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Perspective Newsletters
Spring 2006
Leary School of Virginia
Page 4
As is often the case, it seems our school year has gone by in a busy blur! Active
days, new projects, academic challenges and sport events culminate quickly each semester.
Although our basketball team played with valor, they didn’t make it is to the playoffs
this year, our hopes will have to be pinned on next year.
Staff and students enjoyed our traditional winter party at Magill’s Famous Pizza
Restaurant; many of our younger students even did a bit of holiday caroling.
Staff and students also completed a lively Nations’ Day event on March 8th, the same
day we had our second “Open House” of the school year. While getting updates on student
progress and plans, our visitors were treated to classroom “visits” to far away places
like Iraq, Japan and France. Nations’ Day is an established Leary School of Virginia
yearly tradition, offering “immersion” style learning in history, geography, language
arts and, most popularly, culinary arts.
Now that spring is here, the reality of the upcoming close of the 2005-2006 school
year is becoming eagerly inescapable. Our seniors, undergrads and staff are focusing
their attention on graduation, the challenges to come, and looking back on their
year with us. It is a time to assess success.
We tend to measure success in somewhat different ways than conventional schools do.
Our students have their individual challenges and obstacles, and their private accomplishments.
Below are some thoughts from our students on the topic of success. I think you will
agree with us that these short paragraphs are thoughtful and eloquent in their expression.
“Being successful means accomplishing your goals in life and gaining
other peoples’ respect. To be successful, you do not have to have big goals. The
size of the goal does not matter. If you meet your goals, you will be successful.
When you want to be something in life, you will be committed to your goals. You
will not quit or give up until you meet your goals. People will respect you more
when they see your commitment. When you gain that respect and reach your goals,
you will know that you are successful”. Vonda Slade
“Success for me is knowing that I did a job well. It is also when I make up my
mind to right a wrong. Having a job and knowing that I can take care of my mother
and siblings means I am a success. Success means challenging myself to try new
things” Ryan Lawrence.
“To me, success means to accomplish all of your goals in life you set for yourself.
It means to get through all the obstacles that are put in front of you. To me,
it means to get through all the ups and downs that you go through. It means to
live life to the fullest and never give up on what you want to do in life. Success
means to be all you can be without giving up. That is what success means to me.” Antoine
Miller
One of our seniors also expressed her thoughts on the meaning of success.
“The definition of success means a degree or measure of succeeding. I
think success is accomplishing your set goals. For example, I have set goals to
graduate from high school, to go to cosmetology school and get my license to do
hair. By June, I will have succeeded and accomplished my goal of graduating from
school. I think once you have done that or have accomplished what you have wanted
to do, you have succeeded. I also think that success has another meaning – sticking
to what you want to do and never giving up, staying focused. If you do that, you
will turn out well. If you believe in yourself, you will gain respect from people
who will look up to you.” Javonica Crutchfield.
Congratulations to the students who submitted these and other fine thoughts on what
success means to them. As is often the case, it is the teachers who learn from the
students!
Francesca Creo, M.A.
Director of Programs
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