Things I Heard Around CW Today...

On our first day of school, I wanted to share things I heard around the school today:

“We really get to buy a cookie with our lunch?”

“My teacher seems really nice!”

“Thinking is hard.”

“Two recesses!  It’s so cool to have two recesses!”

“Someone couldn’t find a lunch table so I stood up for them and sat with them.”

“I got my locker open on the first try!”

“Will this pizza really be here tomorrow too?”

“Today was awesome!”

“Do we have homework?”

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" after successfully opening her locker

I hope all of your children will share their memories of their first day of school.  It really was an amazing day!

Off With The Wheels!

I hope all of our families have had a wonderful summer!  It has been nice to be back in the building getting ready for a great year!  We are working hard as a staff to get everything ready to allow all students to have a great year!!!

A few weeks ago, my son Cole, began to ride his bicycle without his training wheels.  It was both an exciting and scary time for Cole and myself!  When I let go of the bike, I was hoping he would be successful without falling (or at least falling and getting seriously hurt).  I would soon learn that falling was inevitable.  That is the reason we started him off in the grass instead of the hard pavement.  After a little bit of practice, he was off and riding and feeling comfortable without the training wheels!  It was a very proud "dad moment!"

One time while I was letting go of Cole and his bike, I started to think about Central Woodlands and Pine Ridge.  Part of my life of being a principal is that school is always on my mind!  In a few weeks, we will be welcoming a whole new group of excited and nervous 4th grade students to Central Woodlands.  In a few weeks, my son Cole will be starting kindergarten at Pine Ridge.  My family will be become a first time school family like many of our 4th grade families who are coming to Central Woodlands.  We are "taking the training wheels off!"

As the building principal, I know how cared for and supported all of our students are at CW.  Our staff will do anything to make sure every child is successful!  However, until you experience it, it is natural to be nervous.  As much as I know how great Pine Ridge is and the trust I have in their staff - I am still nervous.

I promise to work hard as your child's principal this year to partner with you to make sure the transition to our building is smooth.  It is ok to be nervous (I am too for Cole)!  Our school family will always be there for your child to make sure your child has a successful transition to Central Woodlands!

The end...

All endings are also beginnings. We just don't know it at the time. - Mitch Albom 

As we end the school year at Central Woodlands, I have had time to reflect on the year as our students celebrated their learning that has occurred!  We have had a lot of fun activities to cap off a successful school year. 

The feelings I have right now as the principal of CW are different from any other I have experienced as an administrator.  I have a sense of sadness, as tomorrow I will say goodbye to over 550 students.  The students are all part of our CW family and I will miss them.  I have a special bond with the students here at CW. 

The group of 6th grade leaders will always hold a special place in my heart for being part of the first group in which I was able to serve as principal.  I have learned so much from their empathy, caring, drive, and enthusiasm for life. 

I am excited knowing that our 5th grade will be back in the fall to continue to develop their leadership and find the voice of positivity in all that they do.  I have been touched by their kindness and their love for living! 

However, in reading the quote from Mitch Albom, I am reminded that even though we are saying goodbye to our 6th grade, it is also the beginning of another part of their journey through life.  I am confident they are well prepared to make their own trails at CMS and continue to make a difference in the community around them.  I will be excited to read and hear about their future accomplishments. 

I also wanted to publicly thank all of our staff.  I feel so lucky to be part of team that is so dedicated to helping children achieve their dreams.  From day one, staff at CW welcomed me and affirmed our family's decision to relocate to allow me to become principal at CW.  They are the hardest working staff I have served and know how fortunate our children are to have them as educators. 

Lastly, I want to thank all of our families.  Your commitment is the driving force behind CW and our district.  Thank you for being so involved with your child in helping raise confident and caring individuals.  Parenting is the hardest job in the world and I thank you for all of your efforts.   I sincerely appreciated your acceptance of my family into the Forest Hills Community.  My wife, Renae, and I are excited to see our own son start his education next year at Pine Ridge.  I really appreciated the feedback I received from families and the constant support of our school and of me.  It has meant a lot. I look forward to hearing about the new beginnings that occur this summer! 

Thanks...David

An Open Letter to two classes

Dear Students of Mrs. Peneycad and Ms. Elliot,

Garlic Mustard.  Two words I had never heard before until this past fall.  An invasive plant?  Sounds scary!  Does it really harm our native plants? YES!

I would like to take time to thank you.  You worked a lot this past fall learning about invasive plants and the damage they do to our surroundings.  Having spent the last 10 years in Royal Oak (our yard was about 10 feet by 10 feet), I was never really concerned or knew about invasive species.  It wasn't until this fall that you helped educate me and and our local community about invasive plants such as garlic mustard, oriental bittersweet and autumn olive.  You brought in experts from the MSU Extension and marked and removed invasive plants on our property (both amazing things).

This spring, my wife and I started receiving email notices from the Cascade Woods Neighborhood Association about the garlic mustard plant and what we could do to get rid of it.  I quickly looked at around our property and did not see anything.  However, last night while playing baseball in our backyard, I saw a group of plants in our backyard.  I went back and looked...not sure what they were, I pulled a picture of garlic mustard and to my disbelief...our backyard had begun to be taken over.

