Good evening everyone,
It is hard to believe we have reached the 100th day of school. A reminder that there is no school the week of February 20-24th, we return on Monday, February 27th-and we will return to the Sunday Message on March 3.
This coming week, led by the efforts of AES, FLRSD schools are focused on Kindness week which culminates on National Kindness day Friday February 17th.
AES is having a Food drive to help support our friends and partners at the Freetown Food Pantry and celebrating its kindness week with multiple activities including the making of cards for various groups(we do not want to spoil the surprise), cleaning up the playground and writing poems for the senior center.
FES is developing a kindness challenge for all grades.
GRAIS just finished up its successful clothing drive and wonderful clean school poster contest, and will be in the midst of its fun run activities this week which includes daily kindness activities.
FLMS is doing a carnation fundraiser, notes of kindness put up throughout the school by students and the NJHS( national junior honor society) will be thanking custodians and maintenance workers with the beautification project.
ARHS is focusing its Kindness week with “Laker Love Week” culminating in Laker Choice Awards, and a whole school celebration. It is also “Dawg be nice week” at the HS - with plenty of kindness activities and one surprise group being honored for the kindness they show to ARHS.
As we all try to navigate in some way, shape or form through the fluctuation of weather - and the first six weeks of 2023 - it is important to reflect upon the premise of doing a little more than we are supposed to. Many of these actions will make the world a better and kinder place and many we will not necessarily see the impact of our efforts.. Going a little extra is life altering, in many ways, and we should never settle for just enough. The man in the story below saved lives by doing more than just enough and caring enough about others to do a little more and it is something to appreciate and applaud when it comes our way! We certainly appreciate SO many here who go above and beyond and never say “that is not my job”:
“A man was asked to paint a boat. He brought with him paint and brushes and began to paint the boat a bright red, as the owner asked him. While painting, he noticed that there was a small hole in the hull, and simply repaired it. When finished painting, he received his money and left.The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with a nice check, much higher than the payment for painting.
The painter was surprised and said "You've already paid me for painting the boat, Sir!" "But this is not for the paint job. It's for having repaired the hole in the boat." "Ah! But it was such a small service... certainly it's not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant."
"My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened. When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention the hole. When the boat dried, my kids took the boat and went on a fishing trip. They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time. When I returned and noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperate because I remembered that the boat had a hole. I immediately panicked as they were not good enough swimmers to manage the cold currents. I pictured my wife grief stricken and what you do not know is that we have already lost one child many years ago. Imagine my relief and joy when I saw them returning from fishing. Then, I examined the boat and found that you had repaired the hole! You see now what you did? You saved the life of my children! I do not have enough money to pay for your 'small' good deed." Author unknown
Many years ago Champion Athletic Gear used in its marketing, “it takes a little more to be a champion”. That phrase can be adapted in many ways and reminds me of the story just presented. Some people, in fact far too many, do just enough and feel it is not their responsibility to ever do anything more - ”That isn’t my job” or “I am too important to have to do that” becomes their mantra. These people allow titles, friendships or years of service to determine one’s importance and therefore they truly believe they do not need to do things differently when it comes to doing a little more.
Thankfully, however, there are ALL of those people who continue to repair numerous 'boat holes' along the way... They do it because that is what caring, dedicated, accountable and responsible people do - a little bit more! They “just do it” because they are champions and not because they are being paid or noticed. They do it because they care and we all must say thank you! They do not talk of all the hours, they do not complain about all the effort they give or what they did many years ago to entitle them to doing less now. They do things for the pure understanding that we owe it to each other as members of this beautiful global village to take care of each other. We all have heard the number of hours we work does not determine our importance, it is what we do while we are working that determines our work.
Our Faculty, Paraprofessionals, Assistant Principals, Secretaries, Principals, Nurses, IT and Library Staff, Security, SRO’s, Counselors, School Psychologists, Food Service, Maintenance and Custodial Staff, Coaches and Advisors as well as Central Office Administration and Staff, Town Officials and Employees, First Responders, School Committee and our community partners continue to help, sustain, support,watch attentively and carefully work to repair, or at least soothe, the 'emotional and other leaks' they find. And for that, I applaud them.
Have a great week and may you have someone reach out and “fix your boat”, just as you reach out and support their lifeboat. The results will be life altering, even if you do not know it. And may national kindness day bring an unexpected smile to your face based upon something someone does for you: just because.
Well, be safe and most of all be … in kindness and peace
Alan
Alan Strauss, Superintendent
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Attention Special Education Families~
During the week of March 20-23, 2023, the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will be conducting our mid-cycle review. This will include interviews, observations, and record inspections. Additionally, the DESE will be sending out a parent survey to all special education families prior to their visit. They anticipate that this survey will be emailed this coming week; as early as February 15th. If you are a parent of one of our special education students, please be on the look out for this survey in your email. Please also be advised that you may want to check your spam/junk folder, as it sometimes comes through as spam. If you do not use email and would like to receive the survey in an alternate way, please contact Ashley Bouley directly at (508) 923-25000 ext. 1711.
FLRSD- Custodial/Maintenance Employment Opportunities
The Freetown-Lakeville School District has many employment opportunities in the Facilities Department. We have Part -time and Full time positions available!
Please contact Greg Goodwin, Director of Facilities if you are interested in joining our team.
Or call
508-923-2000 Ext. 1718
Freetown Lakeville Regional School District School Links
Please click on the link(s) below for district information and easy access to your child’s school news
FLRSD: https://www.freelake.org/news
ARHS: https://www.freelake.org/o/arhs/news
FLMS: https://www.freelake.org/o/flms/news
GRAIS: https://www.freelake.org/o/grais/news
AES: https://www.freelake.org/o/aes/news
FES: https://www.freelake.org/o/fes/news
Below please find links to important forms and information. These are located on our website but hope this may assist you in locating them quickly (we will continue to add to this and if you have suggestions on what would be helpful to add please let us know) Thank you for the latest suggestions!