August 18, 2016

Dear Students,

Welcome back to school. I bet you’re both excited about your second year of high school and maybe counting down the days until graduation. Regardless, whether school is your thing or not, you’ve learned some important things in your lifetime. In some cases you’ve already seen results as you’ve devotedly practiced to improve yourself and/or your abilities. Even adults, who have a lot of experience, have to put in effort to continue learning, so life doesn’t get boring.

Many leaders and experts agree that a willingness to take risks and step outside our comfort zones is essential for innovation, creativity, and growth. In the past year I’ve discovered that I need to take more risks to learn. Occasionally I second-guessed if what I was doing was a good idea; I was fearful of the unknown and unexpected. But because I acknowledged this was something I wanted to change, I challenged myself. I learned that if my snorkel started to leak and I didn’t want to abandon snorkeling, I could take shallow breaths to continue. While camping in Big Sur, I constructed a makeshift windbreak, so I wouldn’t freeze while I was sleeping. I learned never to make others a priority when all I was to them was an option. I’ve learned that even though I don’t like failure, I can be comfortable with what I cannot solve. Sometimes having new experiences is a leap of faith, it’s scary and unfamiliar, but ultimately it’s your choice how you live in the world.

For this assignment, you will write me a five-paragraph letter. It needs to be typed in a letter format. Please follow the simple outline below:

·  Paragraph 1 // Briefly introduce yourself. What’s your story?

·  Paragraphs 2-4 // Describe the three most important things that you learned in the 2015-2016 year. Your answer is not limited to only academic learning, it can include hobbies or skills you’ve acquired, information you discovered about the world or yourself, choices you made and reflected on, and/or lessons from friends, family or enemies. Explain WHY this information/ event/ experience/ person(s)/ knowledge/ skill etc. is significant and HOW it has impacted you and/or your way of thinking. Be specific and thoughtful.

·  Paragraph 5 // Tell me what you want to learn in English this year. It might be something you need to practice like writing or revising essays, integrating quotes, analyzing poetry, using correct grammar or becoming a better reader or speaker. It may also be an area that you’d like to study further.

We will be working very hard to meet the Common Core reading, writing, critical thinking, and speaking and listening standards. I understand how important it is for you to master these skills, so you can be successful in school and achieve your goals for the future. I have high expectations for all of you and I promise that I will do everything I can to help you reach those expectations. If you are willing to consistently make an effort, I will not let you fail.

Sincerely,

Ms. Frank