The Race to the Finish!

http://www.keepcalmandposters.com/poster/5542305_keep_calm_the_end_is_near

Can you believe it? The END is NEAR. The end of the term, then the end of the semester, the end of this school year.

What is she talking about? The end? That's a long way off!

Maybe, but reality says that the end of Spring Break and our return to school means that we are approaching the finish line of this school year. Three months left. Three more long weekends. 52 school days. And then - that's it - final assessments.

To some of you,  52 days feels like a very long time and right now you are just planning on waiting until around the last 10 days of school to get busy and get assignments done. I know - I was a student for many years: high school and then four degrees at university. I can procrastinate with the best of you procrastinators. Let me assure you - this is not a good plan.

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To some of you, 52 days is incredibly short. How are you going to be ready? What about those grade 12 provincial exams which happen earlier in June and are less than 50 days away? How will you get it all done, maintain your high marks, apply for all those scholarships and still have time to hang out with your friends, work, earn money and get enough rest? Let me assure you - you will survive. Beyond surviving, most of you will thrive.

Whether you tend to procrastinate or always plan ahead, let me remind you: You have 52 days to make the most of this school year! or at least what's left of it! If you currently
have 15 outstanding assignments - you have time to get them done and handed in. If you are on top of all your work and are busy applying for schools, scholarships or jobs - you have time.

After reading some of these blogs, you may think I am the eternal optimist and that I don't live in reality. But let me assure you - I understand reality. I understand that people can chose to fail. But I also understand, after 26 years as an educator, that you can still make a commitment at this point in the school year that  will allow you to finish strong. I also understand that your teachers want you to do well. Your parents want you to do well. Your principals want you to do well. We are here to support you! We can't do the work for you. However, we will go out of our way to help you finish the school year well.

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So, take heart! Put your effort into finishing this school year well. Ask us for help. Check out the two homework rooms if you need to. Let us work with you on scholarship applications and job applications. Seek out advice from peers who are doing well in your classes. Form study groups to ensure success for you and your classmates on projects and final assessments. Plan ahead on major projects - like your Passion Projects. Invest yourself.

And... on a side note... don't forget to enjoy the remaining 52 days of this semester. Make the most of each class, innovation week, graduation activities, student council events, extra-curricular activities and the day to day life of school. You only get to do these next 52 classes once. DO THEM WELL!