Regardless of the holiday we celebrate at this time of year, one of the characteristics they all share is JOY. I’d like to share a story by Robert J. Hastings about joy.

The Station

Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains an rolling hillsides, of city skylines and village halls.

But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour we will pull into the station. Once we get there so many wonderful dreams will come true and pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, condemning the minutes for loitering – waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.
“When I reach the station, that will be it!” we cry. “When I’m 18…When I buy a new Ferrari…When the last kid finishes college…..When I’ve paid off the mortgage…..When I get a promotion…..When I retire….When I reach the station, I will be able to live happily after!” But sooner or later we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.

“Relish the moment” is a good motto. It isn’t the burdens of today that drive us crazy. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. Allow the joy into your awareness every day. The station will come soon enough.

A blessed holiday season to all!

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Mr. Johnson’s Track A fifth graders were in the holiday spirit before they tracked off in late November. They made no-sew blankets to be distributed to needy families this holiday season. Mr. Johnson is so proud of his students: “They have embodied the true meaning of this season!”

Readers are encouraged to submit items for this column. Often we at school do not know the accomplishments of students outside school. Please include your phone number so we can reach you if we need more information.
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Open enrollment deadline coming soon
Families who wish to enroll their child(ren) in a school other than their neighborhood school must complete an Open Enrollment Application and submit it to their school of choice. Applications will be accepted beginning December 1, 2004 through January 31, 2005. A separate form must be completed and submitted for each child.
Applications are approved or denied based on space availability at the receiving school. Approval of open enrollment requests will be made in February, with notification to parents no later than February 11, 2005. Once approved, families have five days to accept in order to secure their enrollment.
Approved applications will be valid for all grades served by the student’s new school. Once the student enters a grade level in another school that is outside the student’s high school attendance area, such as seventh grade for middle school or ninth grade for high school, parents must complete another Open Enrollment Application. Once accepted, the student will again be able to complete the grades at that school.
Parents are responsible for transporting their students to and from open-enrolled schools.
Additional information and applications will be available at all district schools and online at www.dcsdk12.org beginning December 1, 2004.

Coat Collection Update
Coyote Creek students and families donated over 300 coats for the Coats for Colorado coat drive. Thanks to all who donated and for making the drive a great success!

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Lost & Found
Check our Lost and Found barrels near Door #4 (by the cafeteria). There are many lunch boxes and miscellaneous coats and jackets to be found there!

Field Trips

Jan. 12th
6 A & D Museum of Nature & Science
Jan. 18th
6C Quincy Place Retirement Comm.

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