The First Six Weeks: A Foundation for Flourishing
As we near the middle of our second full week of school, I find myself remembering the words of Psalm 1. In the week before school officially began, as we all prepared for the first days of school, the staff of Mustard Seed were beginning each day by worshipping together. Together, we meditated upon these words from Psalm 1:
They are like trees planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.
This week, as classes continue forming covenants, learning new procedures, and getting to know each other in new ways, my mind has returned time and again to the words of Psalm 1 and their implications for us as we prioritize community-building in these early days of school.
It is during the first days of school that we must stop to ask ourselves:
What is the fruit of my actions?
How am I helping my community to prosper, to flourish?
The first six weeks of school are not just about learning how to navigate in a new classroom. We are not just reviewing how to walk silently down the hallway. Instead, we are learning why it is important to care for our spaces. We are learning how the way we walk affects those around us. We are learning about kindness, empathy, and mercy. Every middle school student has an important role to play in our community; they are our leaders. Throughout the year, all staff and students participate in activities and celebrations led by middle schoolers, and so we take this time at the beginning of every year to pause in our work and to remember that we are members of a community in which we are active, influential participants.
During the first six weeks, middle school students are helping to set a positive tone for our whole school. Seventh and eighth grade students help set up for worship every day. Sixth grade students will soon begin preparing to lead the Thanksgiving celebration in November. Middle school students lead by example at the park, in PROS, in drama club, and in the hallways. By serving and by getting to know their community, middle school students are helping those around them to flourish. In the middle school we are learning to be patient and to forgive because this is how we build a community that is safe and strong.
In the end, it is the work of these first six weeks that provides a foundation for flourishing to continue even during hard times.We remember to be patient when there are many assignments to complete and there does not seem to be enough time to finish them. We remember to consider the needs of others and to forgive when relationships feel strained by hard feelings and stress. We are building a community one day at a time, and we may look forward to flourishing together because we are grounded in kindness, empathy, and forgiveness.
In the middle school, we still have many days ahead of us in which to think about our hopes and our goals for the year. However, as we go forward, the challenge is to remember the words of Psalm 1 and pause as we ask ourselves:
What is the fruit of my actions?
How am I helping my community to flourish?
They are like trees planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.
This week, as classes continue forming covenants, learning new procedures, and getting to know each other in new ways, my mind has returned time and again to the words of Psalm 1 and their implications for us as we prioritize community-building in these early days of school.
It is during the first days of school that we must stop to ask ourselves:
What is the fruit of my actions?
How am I helping my community to prosper, to flourish?
The first six weeks of school are not just about learning how to navigate in a new classroom. We are not just reviewing how to walk silently down the hallway. Instead, we are learning why it is important to care for our spaces. We are learning how the way we walk affects those around us. We are learning about kindness, empathy, and mercy. Every middle school student has an important role to play in our community; they are our leaders. Throughout the year, all staff and students participate in activities and celebrations led by middle schoolers, and so we take this time at the beginning of every year to pause in our work and to remember that we are members of a community in which we are active, influential participants.
During the first six weeks, middle school students are helping to set a positive tone for our whole school. Seventh and eighth grade students help set up for worship every day. Sixth grade students will soon begin preparing to lead the Thanksgiving celebration in November. Middle school students lead by example at the park, in PROS, in drama club, and in the hallways. By serving and by getting to know their community, middle school students are helping those around them to flourish. In the middle school we are learning to be patient and to forgive because this is how we build a community that is safe and strong.
In the end, it is the work of these first six weeks that provides a foundation for flourishing to continue even during hard times.We remember to be patient when there are many assignments to complete and there does not seem to be enough time to finish them. We remember to consider the needs of others and to forgive when relationships feel strained by hard feelings and stress. We are building a community one day at a time, and we may look forward to flourishing together because we are grounded in kindness, empathy, and forgiveness.
In the middle school, we still have many days ahead of us in which to think about our hopes and our goals for the year. However, as we go forward, the challenge is to remember the words of Psalm 1 and pause as we ask ourselves:
What is the fruit of my actions?
How am I helping my community to flourish?