Children Heal Our Hearts



Parent Letter regarding Sandy Hook Elementary Tragedy:  December 18, 2012

Dear Royal Manor Families:

We started this week with the heaviness of worry for our families.  You were worried about your children being at school.   Our staff’s families were worried about their loved ones who come to school each day to take care of your children.   We cried tears of utter disbelief.

I walked through classrooms the past few days and I could feel the burden that lay heavy on my heart begin to lift.   Your children were smiling and joyful.   Teachers were teaching and children were learning.  Children were taking care of each other.  Their teachers and principal reassured students that they were safe and loved at school.

I truly believe that children are the greatest teachers. We started our week with a plan on everything we were going to do to help our students.  We learned very early Monday morning that simple children were going to teach the worried adults.

We learned from Sara that a smile brightens a day.   We learned from Kalli that holding hands makes your friend feel loved.  We learned from second grade students that every thing is better when you are wearing a reindeer hat.  Even though children hug adults frequently at Royal Manor, there was a difference this week.

In my 20 years as a principal, I know children have never hugged me more than I was the past two days.  Each hug lifted my heart.  I noticed kids hugging teachers. Kids hugging friends.  Our children were showing the love in their hearts with a simple hug.

We started the week with a plan to help children.  We ended the week with children teaching us more that we will ever teach them.   Our children taught us their world is still about loving and being loved.   They taught us that a child’s hug touches straight to our hearts.

Thank you for sharing your children with us.   Royal Manor is more than a school.  We are a family.  We take care of each other.  May your holidays be filled with the simple joy of a child’s love.   Hug your children each day and tell them you love them.  Children are the greatest teachers.


Respectfully,

Rick Oxley
Your child's principal

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