Merry Christmas from Challenger School!
As the Christmas season approaches, you may be caught up in a whirlwind of activities with family, friends, and co-workers. No matter how busy you are, I hope you take a moment to reflect on the actions of the people who have enhanced your life.
Many holiday traditions and cultural customs are created to provide special ways to express good will toward others. In the pressures of daily life, we may sometimes take for granted the people most important to us. The holiday season gives us an opportunity to step out of our daily concerns and to remember and reflect on the ways certain individuals add value to our lives.
Western culture has a tradition of exchanging gifts during Christmas as a way to show appreciation. Giving gifts can be among life’s most satisfying experiences, but only if done as a sincere expression of appreciation. Gift-giving by rote, as a means to gain leverage or as something that you do only because you feel obligated, isn’t nearly as effective in bringing true happiness to the gift giver or receiver.
You’ve heard the expression "it’s the thought that counts." But in reality, it’s not only what is in your head that matters; what is in your heart matters, too. That is the secret for feeling the true Christmas spirit.
Let your heart fill with appreciation as you think about those who enhance your life. As you select and give gifts, whether for family members, friends, or service providers, reflect on how each person added value to your life over this past year. Think about the specific things that he or she did. And accept gifts in the same spirit—as an expression of the other person’s appreciation for you—reflecting on how you have added value to the life of the gift giver.
Here at Challenger, we want to take a moment in this Christmas season to express our appreciation to everyone who enhances our lives: our students, our staff, and you, our parents. Challenger is only able to fulfill our mission of providing outstanding education for our students because you are so concerned, loving, and committed. We are grateful to have you in our lives and as a vital part of our schools. Thank you, and have a very merry Christmas filled with laughter and joy.
Hugh Gourgeon CEO