Good Morning Coffin Community,
This is Mr. Ciembroniewicz and I’d like your attention for one
minute on this Monday morning as I share a few quick thoughts with you.
It’s impossible to miss all the pink, red and white hearts that seem
to be everywhere as Valentine’s Day approaches. This weekend I re-read a
Jefferson Lecture by Wendell Berry entitled “It All Turns On Affection”.
Wendell Berry is an intellectual, a farmer, and above all, a thoughtful citizen
of the earth. The affection he writes about is mostly that of place
(reminds me of Winslow Homer’s ‘downward travel’) and he maintains we should
give our affection to things that are, “true, just and beautiful.”
Thinking of where we all work, play and learn together – Coffin Elementary
School – I ask myself what is it about this place that brings out my
affection? While Coffin School is most certainly a “unique” arrangement
of buildings, it’s not the actual structures that means so much to me.
It’s the people. It’s the thoughtful children and adults with whom I have
the privilege of working with every day. This is what I love about Coffin
School.
During this rainbow week of cornucopias and Valentines, take a few
minutes to center your attention and affection on all of those around
you. Though Kindergarten and First Grade may not always seem it, our time
together at Coffin is brief. Even so, I assure you that it will always
remain a special place in our hearts well-deserving of our affection.
As Baxter Bear and his helpers would say, be kind, be gentle, be
safe – and, be responsible – that’s the Coffin Way.
Have a great week.
