A Holiday Message from BRSSD Superintendents

The Holidays are a great time for reflection.  This time of year we often find ourselves thinking about the things we value most…quality time with family and friends, education, and the caring people we work with on a regular basis.  We are reminded again of how much we in the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District have to be thankful for; dedicated and inspiring instruction and support service staff in our schools; motivated and eager students; and involved families, to name a few.  This past week we have been especially reminded how precious a life is and we are grateful for the safety of each child in our schools and in our families.

During the holiday season our efforts and thoughts turn to giving.  The season affords all of us a great opportunity to reflect on our blessings and realize the true meaning of the season.  The staff and students of the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District are very busy at this time of the year with schoolwork, performances and events.  Even with all of this, our students and staff continue to find time to think of others and reach out to those less fortunate.  We are always amazed and humbled with the abundance and wide variety of the community projects that take place in our schools.  Thank you for your passion, persistence and generosity in making this happen.  Through your efforts, individually and collectively, we do make a difference to others.  We are especially touched by the out pouring of your support for the School Force “I’m In” campaign that has been underway the past few weeks.  Your generosity will provide the support to sustain the important educational priorities that each family holds dear for their children.

We have been to several performances over the last few weeks and we have  been in awe of the magic of the children’s voices filling the air, the beautiful instrumental music along with the look of pride on the faces of the children.  Watching the glow of pride on the faces of the adults in attendance was almost as exciting and telling as the expressions on the face of the children.  Belmont-Redwood Shores is blessed with very special children with extraordinary talents to share with the world around them.

For teachers, we know this expression of pride comes at the end of a term filled with hard work.  There is a reward of knowing that you have influenced the lives of the young people you work with, on a daily basis.  There is also a sense of relief that the term is over and a vacation is but hours away.  We are all ready for a vacation and the opportunity to enjoy the celebrations and family traditions of the season with our families and friends.

There is a song that you may remember that is particularly beautiful and helps to capture the essence of the holiday season and the wishes that we your co-superintendents wish to share with you:

A Holiday Wish….

I wish for you, I wish for me,

I wish for all the world to live in harmony,

When I look into the sky at night

And see the stars above,

I wish for peace, I wish for love.

I wish for hope, I wish for joy,

I wish this Christmas time for

Every girl and boy,

That wherever in the world they are,

They’ll see the stars above

And wish for peace, and wish for love.

This is not only a Holiday wish, but a wish for all of us, whatever our beliefs or traditions may be.  May each child know the safety of a home and family, may each parent know that at this moment their child is safe in their love, wherever that child may be. 

On behalf of the Belmont-Redwood Shores Board of Trustees and the staff of the school district we extend our wish that the joy, peace and contentment of the season be yours.  However you are spending this holiday seasons, we wish you good health, the pleasure of spending special time with family and friends and a New Year filled with hope and optimism. We look forward to returning in the New Year to continue the special work we have begun this fall.  Bless each of you and thank you for allowing us to care and nurture your children.

Warmest regards,

Nellie and Suzanne

Co-Superintendents