So we're off and running. Kids come back from a summer of growing and, usually, not playing their instrument. They show up in their best back to school clothes. Some have new hair styles, some even have new hair colors. They come in all shapes and sizes. I was talking with a co-worker yesterday and I remarked how exhausted I was after the first day. Keep in mind that the first day is only a half-day, and middle school and high school teachers only see our kids for 15-18 minutes per period. Yet, still, I was exhausted. I have no doubt that any great teacher gets just as excited/anxious/nervous/fretful as they did when they were in school. The anticipation is a killer!

So what have our first days shown me about our students for the coming year. Let's highlight a few points:

1. Every student, from 6th grade to high school, is okay with our new increased band standards. I was, to be honest, expecting a decent amount of resistance when I announced that we were inserting recorded quizzes and a higher level of accountability at all levels. While I got the customary eye widening, I also got some smiles from students who knew this was the right thing to do.

2. My rock history class is awesome!! I can already tell that I have a group not afraid to discuss, challenge, and debate. While they are the largest I've ever had (31), they are already also the most engaged. Let's hope this continues.

3. Student leadership in the high school is improving every day. As our staff from band camp are no longer available, it's up to our student leaders and they are fully willing to take the helm.

4. Finally, the most important......the re-invigoration speech. Every year, teachers come in to school for two days of professional development. These days are meant to get us back into "the swing of things", and are frequently filled with seminars on this or that. At some point, someone usually gives the "welcome back" or "let's have a great year" speech. While these speeches often do contain valuable information or inspirational anecdotes, it was not a speech that has inspired me to work this year, it was a conversation I had with a student the other day. This student was working after school and we got to talking about what it means to be in band and the different walks of life present in our classrooms. It wasn't that I had never appreciated these things before, but I guess that I had never appreciated the extent to which students noticed this as well. I know that I sound like a broken record, but I cherish the opportunity that band presents us everyday and the way that I am allowed to affect change within the community. The most important element, though, and the element that got me "re-invigorated", is that I have students who notice what I notice, value what I value, and have the same definition of "success" that I have held close for many years now. To that student, thanks. That re-invigoration is always nice to get from an administrator, but it is truly inspiring and affecting when it comes from a student.