For many of our students the idea of high school is one of preparation, some great times with friends, and activities and sports. For many others it is one more thing to get over until....
We strive to encourage our students to connect and get involved. For each individual that is a different set of ideas,hopes and dreams. That may be sports or good grades or many friends or great combinations of all of these. The main concern is to provide opportunities and experiences.
Thankfully the vast majority of our students find friends and activities. We attempt to identify the various happenings for each student. Those would do not seem to be connected to something, we attempt to determine what might be interesting and who might be a good contact. I am sure we miss some, but it seems that over the course of the year we find the influences and connects of our students.
For some the influences of the other side of things is too strong. Some of that is party, drugs, hanging out or just disconnecting with family and perhaps society at large. That is a constant struggle. By the time the student is 15, 16 or 17, many decisions get made that are difficult to counteract. The pull of laziness, despair, "good times" or just anti-adult is too great. We continue to work with all of our students and their families. All of us in the community see the results of these "disconnects."
As a family and a community we need to continue our efforts to connect with our youth. We needs to provide positive opportunities and experiences. There is too much temptation out there just to leave it to chance or maybe it will happen. As a family do we do things together any more? Are there some families rituals? Do we know the whereabouts of our children at night? Do we concern ourselves with their doings and grades? Growing up is difficult and it takes all the help we can provide.
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