The Dragon Digest

This week, our school community experienced one of those moments that reminds us exactly who we are and what matters most.

The students in Mrs. Clothier’s Life Skills class competed in Special Olympics, and that alone was an incredible accomplishment. Competing takes courage. It takes perseverance, confidence, and the willingness to step into something challenging with determination and heart. Our athletes represented our school with all of those qualities and more.

But the moment that stayed with me happened after the competition was over.

When the bus returned to campus after a long day competing in the hot sun, our athletes walked back into the building to a hero’s welcome. Nearly 480 students and more than 60 staff members lined the hallways, waiting to celebrate them. The halls were filled with cheers, applause, handmade signs, smiles, and high fives. Every step our athletes took was met with encouragement and pride.

To see the smiles on our athletes’ faces as the whole school celebrated them was magic. It was powerful. But the power and the magic were more nuanced than one might think at first glance.

In that moment, our entire community raised up our students and told them: We see you. We celebrate you. You are an important part of us.

I loved that moment for our Life Skills students. But in my principal heart, I may have loved that moment just as much for every student standing in those hallways.

Because in that moment, our students learned something bigger than anything we could have placed into a lesson plan. They learned what inclusion truly looks like. They learned about genuine respect. They learned what it means to offer dignity, encouragement, and celebration to every member of our community.

It was impactful. It was a lesson that was not written in our curriculum, but it may have been the most important thing we taught all week.

Schools are busy places, especially this time of year. The days move quickly, and it can be easy to focus only on schedules, assessments, and end-of-year events. But every once in a while, a moment cuts through the noise and reminds you what education is really about.

This was one of those moments.

To our Special Olympics athletes: thank you for inspiring all of us. We could not be prouder of you.

Proud to be a Dragon,

At the end of the month, we will host orientations for parents and guardians of incoming kindergarteners for the 2026–2027 school year. These sessions provide a valuable opportunity to meet our team, learn what to expect next year, and have your questions answered. Please note that orientations are open to families of registered students only, so be sure your child is enrolled.

JTES Kindergarten Orientation Date (For Parents Only)

May 27 @ 9:30AM

Enroll Now