Francis Says Farewell
Dear Administrators, Teachers, Staff, and Beloved Students,
As many of you know, my time at Greenfield High School has come to an end. My wife and I will be moving to Southern California to pursue a new adventure. More than anything else, I want to thank all of the professional staff who have made my near decade of work at G.H.S. and within the district meaningful and rewarding. Without each of you supporting me, I would not have developed into the veteran teacher I am today.
Over the past few months, I reflected on my opportunities here at G.H.S., and want to impress upon the students and new teachers that there is so much to engage in and enjoy about this school. I had the pleasure of being the Class of 2020 Advisor, Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, Book Club Advisor, and Health & Fitness Club Advisor. Shout out to the last of my fitness crew! I enjoyed working out with you over all these years. Keep up the habit! To my last cohort of volleyball players, I truly appreciated you on the team and helping start the club when you were in middle school. I hope you all continue to enjoy volleyball, especially at the beach on a sunny day.
To my special Lunch Crew! You guys have been great, thanks for the potlucks and food!!! Keep on cooking! I am sorry that some of you will be without a new location. I hope you find a lunch space that’s just as comfortable and relaxing as my classroom was for you.
In the unlikely event, you are a student and have read this far, thanks! I have some small bits of wisdom to pass along that I believe is worth writing down for you. First, the most successful people here on campus and in the world beyond have a growth mindset. Please understand and accept that you are growing physically, emotionally, and mentally and that it is important to challenge yourself to see what your new limits are! Sometimes that leads to failure, but that is perfectly normal. Push forward and learn from both success and failure.
Second, participate! So many events at G.H.S. will build culture simply by your choice to participate and engage. The old adage that “you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make them drink” very much applies to the vast majority of you in this regard. Student leadership and teachers can set the stage, but you are the participants, and you have the ability to make it all work! Please help set the fun and energetic campus culture you want here. Commit to being a participant in your G.H.S. experience–it is well worth it!
Last, I advise you to be open-minded and try not to judge people so fast. Over my time here I have heard countless times how one group of people feel about another (great gossip!), but nine times out of ten the two groups are way more similar than different. The judgment comes from people who make poor assumptions or don’t really know where the other person is coming from. That is very unfortunate because almost everyone on campus can get along if they are open to communicating and not pre-judge (unless you wear Crocs of course).
The other side of being open-minded is that it also helps you in class. So many of you can really be great in different subject areas if you just allow yourself to be your most inquisitive and curious self. Try it out and maybe you’ll discover you are better at science, math, or social studies! It’ll help you find possibilities for your future careers too!
Good luck to all of you! To my graduating Seniors also leaving for new experiences, be sure to have fun along the way. Set your sights high and hold yourself to a high standard! To my peers, best of luck in all your future endeavors in the classroom.
I will miss you.
Your Kind and Benevolent,
Mr. Francis, c\o 2020 Always!