Believe To Achieve (03-10-08)

A couple of weeks ago, I read a little poem during the morning announcements:

We will
Believe,
Achieve,
And succeed
At test time!

Take a deep breath,
Go with the Flow,
Just do your best,
And show what you know!

I recited this to commemorate the start of state assessments. Yes, it is that time of year once more, and for the next couple of months, students in grades 3-12 will be asked to show what they know over a variety of indicators aligned among various subjects.

While the testing has just begun, the preliminary results indicate that our students, again, are doing quite well on their state assessments.

Again.

Our school district has a long and proud history of scoring well of standardized tests. I attribute this to our wonderful staff, full of highly dedicated and experienced teachers, who relentlessly pursue academic excellence. These proud professionals are supported, by parents who join them in their pursuit of high academic standards. Both are supported by school administration and a board of education populated with the very same parents who support the teachers.

Yet, at the bottom of this achievement pyramid, we must be careful not to overlook the most important part of this entire process: the students.

Our schools have many traditions of excellence. The music department, for one, prides itself on the high marks our musicians earn at contest. The art and journalism / yearbook programs has grown accustomed to bringing home a lions’ share of awards. Science Olympiad has always been a strong force among their competitors, and our forensics program, always full of state qualifiers, is beginning to really take off.

And, of course, there are the obvious athletic honors. Our gym is festooned with so many high achievement banners that there is almost no more room to hang them. Our trophy cases are likewise packed, recalling a tradition of excellence for Hill City that stems back to the very beginning of our schools.

So, when I talk to the students about the importance of doing their best to show what they know, I do my best to try and build them up. I tell the students not to view the tests as a negative, but as a positive – an opportunity to shine. I remind them that they are part of a long and glorious tradition and encourage them to hold their heads high as they aim to write the next chapter of excellence in our schools.

I tell the students that they have to believe to achieve. I tell the students that before they ever take a state assessment, that they should remember all the hard work and preparation that have led to this moment. They should know that the very same teachers have been helping kids just like them excel at tests just like these for many, many wonderful years.

I ask them to believe. I tell them that I believe in them – we believe in them – and that all they have to do is believe in themselves.

Once they believe, I know they can achieve. And achieve. And achieve. State assessment time is here once again, and the tradition of excellence continues.