Dawson School

Holden, MA

 

A Special Message About Our School and What We Value!

 

 

                                                        

to Dawson Elementary School!

 

Who are we and what are we all about? 

 

Our mission is to develop our students’ knowledge, skills, and talents to the fullest so that in a community of learners, they can use that knowledge, skill and talent to make the world a better place for all.

 

Dawson School values all members of our school community.   We are known for our teamwork and the IALAC spirit that is seen throughout the Dawson School community.  The letters stand for I Am Loving And Capable, which is our goal for how every member of our school community will feel and act towards others.  It is our goal to develop the academic needs of our children as well as their emotional well-being. We are reminded of this through our school mascot the dolphin. The dolphin is known for friendliness and helping (even saving) those in trouble.  It is our expectation that we, as a school community, model the positive qualities of our mascot at all times. We are also reminded of this as seen through the Lessons From Geese.  This lesson teaches us to care for each other in good times and in difficult times as well.  The spirit of the mascot is seen throughout the building as well as the strong commitment to maintaining our educational goals for our children.

 

To perform well in school our children need to be provided and taught the skills to develop self-confidence, be given role models to develop good social and communication skills, be taught to respect themselves and others, and to be encouraged to demonstrate these skills in and out of our school. At the beginning of the year our school meets at a school-wide assembly where I remind the students that we should model the positive qualities of our mascot at all times.  I also remind them of the lessons to be learned from the geese.  Throughout the year we have developed school wide themes to build social responsibility of our children.  Children are recognized and praised when they demonstrate the IALAC qualities of the dolphins and the geese.  Research shows us that when children feel emotionally secure and value others they perform better in schools. 

 

I believe that most of our students do feel good about themselves, and clearly produce good results academically.

 

Dawson School is committed to the education of your children. Strong parent participation has helped our school build the reputation of being proactive in the pursuit of maintaining the excellent program, which we are proud of.  Our staff works hard to plan and implement a program that your children will be challenged by as we strive to build a firm foundation for future successes.  To support the program that we provide at Dawson School, it is important for parents to do all they can to reinforce the model of the dolphins, lessons from the geese, and the IALAC concept with their children.  This will reinforce our efforts as school and home work together to form our young people into competent and caring individuals who are emotionally secure and highly productive. 

 

I am committed to the mission of the Dawson School as we work together within the IALAC spirit for the sound education and well-being of our students, your children, here at Dawson Elementary School.

 

Yours in the IALAC spirit,

 

Patricia A. Scales, Principal

 

 

Lessons From Geese

         

                      

This was transcribed from a speech given by Angeles Arrien at the 1991 Organizational Development Network, based on the work of Milton Olson.

 

Fact 1:  As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow.  By flying in “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Lesson:  People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier, because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

 

Fact 2:  When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone.  It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it. 

Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go.  We are willing to accept their help, and give our help to others.

 

Fact 3:  When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.

Lesson:  It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership.  As with geese, people are interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.  

 

Fact 4:  The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those in front to keep up their speed.

Lesson:  We need to make sure our honking is encouraging.  The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core values of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

 

Fact 5:  When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help or protect it.  They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again.  Then they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock. 

Lesson:  If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

                    

Angeles Arrien is the author of The Four-Fold Way: Walking the Paths of the Warrior, Teacher, Healer, and Visionary (Harper San Francisco) and Signs of Life:  The Five Universal Shapes and How to Use Them (Arcus Publishing).  To find out more about her workshops and tapes you may write to: Angeles Arrien, Ph.D., P.O. Box 2077, Sausalito, CA  94966

14 NEW DIMENSIONS, Spring, 1995