As the holidays approach and our halls grow quieter (well, slightly quieter—there's still plenty of holiday excitement bouncing off the walls!), I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you. The warmth with which you've welcomed my husband and me into this remarkable community has touched us deeply. Every day, I feel the spirit and joy that makes Kake so special.
Speaking of joy—your children! They are, without question, the highlight of my days. Each morning brings new adventures and discoveries, like today's impromptu science experiment when a hopeful first grader learned the hard truth about indoor snowmen. I love these everyday moments—from kindergarteners racing to show me their newly tied shoes to our middle schoolers (who, by the way, are giving me a master class in patience) teaching me about their latest discoveries.
I often find myself sharing stories about your amazing kids with anyone who will listen. One of my favorite parts of the day is when a certain student catches me in the hallway with their "Did you know?" of the day. From the exact number of bones in the human body (206, I'm told with great authority), to fascinating fish facts (apparently, some can live up to 500 years!), to detailed explanations of how volcanoes work—I never know what new knowledge I'm going to gain. It's these daily interactions that remind me why I love being in education.
Yes, my learning curve as your new superintendent/principal has been steep (sometimes feels like scaling a mountain in flip-flops!), and I know I have so much more to learn. But I couldn't feel more supported or secure in leading this district. Your trust, patience, and partnership mean everything to me.
As we look toward the new year, I'm excited to strengthen our school-family connections even more. Now that I've gotten to know our amazing students and staff, my next goal is to build stronger relationships with all of you. Starting in January, I'll be sending weekly email updates to keep you in the loop about what's happening at school. I'm also launching "Coffee with Anji" sessions—casual meet-ups where we can chat about anything from school happenings to your ideas for our community. If you have other suggestions for ways we can better connect, I'm all ears! My door (and email inbox) is always open.
As we head into the holiday break, I want to thank each of you for being part of our school family. Your support, involvement, and the gift of your wonderful children make our school community truly special.
Wishing you all a joy-filled holiday season full of warm moments with family and friends (and maybe some successfully preserved snowmen—outside, of course!). See you on January 6th!