Hello From Hilltop! E L E M E N TA R Y P R I N C I PA L D O N A L U M S D E N
T
o start with, I’d like to talk about our Instructional Aides. This group of people go above and beyond every single day. They dig in and work with students on instructional needs, being exactly what that student needs at the time. They are a huge help during all lunches and duties, and basically have bent over backward to be incredibly flexible this year. I just want to take time to appreciate them and highlight their great work. I was going to post a group picture, but this group is so busy that it has proven impossible to get them all together in the same place. They are invaluable to our teachers and really help in making the wheels of the school turn every single day. So thank you to them. Now I’ll move onto one of my experiences in the last month. I was walking down the hall one day, and a PreK teacher says to me, “I got a PreK bouquet today.” I was intrigued. What was a PreK bouquet? Is this some tradition here at Hilltop where parents send bouquets to the PreK teachers? I asked her what is that? And she said come see. This photo is the bouquet she showed me. As I think about this year, this picture sums up a lot to me. These sweet kids saw beauty in these weeds and gathered them up to give to their teacher. They used what they had, and they did it with love. The teacher loved it and cared for them by putting them in water. She was proud of them and put them on display. The students were proud because the teacher appreciated their kind gesture. It’s a huge circle.
I’m very proud of the way the teachers, students, staff, and parents come together no matter what hits us. 44
• Argyle Insights • Spring 2021
It really speaks to me in terms of it’s not about what you are given, it’s how you frame it (or vase it). Now, I would not in any way compare anything about Hilltop to weeds. But I’m very proud of the way the teachers, students, staff, and parents come together - no matter what hits us. Heaters, quarantines, and transitions to virtual learning may be unexpected circumstances, but we take care of each other and move on. In all of that, our children find joy. We get to see it on their faces every day, and it’s even more motivating than looking at that sweet bouquet in that water cup. We are all very committed to giving the students what they need, regardless of what challenges are presented to us. On top of that, we love doing it. Parents, you have given me so many reasons to appreciate you. Consider this little note to be me giving each of you a PreK bouquet, with a lot of love for all of your patience and understanding during this year.
Dona Lumsden Hilltop Elementary Principal
