Labels and Learning Reports March 5, 2012

Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me!!  This was a common response to the slings and arrows of my wonderful siblings when I was growing up. There would be heated exchanges and angry words would be hurled at each other.   I think there were times that the phrase was more of a wish than it was a pronouncement of some profound truth.  The fact of the matter is that names and labels and how they are communicated do have the power to hurt and to tear down.  Our words do carry the ability to edify or destroy.  We still have the choice to how we respond but that does not remove our responsibility to encourage one another and build each other up.   Today the students will receive their Learning Reports to take home.  I just wanted to remind you that this is just a snapshot of a portion of the students’ lives.  They are so much more than a set of check marks or percentages.  Each and every student is made in the image of our God and deserves to be treated as such. Let us not lose sight of the bigger picture and reduce the students and their worth.  Each and every student is uniquely gifted and that diversity is something to be celebrated.  May you see the image of our Creator in the lives of the children entrusted to us at DCCS.  Sticks and stones may break our bones but let us lift high the name of the one who made us.   ~Mr. Bouwers