Superintendent's Message for December 2023
Some things seem to never change. I plot my message in my mind and wait until the last moments to put pen (keyboard) to paper (screen). As always my mind is drawn to more things than will be read...so I’ll work to keep it concise.
Yesterday, a representative from William Penn University delivered care packages to each of our staff lounges as a thanks for support field experiences for education students. As well, I was also part of an email discussing plans for the annual 12 days of Christmas food fest, starts next Wednesday. The winter holidays are upon us.
It’s a time where we, individually and collectively, experience the full continuum of emotions from excitement to regret, from joy to sorrow, not always at the same time. Coupled with the added pressures of participating in the hustle and bustle of concerts, work celebrations, and family gatherings our levels of stress and patience often respectively increased and decreased in intensity and timing.
And that’s for the adults, let alone considering our children.
Children often take their lead from the adults that surround them. Surround them with love, with patience, with routine, with good food, and lots of rest. Do the same for yourself and those around you.
The holidays before us are often even more intense than the excitement our children and even some of us as adults have with Halloween. Try to take some time to slow down. Try to take some time to reflect on your blessings, often they are right in front of us.
In closing, the holidays are also challenging for many amongst us, both young and old, due to hard times, bad memories, loss and regret. Remember to think of that, appreciate that and respect it. Try to embrace and support others during this time and on the other side, try to accept the support and care of others should you need it. The holidays draw us to our humanness, our goodness, our kindness, and our need to be with others.
Enjoy the season and time with your family and friends, stay safe and we’ll see you in the new year. Oh, and the food too.
Lisa Beames
More from the Superintendent
Our Mission
Preparing Our Students Today for Their TomorrowThe Independent School District of West Burlington offers career and technical programs in the following service areas: Applied Science, Technology, Engineering, and Manufacturing, Business, Finance, Marketing, and Management, Health Science, Human Services. It is the policy of the Independent School District of West Burlington not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district’s Equity Coordinator, Jason Wester, Superintendent, 314 W. Van Weiss Blvd., West Burlington, IA 52655, 319-752-8747 x3, equity.coordinator@wbschools.us.
Many photos on this site have been provided by Dan Hockett.
