you that parents are demanding. The natural consequence when we don't live up to our end of the contract is that parents remove their students from the school. Thankfully, most parents are not doing that, but they are being vocal. Some parents, however, are removing their students because we are not living up to our contract.
The agenda for Monday's Faculty Meeting will consist of sharing. I would like everyone to share about what they learn during the Feb. 15 PD day. I would also like to share what is happening on Thursday during the Lent retreat and address questions anyone might have. I will share with you what I am hearing from parents. I would like you to share what you feel is keeping us from fulfilling the contract. I don't mean to put anyone one the spot, we can talk in generalities and I would like all of us to come up with solutions so we can help one another meet parents' expectations. Unfortunately, our community is one of gossip. When parents are upset, not only do they complain, but they make sure the whole world knows. The reasons for pulling students is also shared among the community and everything eventually makes its way back to me. We need to take these 40 days to refocus on what matters to our community and change the way they talk about us.
On a final note, and this is for everyone in the school. Sometimes parents can wear on us and we may feel they are being demanding or unreasonable. Even during these moments we MUST remember that they are the customer. If they are yelling and being disrespectful, you are in your right to say I'm sorry but I can't continue the conversation right now. I'm happy to speak with you when you are calm. Or, you can say, let me get Mrs. Umoh. I have a very thick skin and I can be the parent whisperer. But what we can NEVER do is respond with anything but KINDNESS. We cannot return what they are giving us or ever show our frustration. If you remember I had a motto a few years ago... Kill them with kindness. Another thing that works is to say "You're right." "You're right it would be best if you walked down to 5th grade, interrupted the class, and personally told Johnny he's riding home with grandma today. However......" Don't really say that, but you get the idea. Say you're right, say you're sorry and then kindly tell them what the rule is. ALWAYS have a smile on your face.
Gina and I will leave early Wednesday afternoon for our conference. Everyone is welcome to leave after carline on Thursday (except Extended Day, of course) and have a wonderful long weekend.
"Our sins are nothing but a grain of sand along the great mountain of mercy of God." St. John Vianney
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