NBHS news and events
Dear Parents and Guardians,
It is important to remember that parents, guardians, and educators live in a competitive world alongside the students we share.
Before we can talk with students about the pros and cons of competitive cultures (closely linked to peer pressure), we need to evaluate our own perspective on the topic as it relates to our work, what we model, and the decisions we make in support of adolescents.
On behalf of North Branch High School, I want you to know that I believe our faculty is a reflective group that consistently seeks to improve the education we deliver to your children. We take to heart the trust you put in the school, striving to meet the academic and social emotional needs of a large number of individuals to the best of our ability. In concert with the high expectations for professional responsibility in the NBAS, each educator places rigorous demands on himself or herself, and these are often accompanied by personal circumstances that challenge their ability to integrate work and home life. I believe we can all relate to the feeling that there are not enough hours in a day, let alone time to rest and ensure that we experience personal joy and happiness.
I recently attended a rountable discussion of local high school principals. A common thread woven through a wide range of topics was how to help students and adults cope with all that is on their plate so they can take more time to live in the moment. So much of life today is about what we should be doing now and to prepare for tomrrow, the next day, or the future. Preparation for daily responsibilities is a reality and a life skill that serves us well most of the time. However, there are times when our devotion to constant preparation for the next thing eclipses our abililty to rest, recharge, and be fully present with others and ourselves.
As we approach the holiday season across all cultures, we have an opporutnity to reflect on various aspects of our life. No matter what holiday(s) we recognize and celebrate, I hope we are able to carve hours out of personal schedules to relive and/or create fond memories with the people we love and are grateful to have in our life. I hope we can put aside the urge to compete with our daily responsibilites and/or those around us so we are able to experience whatever it is that touches our heart. Moreover, I hope time to ourselves and time with others we care about helps to obscure the things we find fault in as we go about our lives at a frenetic pace.
Enjoy the season and here's to a Healthy and Happy 2017!
Mark Hiltunen
North Branch High School Principal
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