principal's message
What does it mean to be a voyageur? Quick history lesson: Voyageur is the French word for traveler. But in the Fur Trade Era, it referred to a group of men employed by the various companies who acted as canoe paddlers, bundle carriers, and general laborers. The strength and endurance of the voyageurs was legendary which is why they serve as a symbol and source of inspiration to our students at M.E. LaZerte. Students at our school need to strive to live up to the vision of the Voyageurs, which means…
M.E. LaZerte students are:
V for “Vigilant”- To be vigilant means to be watchful and mindful. Remember that high school is the final phase of building your educational foundation. The choices and opportunities that will be open to you at the end of these three years will depend on your academic success. Never lose sight of the fact that the choices you make everyday, with respect to attendance, homework, paying attention in class, asking your teacher for help, etc., will all lead up to your final marks. In simplest terms, your job right now is to focus on learning and to complete your courses. Stay vigilant and don’t let distractions or difficulties pull you off course.
O for “Outstanding”- To be outstanding means to be superior and excellent. Always expect the most out of yourself. In addition to striving to be an excellent student, be an outstanding citizen, one who shows respect and caring for other people in our school, one who makes a positive difference in our school community. How you choose to conduct yourself in our hallways, our classrooms, our neighborhood influences those around you and makes up our school culture. Our school is outstanding because our students are respectful and responsible. In addition, there are countless ways to be an outstanding citizen through our student leadership activities – join a committee, serve on council, help run an event. Even Dr. Seuss said: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.”
Y for “Yes” – Always have a positive or “yes” attitude. As a young adult, you are making a lot of decisions about the kind of person you want to be and the direction in which you want to go. This can be overwhelming and it can be tempting to doubt your strengths and abilities. However, be sure not to get in your own way. Keep believing in yourself and good things will happen. Keep putting yourself out there. Wayne Gretzky is right: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
A for “Adventurous” – High school is a great time to try out different things and to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Many of our students find new passions and interests in high school that become a big part of their lives later on. Try to learn a second language. What about drama, music, or art? You might be just what the Green Team or PAWS are looking for?! Maybe RAP or Cosmo is right for you? There are so many opportunities in our large school to learn skills beyond just the regular curriculum. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
G for “Genuine” – To be genuine means to be authentic and honest. While you venture and challenge yourself, stay genuine or true to yourself, too. M.E. LaZerte High School is rich in diversity; our students speak different languages, come from different cultural backgrounds, devote themselves to different religions, and have different stories to tell. We respect and learn from each other’s differences. While you navigate the high school waters, be sure that you remain true to your values and beliefs. If you find yourself in a situation or with people that are expecting you to change, to be dishonest with yourself, stop and reconsider. You might find that it takes courage to be true to yourself, but there is no other way to live a fulfilling life. “Is life not a hundred times too short for us to stifle ourselves.” (Nietzsche)
E for “Energetic” – In order to get the most out of high school, you will need a great deal of energy. Studying, relationships, perhaps part-time work, extracurricular activities – all of these are valuable to your high school experience. However, be careful. You need to stay balanced and healthy in order to have the energy you need. First, you need to have a routine which includes regular sleep patterns; most teens need about 8.5 to more than 9 hours of sleep each night. Next, be sure you have a healthy, balanced diet. All too often our students are walking around with energy drinks and fast food. Your body and brain need proper nutrition to function well. Finally, take care of your body through fitness and healthy choices. Watch for the Healthy ME committee at our school – they will always be informing you about and urging you with nutrition and fitness tips and challenges.
U for “U are not alone” – Okay, first of all, never use “u” in any formal writing – save it for your texting outside of the classroom. But seriously, you are not alone at M.E. LaZerte. It may feel like you are just one out of thousands, but there are countless fellow students and staff members ready to help you. The staff in the office can help you with everyday information; my assistant principals and I can help you with any concerns; our counselors can help you with counseling for personal, academic, post-secondary, and work questions; your teachers will help you anytime as well. Don’t wait for an invitation; come to us as we guarantee you that the greatest reward of our careers is seeing our students walk across the stage at the Graduation Commencement Ceremony.
R for “Resilient” – To be “resilient” means to recover or rebound from difficulty. Yes, you will have some difficult times and challenges in high school, whether they are academic, social, or personal which is also true for life after high school. We can’t often choose or control when and how adversity comes into our lives, but we can control our response to it. “The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.” (Epicurus) Being resilient means you do not let the storms of life break you, but instead you work through them, only to find more strength and wisdom with which to face whatever comes next.
Have a great year,
Ms. Muhlethaler