Dear Parents,

This week, albeit a short school week for the students, was chock full of activities. On Wednesday, to kick off the second quarter on a positive note, the middle school students, their teachers, and myself had a workshop on the power of positive thinking. I spoke about our decisions as humans to see situations in a positive light versus looking for the negatives. I took the time to explain what self awareness, self management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making are, and how they affect our day to day school life. Students then were tasked with creating a list of positive "I AM" statements about themselves. I read Luke 6:39-45 and spoke about what it meant to look for fault in others without taking an inventory of one's own faults. Afterwards, the students in their prearranged groups, comprised of 6th, 7th,  and 8th graders at each given table, were tasked with completing two different challenges. They were given a set of criteria and circumstances and they had to rely on everyone in the group to lend a helping hand, literally! 

We know as adults that we must all learn to work together and that we cannot always select with whom we must work with. While STREAM and other group activities and athletic competitions in and of themselves can be fun and educational, the greatest lesson we can teach and learn from one another, is how to work together in a positive manner, even when the circumstances can and will present challenges at times, along with differences in opinions.

Students in grades 7 & 8 went to the Harn Museum in Gainesville today, and enjoyed some Art followed by lunch at the Oak's Mall Food Court. 

Every student is receiving their report card today. Please look for the brown envelope. 

I hope that you are all making plans to join us in a couple of weeks for our Fall Fest and I encourage you to sign up to host a trunk, make some chili, and/or bring a carved pumpkin to the festivities. 

Have a wonderful fall weekend.

Your In Christ,

Rita M. Klenk