Spring is always an exciting time of year.  Stir-crazy kids find it easier to get outside and enjoy some warm air.  The days also get longer meaning we no longer have to drive to and from work in the dark.  And most importantly, we get out of our houses and see our neighbors.  This year more than ever I am excited to reconnect with my neighbors as we have our driveway conferences during a nightly walk or when someone randomly pulls into the driveway.  One of the things I have found to be most difficult during this past year is the isolation and the awkwardness of how to greet another human being.  Do we shake hands, bump elbows, or just wave?
As we emerge from our homes and see one another, enjoy the opportunities that provides.  Throughout this year we have seen how important it is for kids to connect on a daily basis.  When the Jr/Sr High School returned to in-person learning, kids were excited, and much of those first few days were dedicated to rebuilding relationships.  In some ways your children have had more opportunities for this than we have.
While COVID-19 continues to circulate in communities and still requires our attention, it is worth remembering that our own mental and physical health is tied to the health of relationships we keep with others.  During the month of April, I would challenge all of us to connect with those around us as we get closer and closer to normal.  Go for walks and take time to check on a friend, plan a socially distanced bonfire or gathering in the driveway or if you are driving pas a friend grilling, stop and ask, "What's for dinner?"
In some ways COVID-19 has provided us a chance to reinvent ourselves and the communities in which we live.  Throughout this year the staff of Martin County West has put a premium on building relationships with students and each other.  The result has been an incredible culture in the buildings and a collective feeling of being able to accomplish anything.  It is my hope that as a community we are able to do the same and come out of this winter committed to making meaningful connections with those around us.  After all, we're all in this together!

All the Best,

Chad Brusky, Interim Superintendent