Having learned the importance of stopping invasive plants from all of you, I knew I had to take  action.  I spent an hour and half collecting 5 trash bags of garlic mustard plants.  I know my work is not done and will have to continue to monitor the area.  However, I know plants from my yard won't be spreading into my local community and the ecosystem in my yard is now healthier.

Without all of you, I would have never known about garlic mustard and the devastation it can do.  Thank you to all you for educating me.  Because of you, I was able to stop an invasive plant in my yard!

Thanks!
Mr. Simpson

For our families,  if you would like more information about garlic mustard, please go to http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/garlic_mustard_may_be_michigans_worst_woodland_weed

Here is a picture of a garlic mustard plant:

I get to sit where?

This past week, I had the honor of accompanying our 5th grade Ambassadors to all three of our K-4 Elementary schools.  These ambassadors were selected to speak to the 4th grade students at Pine Ridge, Ada, and Thornapple Elementary.  I was so proud of the job they did in representing our school, but more importantly, in representing the feelings they went through as they realized the transition to Central Woodlands was fun and easy.  All of the ambassadors shared how they had been nervous a year ago, just like many 4th graders were nervous that day.

Our students took turns speaking on a range of topics from the bus ride to finding your way around the halls at CW.  After each student spoke, 4th grade students were able to ask questions.  This was my first experience in the process of transitioning 4th grade students to our building.  I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the excited, but wide-eyed students take in every word of our students.

Not knowing what to expect, each building took on a slightly different theme as it came to the types of questions asked.  However, there was a topic that created cheers and shouts in all three schools.  For 4th grade students, the most important take away for many came when they found out that at CW, students get to pick where they sit for lunch.  In 4th grade, students eat lunch at tables with their class.  When our ambassadors told the 4th grade classes this, it seemed like the students had won a gold medal!  There was clapping and cheers as 4th grade students realized their maturation towards adulthood included picking their own lunch seat!  It was the highlight of my day to witness this exuberance in our future students.

It made me reflect on the how the milestones in the lives of students in K-12 education are all very different, but all important; especially during those important moments.  Life is about milestones...about accomplishments of continued growth.  Those moments can be when a student ties their shoe for the first time (opening up a whole world of non-velcro shoe choices) or seeing the sense of accomplishment on the face of student opening up their college acceptance letter.  All of our students' milestones are important...I am glad I was able to be there for this important 4th to 5th grade milestone!

How CW used a Lunch Period to "Stand Up"

Two days ago, I was speaking to a former colleague at Royal Oak.  He was very interested in knowing about how my students were doing this year at Central Woodlands.  More specifically he asked, "Are they good kids?"  I paused before I answered him.  "Good" could not even begin to describe our students...

Over Spring Break, I received an email from Mrs. Bouley, our 5th grade counselor.  Back on October 29th, our students participated in the national "Mix It Up" day.  Every staff member volunteered to be part of this day along with several family members.  

CW was among the 6,000 schools that participated in Teaching Tolerance’s Mix It Up at Lunch Day Program, an effort to break down the barriers between students so there are fewer misunderstandings that can lead to conflicts, bullying and harassment.

We used our Mix It Up lunch as a springboard to developing our "Stand Up" culture among students. Throughout the year, we have had several events and reminders of the importance of standing up for our peers.

As a result of what our students, staff, and families have done, we were recognized as a 2013-14 Mix It Up Model School.  Over 6000 schools participated across the United States and we were 1 of 76 schools in the United States to receive this recognition!  In fact, there were only 2 schools in Michigan to receive this honor!

Click here to see a listing of the 2013-14 Mix It Up Model Schools.

Because our students are standing up...they are making a difference!  I cannot even begin to tell you how proud I am of our students!

Credit or Debit

Over the weekend, I was shopping at the grocery store with my wife, Renae, when I was reminded of a valuable lesson.  We were in the process of putting our groceries out to pay for them and I was trying to find my debit card to pay.  We were a little busy as our son Cole was using this time to create his latest play area in the candy bar section and Aubrey was tired of being in the cart.  Needless to say, the cashier said something to me and I responded as I usually do…plastic is fine. At this grocery store, they still bag our groceries and offer a choice of paper or plastic bags.  I am asked every time which one I want and was ready for the cashier to ask before she even did.  I then swiped my debit card and Renae and I headed out to our car carrying Cole, Aubrey, and our groceries.

On the way out Renae asked, “Did you hear what the cashier asked?”  I said yes and told her she had asked about paper or plastic bags. Unfortunately, I wasn’t really listening to the cashier as Renae informed me that she had asked, “Credit or Debit” and I responded by saying plastic…no wonder she was giving me a weird look!

I have been reminded of this lately as I can tell that our 6th grade students are gearing up for middle school. They are excited to be in 7th grade at CMS. However, I know 7th grade will come soon enough and I will be challenging our students to enjoy their remaining weeks at Central Woodlands.  The same can be said for our 5th grade students.  I know they are starting to see themselves as the 6th grade of Central Woodlands.  Just as I learned from my grocery store experience, I want our students to remember they may miss some important things if they are moving to fast and not staying present in the moment here at Central Woodlands!

This was a great reminder on how important it is to slow down and listen.  No matter what age, this can be a valuable lesson…life moves very fast…make sure you slow down to enjoy it.