Our school has been revisiting five pillars (understandings) that comprise our mission statement. One of them, “It’s never too late to learn,” has been dominating conversations this past week. We have just completed two days of midterm exams and the students (as well as the teachers) are worn out from the effort. It’s been great for attendance, with almost no absences during those two days. This weekend both of us have been writing letters of congratulation to the many students who earned A’s on their competency exams. In addition, a number of others are getting congratulatory notes on the “grit” they have demonstrated in working hard, even if it didn’t result in an A. It’s been remarkable to see the reaction of students and families since we began this practice at the beginning of the previous school year. We’ve heard reports of how the congratulatory cards are displayed at home, and students comment when they receive one. Who knew that for the cost of a postage stamp and a few minutes writing a card, that students would have such a positive reaction? The ones that are responsible, of course, are the teachers who make sure this happens. It really is “never too late to learn!”