It's That Time...Time To Go Back To School

It’s that time again…time to go Back to School! It’s one of my favorite times of year, when students and teachers and staff make their way back through the doors of Affton Schools.

As the Community Relations Director for the Affton School District, it’s a new beginning. My favorite stories from our schools are about the great things our students and staff are accomplishing, both within our schools and in our community.

As a parent to two Affton School District students, it’s also a new beginning. The school year looms ahead of my boys, full of possibility and achievement.

And in both cases, I just can’t wait to see what’s to come!

Earlier this week, Affton School District held Opening Day for the 2013-14 school year. It’s a time when all Affton Schools staff can come together to celebrate the year ahead, as well as recognize some of the accomplishments of our amazing colleagues and schools. We met new teachers and staff in the district, thanked dedicated staff members who have been working for Affton Schools for 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30(!!) years, recognized Teachers of the Year for each building, and more. (You can read more and see pictures from this day here.)

But my favorite moment from Opening Day came from Kristina Pluff, second grade teacher at Mesnier Primary and the Teacher of the Year for both Mesnier and Affton School District. She spoke to her colleagues about the importance of developing personal relationships with each of their students, and provided some great examples of how to accomplish this throughout the school year.

“I want to share my guiding principle as a teacher, the idea that is at the heart of my philosophy of education, the thing that comes before everything else in my classroom,” said Pluff. “And that is my relationship with my students. Student-Teacher relationships are powerful! They can make or break a student’s confidence and success in our classrooms.”

How amazing is that? Our teachers are focusing not only on curriculum and teaching strategies, but are also committed to finding new ways to show how much they care for each and every child who walks through their door.  It’s what every parent hopes for in anticipation of a new school year (me included!): That our child will be loved and cared for even, and especially, while they’re away from us.  

So, Affton Schools parents: Wipe that Back to School tear from your eye – whether it’s bittersweet or one of unending joy – and be assured that “your kids” really are “our kids,” too.

Welcome to the 2013-14 school year, Affton.  It’s going to be a great year!