Dear Teachers,

Thank you. Thank you for spending hours with us before and after school to review material. Thank you for being flexible with assessment dates when we were having mental breakdowns. Thank you for being patient during those Friday classes when we can’t pay attention. Thank you for always working, listening and caring.

At this time of year, it’s easy for us to be negative. With exams, graduation and checkout all on the radar, the weight of the world is heavy on our shoulders and the stress consumes us. Yet, although we may not be quick to show it, we are grateful for you and the extra time and effort you spend to help prepare us for the rest of high school, college and beyond.

Teachers can make or break a class, and while we are quick to complain, we are slow to praise. Extraordinary teachers play a special role at St. George’s because they teach students, like us, to love and care about a subject that we may not have thought we wanted to pursue after high school. And, even if we don’t love the subject, teachers teach us life lessons of powering through obstacles, staying positive and valuing education.

We know many teachers that have made a difference in our lives will be leaving after this year, and before they leave, it is important for all students to take the time to acknowledge the legacy they have left here.

We sent out an email to all grades, middle and high school, asking students to write a thank you note to a teacher that has impacted them this year. Our hope for this project was that students would jump on the opportunity, but we did not receive any responses. Teachers dedicate time out of their lives every year to write report card comments and college recommendations for us, so why don’t we do the same?

Thus, our offer to write a thank you note to a teacher still stands. If you send your thank you note, ranging anywhere from 100 or 1000 words long, to [email protected], we will publish it on our website.

And, even if you don’t write a thank you note for us, make a conscious effort to reach out to a teacher and say thank you, not just today, but on a regular basis. A little bit of gratitude can go a long way. If a teacher receives thanks from even one student, it can remind them why they come to work and do their challenging job every day.

So, teachers, thank you for putting up with our complaints about your class. Thank you for understanding when we breakdown about homework. Thank you for doing the hard work without asking for recognition.

Sincerely,

The Gryphon Gazette Staff