After the first parent/teacher conferences of the school year, I like to share these previously posted words for both students and parents; they seem to ring true year after year. After the first check-in of the first half of the first trimester, reality seems to hit; winter is coming, and there is a sense that our work has only just begun....

The first few weeks of school are like a honeymoon. Everyone is happy. Students are excited to see their friends, and they are excited about their teachers. Parents like to see their children happy; so they are happy. (Some are just probably glad that their children are out of the house after a long summer!) Teachers have high energy and are optimistic about the start of the school. Life is good!

Everything is kicking along until that first round of tests, essays, and assessments. Then, a certain reality sets in. It is all still a lot of fun, but students see where they really stand in terms of their achievement. Most of the time, it is good news, but often, some tough news comes home after the first round of tests. By parent conference time, the teachers have identified the strengths and areas of improvement and share those with your parents.

Students: don’t lose track of the positives from these conferences. There are many. Know that teachers aren’t doing their jobs unless they point out how your performance can improve. I want to make sure you don’t think this progress report somehow defines you or will somehow limit your potential. It is an assessment of your work to date, and it is but one of my many such assessments that will take place during the course of the year. You have a lot of control over outcomes, and that is directly linked to your level of motivation and dedication. It also involves your ability to look critically at your own work and to learn from your mistakes.

Since the word “challenge” is in CA’s Mission Statement, you must expect that this school is going to push you. Hopefully, you have some sense that this is going to be good for you in the long run. Trust me, it will be. We know from talking to our alumni community that the vast majority of them are thriving in college and life beyond school because of the challenges and support they received at CA.

Here’s a confession. I went to a school like CA. I barely survived my freshman year. By Thanksgiving of my ninth grade year, I was hanging on by a thread. It was the intervention of my advisor and a great biology teacher named Dr. Jacobsen who helped me turn things around. In no time, I was on the honor roll. Without their support and encouragement, I would not be where I am today. I went on to college, made Phi Beta Kappa, and earned numerous academic awards. After college, I then went on to graduate school where I earned my Masters and Ph.D. in history. Based on my first trimester performance in ninth grade, none of my teachers could have predicted I would go anywhere in the academic world. But, yet, here I am, with the privilege of leading one of the best Pre-K through 12 independent schools in the country. I don’t want to brag, and I actually say this with modesty: if I can do it, you can too.

So, let’s say you want to do better in your class after the mid-term, what should you do? The first thing to do is to carefully read over the comments your teachers provided about your progress. Be sure to have an open mind about their observations and don’t be defensive. Next, schedule a conference with your teacher. Ask him or her if you could bring along a recent assignment to go over. I would encourage you to also bring in something you are currently working on, and get some input. Your teachers actually like to see this kind of initiative. They want you to do well. Listen to their advice, and be prepared to act upon it.

Once you have a clear sense of what you need to work on, set some goals for yourself. Don’t focus on things like “I want to earn an A.” Though that sounds good, it won’t really help you. Rather, focus on behavior-oriented goals that might lead to great outcomes. For example, “I will review my vocabulary terms for ten minutes every night, after I finish my homework.” Or, “I will do at least three rough drafts of a paper before I turn anything in for the final draft.” It might even be a good idea to ask your teacher for ideas.

Learning is all a process, and nothing comes instantly. It may take you months before you see all the improvement you seek. But, if you are focused and disciplined, it will come. Know that there are a lot of people who are pulling for you – your teachers and parents, especially. Be sure to ask for their help. And, know we are proud of you.