by Mitch Wainwright
If you type in the Google search bar, “What does it mean to be resilient?” you get the following definition: “Psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress.”
We have been able to watch resilience unfold right before our eyes during this school year. Currently, the high school musical students are hard at work preparing for a virtual performance of “Beauty and the Beast.” The Future Business Leaders of America and Solo & Ensemble musicians are participating in virtual competitions right now and are having great success. Most recently, the Mineral Point wrestlers brought home a couple of individual state championships and a team state championship. Our girl’s basketball team finished as runner-up in the state tournament. The football team was undefeated, the volleyball team made a deep run into the postseason, and there was continued success in cross country, gymnastics, boys soccer, and boys basketball. All of these things happened in spite of quarantines, canceled games, and positive outbreaks of COVID. Our students never missed a beat. They were very resilient!
When I walk through the elementary school building, I see students and teachers interacting and engaged in learning activities. There are so many smiles on faces. This is normal, even after all of the construction noises, smells, dirt, and unbelievably warm room temperatures for several classrooms. All of the distractions that are happening on a daily basis do not seem to take away from all of the activity that is happening in our elementary building. Our students and staff are very resilient!
Every school wants its students to read and write, learn math, and develop thinking skills. We have been very fortunate to do all of those things with our students and more. Resiliency will help every child long after they have left our schools and your homes. They can and will come through a once-in-a-lifetime event. They have all succeeded and grown stronger along the way. They have learned to be resilient because Pointers do not know any other way. We are here to help and support each other. That is what makes us #PointerNation.