Good evening everyone within the FLRSD community,
So many students and staff, from grade 3 on, have discussed the full return to normalcy that this year has brought (last September we were still asked to wear masks by DESE) and the sense of finally getting back to allowing everyone within FLRSD to truly thrive, engage, learn, grow, and even stumble a bit. Yet, it is imperative that we look at the lessons learned over the past few years and all the positives around us rather than solely focus on anything else.
The work that was done through Superintendent Medieros, Central Office and IT, fully supported by the School Committee, including the purchase of chromebooks and ensuring the network could thrive, while FLRSD simultaneously remained a leader in the return to school focus. The incredible work of teachers and staff to make remote and hybrid education a functional learning community within a short window, is a testament to their professionalism and care for the well being of our students. The resilience of students and families to navigate all of the changes and the tireless work of our nurses, counselors and Administrators are but a glimpse into the approach that we always have a choice in how we react.
Many (actually many, many years ago) I had the pleasure of learning from, as well as teaching, a young man who at the end of his 8th grade year lost both a parent and his eyesight. Although he knew losing his eyesight was going to be inevitable, his other loss was unexpected and heart wrenching.
A few months later, as a 9th grader, he came to our school with an enthusiasm and positivity that left us all astounded. Aided by his trusty seeing eye dog, he became a high school wrestler, Class President, a school leader and eventually a world renowned motivational speaker and world-class adventurer. He is one of the only people to ever climb the 7 largest peaks in the world including Mount Everest in 2001, where he was the first blind person to ever reach the summit. He has kayaked the Colorado River and written multiple books including Touch the Top,and A Blind Man’s Journey to Climb Farther Than The Eye Can See.
Erik Weihenmayer, who attended Weston, Connecticut High School when I was a relatively new teacher, has changed the lives of millions simply because he took the words of his favorite coach growing up (John Wooden) “winners do not make excuses, do not blame others and do not do anything but look inside as to what the problem is” and he never let go of these words. All students were asked in my senior leadership class what words of wisdom they would give anyone going through adversity. Erik quickly took out his notebook, written in braille, and said the following:
“I have The Optimist Creed in this book. This creed was written by Christian D. Larson. Its goal was clear - to attract good into your life and to share good with others despite everything going on around. While this may have been written a hundred years ago, it still holds true today and is unaffected by time.”
Erik Weihmayer climbed mountains, and kayaked the Colorado River while always remaining optimistic, and we can as well. Most of us got through the darkest stages of the pandemic, yet so many sadly did not either physically or emotionally. Unless we grow and embrace life, while still handling the fallout from learning gaps and the emotional well being of so many, all the lives lost will be not only a tragedy but a waste as well. We must keep working to be better, be kinder and to be more patient. And with every bump along the way, we must understand everyone is trying to navigate the best they can, with situations that we know very little about, so be kind and helpful. Kindness ALWAYS wins! Please enjoy this as so many others have.
The Optimist Creed
Promise yourself:
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something amazing in them.
To look at the sunny side of almost everything and to make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and to press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and to give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
I began this Sunday message talking of the incredible positivity that is felt by fully returning with no mandates and yet we must stay true to defeating the other things that have slowly permeated into a portion of the fabric of our beautiful world - negativity, complaining, finger pointing, finding fault in others, and living within the belief that no one but “me” matters. FLRSD continues to come together, as it always does, and the results have been wonderfully kind, altruistic and focused on what matters - “we” not me! I saw it traveling to Old Rochester to watch our Unified Basketball team, have seen it incessantly at Faculty meetings and walking into classrooms in all 5 buildings and in meetings with students who wish to beautify their school or support others! I see it in meetings with officials in both towns seeking to support our wonderful district. Parents have spent countless moments discussing the positives and openly discussing what they would like to see added or improved all for the better for all students.
Everyday our Teachers, Paraprofessionals, Curriculum Leaders, Secretaries, Nurses, Principles, Assistant Principals Faculty, IT and Library Staff, our SRO, Special Education Staff and Schedulers, Coaches, Advisors, Food Service, Transportation Drivers, Maintenance and Custodial Staff, as well as Central Office Administration and Staff, School Committee, Town Officials, First Responders and all of our community partners work to help our students feel hopeful and excited about their future. We must incessantly thank them for all they continue to do!
May your week be filled with positivity, with the bloom of kindness this fall and may you be healthy, and may you be... OPTIMISTIC!
Alan
Alan Strauss, Superintendent- astrauss@freelake.org
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District reminder: Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 is a half day for all students!
News from Food Services…
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office for Food and Nutrition Programs is pleased to share information about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP is a new benefit for eligible households to provide up to $30/month (or $75/month for households living on Tribal lands) toward their internet bills and a one-time discount on other technology resources.
Details on the new program, as well as resources to help you get the word out can be found below under the Community Flyer link.
Thank you.
Office for Food and Nutrition Programs
Community Recreation Programs
Please click on the Community Flyer link below to see all the New and Exciting Programs we are offering this Fall!
Freetown Lakeville Regional School District School Links
Please click on the link(s) below to go to your child’s school News!
FLRSD: https://www.freelake.org/news
ARHS: https://www.freelake.org/o/arhs/news
FLMS: https://www.freelake.org/o/flms/news
GRAIS: https://www.freelake.org/o/grais/news
AES: https://www.freelake.org/o/aes/news
FES: https://www.freelake.org/o/fes/news
Below please find links to important forms and information. These are located on our website but hope this may assist you in locating them quickly (we will continue to add to this and if you have suggestions on what would be helpful to add please let us know) Thank you for the latest suggestions!