Principal & Vice-Principal’s Message
Principal's Message
I would like to formally welcome Mr. Lande as the temporary Vice Principal at Auguston Traditional Elementary. Like a good leader, I delegated some of my responsibility and he is providing the monthly Principal message.
Please see Mr. Lande’s wonderful message for the Month of April. I have included a picture of his first day on the job….I have lost the fashion contest early on in this new partnership!
Ryan Colbert, Principal
Vice Principal's Message
We’ve had quite a month of April with beautiful weather, budding foliage, and a flurry of excitement as Auguston enters the home stretch of the school year. It only seems fitting to have my inaugural newsletter message here in April in alignment with Spring’s new beginnings! As I searched for inspiration on what I should say that could live up to Mr. Colbert’s monthly message, I realized a perfect approach would be to list some of the reasons I have stayed at Auguston for over 10 years (those are the statements that age you), and why I was thrilled to accept the chance to become a (temporary) part of the administration team.
Our staff: teachers are one of the most collegial professions, and our staff is no exception. The amount of laughter, collaboration, and encouragement I see amongst the staff of our building is one of my favourite parts about being here. This year, in particular, has been trying to the mettle of school staff. Nonetheless, our teachers and support staff have managed to keep in good spirits, and find joy in the little things. Selfishly, I find myself buoyed by this, however, I know it’s the students that most benefit from uplifting professionalism in the face of adversity.
Our students: Working in a more administrative role is sometimes a bit difficult for a long-time teacher, particularly when it sometimes results in less direct interaction with students. However, it has also given me opportunities to hear from other stakeholders in the school. Countless TOC’s and others have told me how impressed they are with our students. Whether it is classroom behaviour, or kindness in the hallways or on the playground, Auguston is held in high regard.
Our community: Being at Auguston for 10+ years has allowed me to see a wide swathe of parents and students come through (particularly being a PE teacher where I have the privilege of teaching each and every student). Despite the length of my tenure, something that has stood the test of time has been the specialness of Auguston as a community. I love walking outside during pickup/dropoff and saying hello to families new and old. Seeing parents connect outside of classrooms with travel mugs in hand and stories being shared just bolsters the feeling of connectedness and community. It’s one of my favorite things about being part of this school.
On a closing note, yet another encouragement to keep steady and pushing forward. It begins to sound trite at this point, I know, but I think saying it is a reminder to all of us that that we are all (still!) plodding through the same things. We have struggled through innumerable challenges this year, but the struggle, by its very nature, has made people feel isolated. I’ve heard sayings such as “Staying apart keeps us together”, and while I’ve usually dismissed this as a platitude, I reflected recently on its truth. We are inextricably linked in a common challenge, and I feel greater connection to my colleagues, students, and community than I have in my career. So next time you hear “we’re all in this together”, try to look past the difficulty it references for just a moment, and be encouraged by the common bond of everyone you meet, and, in particular, the community of Auguston!
Tyler Lande, Acting Vice Principal