Presidents Message
It is so hard to believe we are already into the holiday season. It is the beginning of December and as you know it will soon feel like the beginning of September in school. Oh, well, that is how holiday excitement goes.
This year I tried something new for the Thanksgiving break. I planned ahead and made sure my lesson plans for the week after Thanksgiving were completed before the break. I left school determined to enjoy the holiday with my family. We ate, we talked and we watched TV. We shopped on black Friday, we wrapped gifts and we went out to eat. We laughed, we remembered and we planned for Christmas. Even if we just sat together, my full attention was with my family. I returned to work feeling happy, relaxed and human.
This Christmas break; leave your work in school. Complete your January 2 lesson plans before you leave school on December 23. Discovery School, you have January 2, 3 and 4 to prepare for the January 5th conferences. You have January 6, 7, 8 and 9 to prepare for the January 10 and 11 conferences.
Enjoy yourself and your family. Relax! Enjoy! Rejuvenate! When you return in January, you will be ready to start anew. The children will be ready to start again, and you will be ready to get back into your regular routine. Too often we stress about January instead of enjoying our time with family and friends. Nothing you do between December 23 and January 2 will change January. Governor Christie will not change his mind if you do school work over vacation. The Federal Government will not restore your tax break if you do school work over vacation. Our contract is not going to be settled if you do school work over vacation. Your family will know if you do special activities with them. Your children will know if they have your undivided attention. And, you deserve a week free of school responsibilities and concerns. Give yourself a holiday present. Give yourself a week of pampering, family and friends. Remember you deserve it. You have the most responsible job of all. You are entrusted with children who should be the most important people in their parent’s lives. You are entrusted with the future which affects the future of our country. You deserve a break. Please take time for yourself and enjoy your holiday season.
Merry Christmas
Happy Hanukkah
Happy Holidays
Sincerely,
Jane Gibson
President NHTEA