Superintendent's Message for August 2023
It’s Those Dang Transitions Again.
The blank page once again awaits me. There is so much to say and only so much space and time with which to work. At this time and in this space, I will work to focus on the changing of the seasons..Summer to Fall…Freedom to Routine…Beginnings and Endings
In preparing for a workshop with our district’s building leadership teams last week, I was drawn to some learning from long ago as it tied to the work we are doing in the district now.. This learning was about the process of change and how it impacts not only individuals but as importantly on organizations.
Frequently, our emotions and strife are not about the change itself. It is more often about the transition that a change makes us walk through. I have surmised that life,both personal and professional, is as much or more about the transitions we encounter along our journey. Our mind knows that change is a necessary part of life; our heart doesn’t like it so much and therein lies the challenges of managing change..those dang transitions.
Sending our children back to school is often a time of change and transition for our students and their families. There is that sense of anticipation wrapped tightly with excitement and too often a sense of apprehension.
Pulling from my opening letter of 2019-2020 I am again reminded of a Dr. Seuss quote,” Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” For some of us as parents, August 23rd is the day we will send our first child to school while for others it is the last first day of school we will ever have. I think especially of you at this time. For each of us whether a returning student or a new student, it brings emotion at different levels.
For life to happen we must make transitions both as beginnings and endings.To you and to all, try to savor the moments both good and bad for they make us who we are. Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened and savor it while it happens.”
West Burlington is a great school and great community. It takes only moments to figure this out. Thank you for being part of our family.
We encourage everyone to join us for open house on August 22nd from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year!
Lisa Beames
Superintendent
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, Lisa Beames, Superintendent, 314 W. Van Weiss Blvd., West Burlington, IA 52655, 319-752-8747 x3, lisa.beames@wbschools.us.
Many photos on this site have been provided by Dan Hockett.
