Crane School Blog: Focus on Learning

Featuring articles written by Crane Staffulty

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Girls in Library Reading Together
Donna Brown

Depending on your own experiences, the mention of family traditions may either warm your heart or evoke the fight or flight response. I know that I have a tendency to cling to my traditions during the holidays; but, as my family has grown and changed, so has the time and ways we share holidays and traditions. 

Last year, my daughter introduced a new tradition to our Christmas Eve celebration. We all purchased books for each other and carved out some of our precious togetherness to sit in the same room and read the newly opened treasures...

Depending on your own experiences, the mention of family traditions may either warm your heart or evoke the fight or flight response. I know that I have a tendency to cling to my traditions during the holidays; but, as my family has grown and changed, so has the time and ways we share holidays and traditions.

Last year, my daughter introduced a new tradition to our Christmas Eve celebration. We all purchased books for each other and carved out some of our precious togetherness to sit in the same room and read the newly opened treasures. There is something magical about listening to the soft flutter of pages turning, the occasional sip of a savored beverage, and the relative stillness in the air. Although no one is speaking, there is a powerful sense of love and connection. Reading opens up the world and thus opens up dialogue that not only connects us with each other but the experiences of human beings everywhere.

I delighted in the conversations that emerged in the wake of our reading session. We entertained ourselves with discussions about history, art, science, cooking, and more. 

This year, my daughter asked if she and her husband could host our Christmas festivities. Traditions can evolve with beauty and grace if we keep an open mind, remembering what is truly important. Our holiday experience merged old and new, breathing new life into the season. We opened our books on Christmas Eve, but we were so engaged with a beautiful meal, laughter, storytelling, games, and singing that we postponed our reading session until the following morning. Sitting around in PJs, sipping coffee, turning pages, we made this new tradition official. Who knows what lies ahead for our family? What I do know is that we can treasure what has been, embrace what is now, while looking forward to what is ahead. 

Crane has its own traditions that have history and deep meaning for everyone in our community. Just as it is true for our families, Crane will change and grow over the next decade in ways we can’t imagine. May we honor the traditions that make us strong and embrace new ones as we turn the page into this new decade of growth and possibility. 

Donna Brown
Third Grade Teacher

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