05/24/2022
Congratulations to our 5th graders continuing to middle school! We wanted to share the beautiful words shared by Ms. Adducci to the 5th grade class:
"To the wonderful, courageous, wildly unique 5th graders. As one of your teachers for the past 5 years, I can say I beam with pride standing before you. In these 5 years I have witnessed so much growth. We not only “just sing fun songs” and play circle games. You ask me hard questions, you challenge me, you keep me on my toes. And that my friends is why you’re ready to move on whether you know it or not.
Oh, middle school. What an exciting time for you all. I also know for many of you this change brings you maybe anxiety, maybe nervous energy. I think that’s okay. I think change IS good for all of us. You’ve proven that you’re ready to move. You’ve proven your resilience in this crazy pandemic. You’ve continued on with hard work, joy, humor… despite many obstacles.
I have few memories of middle school. But what I do remember is this need to feel accepted. Here’s what I’ve learned in my time on this earth.
Your need for acceptance can make you invisible in this world. Don’t let anything stand in the way of the light that shines through this form. Risk being seen in all of your glory.
Your job is not to figure out how it’s going to happen for you, but to open the door in your head. And when the door opens in real life, just walk through it. And don’t worry if you miss your cue because there’s always doors opening. They keep opening. And when I say, “Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you.” I really don’t know if that’s true. I’m just making a conscious choice to perceive challenges as something beneficial so that I can deal with them in the most productive way. You’ll come up with your own style. That’s part of the fun.
I recently came across a wonderful quote by Tom Robbins that seemed fitting for the occasion. “No, you have no responsibility except to be yourself to the fullest limit of yourself. And to find out who you are. Or perhaps I should say to remember who you are. Because deep down in the secret velvet of your heart, far beyond your name and address, each of you knows who you really are. And that being who is true cannot help but behave graciously to all other beings - because it is all other beings.”
I believe in you all so much. It has been an honor to watch you grow. But like I always say, you always have a home here at Shelton.
I end with some insightful words from a unlikely character, Jim Carrey. “You are ready and able to do beautiful things in this world. And after you walk through those doors today, you will only ever have two choices, love or fear. Choose love, and don’t ever let fear turn you against your playful heart.”"
