From the Desk of the Superintendent

As we enter the winter holiday season, I know many of us will spend a lot of time over these next few weeks rushing: rushing to buy holiday gifts on sale, rushing to bake the cookies and make the meals, rushing to all of our holiday concerts, office parties, family visits, and more.

But as the elementary students who have taken part in our Lutz GROW outdoor gardening project understand, there’s an even more important r-word that we all need to remember: rest.

Growing plants need soil, water, sun, and time. They’re working even when we don’t see it, growing in ways that we don’t notice until we check back in a day or a week and see just how far they’ve come. Learning works the same way. So does parenting, work, and life.

But rest is also a crucial part of the cycle. When trees shed their leaves in autumn, they’re getting ready to rest for the winter. When animals hibernate, they’re storing up energy for spring. And when we take the time to rest, we get to recharge so we’ll feel ready for tomorrow.

This holiday season, I hope you enjoy spending time with friends and family. I hope you make some new memories and traditions that will last throughout the years. I even hope you find some great deals on gifts, if that will help make your family’s holidays bright. But most of all, I hope you get a chance to slow down, reflect on everything you’re thankful for, and rest up for winter. While we may not be able to hibernate or go dormant like our plant and animal friends, our bodies and our minds still know that rest is the secret ingredient that fuels us for the future