Over the last few weeks I have walked the halls of Jackson Middle School talking with our students. I have had the opportunity to speak with many parents during conferences, PTA meetings, at LEARNstein, and simply when passing by in the halls or office. I have spent time with our teachers during PD, in the classrooms, at the copier, and around the water cooler. There is no question that for all of us, students and adults alike, current events that surround us weigh heavily on our minds. This is not about politics, but it is about many of us finding ourselves in a moment in time when it is important to reaffirm our commitment to each other, to our community, and to our value of acceptance and anti-hate.

To that end, students have had a number of small, timely, teachable moments in the classrooms that remind us of basic values that we hold important. These discussions, some impromptu while others planned and facilitated, will certainly continue as your children are often the ones leading the way in these meaningful conversations.

Over the next two Wednesdays, all classrooms will be engaging in discussions, role playing activities, and lessons around empathy. Adolescence is a time when we begin to define ourselves more by our relationships with others. Understanding empathy is the first step in understanding what it means to be an up-stander rather than a by-stander. Empathy builds our relationships with others and aides in creating a school and community environment that embraces every one of us as an individual with talents, goals, dreams, and emotions.

The “Be A Hero” wall in the cafeteria will remain through the month for all to post and read. It is a graffiti wall for students to express concern and care for their community near and far.

In the coming week, we look forward to introducing our new counselor to Jackson, who will work closely with Ms. De Leon while Ms. Knochel is on leave. Together, they will continue the work of caring for all our students, helping them to solve problems and express concerns.

These efforts, activities, and opportunities are all aimed at reassuring our students and reminding our community that Jackson Middle School stands united for and because of our diversity. Together we must care for one another to protect that diversity. For our young teens, this is a constant reminder that words have power and we must choose to use them to build each other up.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you for being amazing parents working as a community to raise our outstanding JMS students.

Kevin Crotchett