Teacher Appreciation Week

This week is designated as “Teacher Appreciation Week,” and I want to take some time to thank all of the staff at Dalat. We celebrated with a coffee truck on Monday and a generous gift from the PTO later in the week. I would also like to request your help in appreciating the staff in a really important way.

Please take a few minutes to write a card or send an email to a staff member who has made a difference in your child’s life. The school staff most often hear from parents (and vice versa) when there is a problem or concern. A kind note goes a long way in encouraging our staff and reminding them that the work they do is important. 

I have a cardboard box on my desk where I keep all of the encouraging notes I have received over the years. I also have an email folder titled “Good News.” On some of the hard days, I go back and reread a few of these notes. Notes of encouragement and appreciation from both parents and students are really valuable. I’ll go first:

Dear Dalat Staff,

Thank you so much for the time you invest in each of our students. Your work is seen, heard, and valued. Whether you teach our kids, patch up their injuries, give them a clean and safe place to play and learn, coach them, or handle logistics, you are an important part of the chain.

I Corinthians 13: 4-6 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” This is the type of love I see you showing to our students each and every day. Thank you so much for loving our kids, even when they are hard to love. Thank you for not giving up on them when they struggle. Thank you for giving them a fresh start each and every day. Thank you for putting the needs of the kids first, even when you are facing challenges in your own lives.

Sincerely,
Shawna Wood