Don’t become too overly excited by this alluring title. I haven’t hung up my Mustang spirit wear for a Nikon D or Canon ESO. I am not a newly branded paparazzo, although, I am in pursuit of my crown as “Twitter Queen.” I am still a principal of an amazing elementary school filled with young Masterpieces and crafty Artists.
About a month ago, the annual safety inspection was completed in our district. Our school is well maintained and very pristine. Our overly zealous custodial team ensured that our school would past the inspection with top ratings. Stress levels rise when the state authorities enter your building wearing white gloves and carrying clipboards! District administrators, our custodian, and I escorted the inspectors as they toured. While walking, an inspector shared, ” I’ve never seen a gymnasium with so much stuff on the walls.” I paused, without commenting. He continued, ” You’re okay, you pass code, but it’s just so much stuff. I’ve never seen that in a gymnasium.” As the person reading, you are probably imagining banners of league teams hanging from the rafters, maybe some pictures of notable athletes on the accent walls, and a few posters emphasizing sportsmanship. By deductive reasoning, you’ve probably concluded, that isn’t the case in our school! I will admit, our gymnasium, may be overwhelming at first glance but if you take a moment to explore, you will find that it is a cavern of motivation.
On a wall, in large letters are the words: RESPECT, RESPONSIBLE, and SAFE; key terms which accentuate the expectations that we have established with our kids. Additionally, there are numerous quotes prompting positive mindset, determination, and teamwork. There are silhouettes of children playing sports, game rules, and stations where kids can assess their skillsets. There is even a display that connects to our brand, “Discovering Our Masterpieces!” By each door, images are posted; each kid hits a mark before exiting to assess his or her behavior while in the gymnasium. A space that is typically viewed as a place to demonstrate physical agility is an environment that transforms the mental and emotional state of our kids.
As I walk the corridors and visit classrooms, I see many visuals that remind our kids that they are special and limitless. There is a quote which reminds kids to be the “cool kid” that gets along with others. Several quotes that are displayed on the monitor remind our kids that they are Masterpieces. Throughout our school, you will also find posters emphasizing positive mindset, determination, and respect. In classrooms and the office, we proudly display our blue ribbons because we are a “Blue-Ribbon” school under construction.
Our walls speak loudly!
What’s on YOUR walls?
