Letter from North Creek’s Marcus Kaemming: Holiday Cheer and Thankfulness

By Marcus Kaemming

Between the Thanksgiving, Hanukah and Christmas seasons and then the New Year, we all get extremely busy.

During this time, I am constantly reflecting on my job, our lives and our community. I can’t help but feel extremely blessed because of my North Creek/Chelsea School District Family as well as my own Kaemming family.

Our North Creek Family is awesome. Each and every day I am blown away with the professional attitudes and drive displayed by staff. Our staff clearly understands that the development of the entire child is essential to their future growth both in our district and in their lives.  Staff and families communicate to ensure this success.

For families that move to us, they quickly see how dedicated our staff are. From Becky’s attention to the variety show and attendance to Mr. Hinz and Mrs. Olsen’s Music/Art shows. Excellence is the watermark each strives for.

We constantly want to move from good to great or better to best. While we don’t foster a competitive spirit within our building, we do push each other at North and in the CSD. I am lucky to have staff who strives for this without my pushing.  Not to say I don’t push. I believe we, the North Creek family, and each child’s family, make up our “Chelsea Learning Village.”  It’s that support system that makes this place special. I feel it at school and at home.

Eleven years ago, we moved to Chelsea.  My oldest son was starting kindergarten and my youngest son was in preschool.  Lisa was working as a Reading Recovery Teacher in Adrian. We were learning how a family functions in our new-found Chelsea home. I can’t believe how fast we found out.  Ben was instantly accepted into playgroups and onto sporting teams. We had a visit from a community member to explain all that Chelsea had to offer our family.

As the years pass and my boys get older, we have found that piano, guitar and music lessons have transferred into life skills for both boys. While “Spin Cycle” isn’t playing together anymore and Nick has moved on to loving singing in the choir, our lives are still very rich. Finding times to be a family and have dinner together seem impossible some days. It isn’t. Please make your family spend time with each other.

My parents, along with Mrs. Kaemming’s parents, instilled the importance of family and giving thanks.  I am thankful for many things but most important for my life with my “crew.”  As I age, gracefully for sure, I see more clearly that knowledge my father imparted me.  He instilled values of support and love that push me to be a better person.  It is the same value system I hope both the boys learn from Lisa and me.  For that we are thankful.

I love all my family groups. Each has given so much richness to my own life.

Thanks to Chelsea for allowing our family to grow together.  We strive for excellence in ourselves and each other.  I see that as a value for all staff, families and students in the CSD.

Please don’t lose this vision as the rush of busy schedules consumes you. I can say that I will always stop to smell the roses.

You should, too.