The first days of school can be both exciting and scary. You may have gotten up the first few mornings feeling a little apprehensive. Maybe you wondered, "Are my classes going to be hard this year?" "Will I like my teachers?" Well, guess what? The person sitting next to you and the teacher at the front of the class probably had some of the same thoughts and feelings you did. So let’s be especially kind to each other as we settle into the new school year.

Famous golfer Hale Irwin once said:

If you're not just a little bit nervous before a match, you probably

don't have the expectations of yourself that you should have.

Maybe some of your nervousness is because you’ve set some great expectations for this school year. Hopefully, you’re expecting yourself to make better grades, meet new friends, or get more involved with extracurricular activities. And if that's the case, then remember this: With great expectations you can make it a great school year … or not. The choice is YOURS...

All my students are encouraged to be creative, energetic and use their skills in all aspects of learning. They should have a positive outlook on their abilities to function as intelligent adolescents. I expect this year to be an everlasting experience that you can carry throughout the years.