The first week of every August my family and I vacation at the Jersey Shore. It is a wonderful time together relaxing, enjoying the beauty and splendor of the ocean. However, it also signals for me, as a building Principal, what lies ahead in the upcoming weeks. Very shortly the staff and students will be coming back for what will be another exciting year at Pequannock Valley School, filled with endless opportunities for growth and success.
Every morning after I finish my run I take a walk up to the beach and just sit and look out at the ocean. It stretches as far as the eye can see, appearing to meet up with the sky. My curiosity and imagination run wild as I think about what could possibly be out there....beyond the horizon. Of course, my young kids ask me "Dad are there sharks out there?" "Is that where the ocean stops?" "Those ships out there, where are they going?" To them, it simply looks like a line that has formed between the ocean and the sky and like in "The Truman Show" it just ends if you were to get to the end of it. To me, the horizon represents opportunity. It represents possibilities. It represents hope. As we head into a new school year it is a symbol of encouragement. It is something I am going to keep my eye on as I prepare for my students and staff to arrive. Sailors use the term "keep your eye on the horizon" to steady their ships for a long journey. In finance, it means keeping an eye on your long term goals and results. In education, I feel that keeping your eye on the horizon means reaching beyond what may seem unreachable to bring your school/students to places they have never been. When you realize the goals that you have for your school/students are possible, that horizon can extend further than you imagined and new horizons that may have seemed unattainable now become clearer. What is beyond your horizon? What goals do you have as you begin your journey into a new school year? Are you ready to explore new opportunities with your students? Are you prepared to push your school/or students beyond what they think is attainable? If so, how are you going to do it? What course have your charted? Each day there is a new horizon and every day we have the chance to make our goals and dreams a reality....not just for us but for our students and our schools. As Captain Jack Sparrow said in Pirates of the Caribbean, "Bring me that horizon!"
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Richard M. HayzlerA life long educator and current Principal of Pequannock Township High School in NJ, Rich is excited to share his ideas and thoughts about education and how we can change the world for our students and our staff. Currently Reading
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