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Happy New School Year!


What an exciting time of year!  Some of us have already had our first day and for other of us that day is fast approaching.  What I can definitely say is that I always love it when the PD days are over, and my kids are coming back.

I've met the incoming freshmen class at Fish Camp, new displays are up, shelves are straightened and we are ready to welcome our students.

29 years in and it is still just as exciting to me as it ever was, y'all.  I'm sharing 5 things I do to keep me joyful as we start our new year.

  1. The before school morning rush finds me greeting my people. We generally host somewhere around 150 kids before school starts each morning. Coffee in hand, I am going around the library checking in on all my kids.  Greeting them, saying good morning, making sure they have what they need for the day.  Email can wait, my to-do list can wait, everything waits because this is my time to make sure every kid in my space is noticed, acknowledged, and spoken to with kindness. 
  2. Once my kids head out to first period, its time to get my work day prioritized.  I double check the calendar to make sure I know who has reservations in each space, check my email, and draft a few items to my Daily To Do list ---which are items lifted each day from my Grand Master to-do list. This keeps me on track, while making sure I'm not getting overwhelmed.Overwhelmed Sonja is not my best look.
  3. During the moment of silence each morning I get still and I do some yoga breathing.  I intentionally focus on sending positive energy out into my immediate world.  I take that time to have a quiet moment of gratitude, remembering my purpose. Do I have a thousand things to do?  Yes.  Does it actually benefit me in the long run to take this moment for intentional quiet stillness & gratitude. Also, yes.
  4. Take nothing personal. Let no one get you down for long because of their attitude, their harsh words, etc.  Kids and adults alike. Learn to take it all in stride. In the words of Taylor Swift, shake it off.  
  5. Throughout the day, make sure to hydrate.  Feeling cranky?  When did you last eat? I grab some water, or make a nice cup of hot tea, & eat a small handful of cheese and roasted almonds.  You can't be there fully for your people if you neglect yourself. 
I'd love to hear some of your tips!  Hats off to a great school year, y'all!
Sonja
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