“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9
As I reflect on all that our students have already accomplished this school year, there is one thing that continues to stand out to me: our students do not succeed alone.
Behind every child who is growing, learning, persevering, and reaching new goals is a team of people who believe in them. At CPS, we are incredibly blessed to have families who are not simply connected to our school, but who are truly partners in the work we do each day.
Our families are a tremendous part of what makes CPS special.
I see it in the kind words you share with our teachers and staff. I see it in the emails, conversations, encouragement, and support you provide. I see it in the trust you place in us to pray for, educate, guide, and care for them.
And I see something else that means so much to me: the pride and protectiveness you have for your school.
You care about CPS. You celebrate CPS. You want to see CPS succeed. When something matters to you, you speak up, you show up, and you stand behind it. That sense of ownership and pride is something special, and it reminds us that CPS is more than a building. CPS is a family.
That family spirit is especially evident in the way you support our students beyond the classroom.
You show up for our Eagle Conference sports, cheering from the sidelines and encouraging our athletes. You celebrate their hard work, their teamwork, their victories, and even the lessons they learn through disappointment. Our students see their families in the stands, and that matters. They know that their school community is behind them.
You show up for the activities happening right here on our campus, too. From lemonade tents to T-ball players, from special events to student celebrations, our families find ways to participate and make our campus come alive. These moments may seem small, but they create memories and build the sense of belonging that makes a school community strong.
And then there is the support that happens at home.
Our families are encouraging their children to read, practice, study, and keep going when something feels difficult. You are celebrating those massive IXL goals, encouraging students to challenge themselves and reminding them that hard work produces results.
When a student reaches an incredible IXL milestone, we know there is often a family behind that accomplishment saying, “Keep going. You can do it.”
That support makes our students stronger. It builds perseverance. It builds confidence. It teaches them that learning is not always easy, but it is always worth the effort.
Our partnership also depends on communication. We want our families to feel comfortable talking with us, asking questions, celebrating successes, and working alongside us. When the school and home communicate, our students benefit. There is nothing better, as a principal, to hear the “aha” moments, the challenges they overcome, the activities that they do outside of school, or how much they love their teacher! These moments are amazing to us!
And we are grateful for the families who give something that cannot be measured in a grade or test score: their time.
When you volunteer at an event, help on campus, support a classroom, attend a school activity, or simply show up when your child needs you, you are telling our students that their school experience matters.
We are also grateful for the prayers that are spoken over our school, our students, our teachers, and our staff. There are many things that happen within a school each day that families may never see, but we feel the support, encouragement, and prayers of our community.
When I think about why our students continue to grow and achieve, I know it is not because of one person or one program. It is because of partnership.
Our teachers bring their passion, expertise, and dedication.
Our students bring their curiosity, determination, and willingness to learn.
And our families bring their encouragement, advocacy, time, prayers, pride, and unwavering support.
That is the CPS difference.
We are not simply a school; we are a community that works together, celebrates together, supports one another, and believes in the potential of every child.
So, to our CPS families, thank you.
Thank you for your kind words.
Thank you for your communication.
Thank you for supporting learning at home.
Thank you for celebrating those IXL milestones.
Thank you for cheering for our Eagles.
Thank you for showing up for our sports teams.
Thank you for filling our campus with energy at our activities.
Thank you for volunteering your time.
Thank you for protecting and caring about the school you call your own.
Thank you for your prayers.
Thank you for trusting us.
And most importantly, thank you for being our partners.
Ecclesiastes reminds us that “two are better than one.” I believe that is exactly what we see at CPS every day. When families and educators work together, encourage one another, communicate openly, and remain united around what is best for our children, our students have an incredible foundation on which to grow.
Our students’ success is something we celebrate together because their success is our success.
When our families stand behind our teachers, when our teachers stand behind our students, and when our entire community stands behind our school, something powerful happens.
Our children know they are loved.
They know they are supported.
They know they are capable.
And they know they have an entire community cheering them on.
CPS families, we are grateful for you. We are proud of you. We appreciate the way you love this school and our students. And we are better because of you.
Together, we are CPS. Together, we are stronger.
