By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
With freshly sharpened pencils and new backpacks hanging from their energetic, youthful shoulders, students across the Tulalip Reservation returned to school Wednesday, September 7. Students throughout the Marysville School District headed back to school for the official start of the 2016-2017 school year with fresh faces and for many, the thrill of kicking off the next step of their academic journey.
For many families, the first day of school can be bittersweet, as it denotes the official end of summertime. Still, there’s no denying the first day of school thrill, for parents and students alike, and by the looks of the many back to school smiles, students across the Rez are feeling the excitement.
Their excitement was shared by Tulalip Lushootseed teacher, Natosha Gobin, who organized a youth movement along the main entry way to Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary. Natosha brought a bunch of vibrant signs with positive and uplifting messages written in bold letters. She quickly recruited Tulalip youth to join her own kids in holding up the signs and greeting their fellow students on the first day of school.
“When I asked the kids to pick out a sign to hold up, one of the kids before he even read them asked me, ‘What are we protesting?” marvels Natosha. “His little warrior spirit was ready to make a difference!
“We need to take every opportunity to remind our youth how important they are. We always say they are our future, their education matters, but to some those are just words. This put the words into action and shows our youth they are loved, shows them we believe in them, while reminding them to be respectful, share their teachings, keep calm and be patient.
“It started with seven kids who sang a blessing song to the Heritage students holding signs, and by the time school started, their cousins and friends were standing with them showing some love and support for each other. One positive act can make great changes. What a perfect day to start the ripple effect that will hopefully keep the kids positive throughout the year!”
At Heritage High School, the students were greeted by teachers and administrative staff as they walked into the main hall. Along with school staff, two Board of Directors were present to share some words.
“What you learn today, what you absorb today will shape who you will be in the future, but not just you, it’s going to shape what are Tribe will be in the future,” said Board of Director Glen Gobin. “Your future, our future, will be what you shape of it as you grow older. For you young ones here, what we are trying to instill in you is that drive to learn, that willingness to learn, and to learn you have to be here. Each and every one of you matter. We need you here, we need you staying in school and getting an education. We need you learning as much as you can so you can help your people as we go forward because you are our future.”
Following the morning assembly and greetings, the Heritage students took part in a goal setting exercise with several of their friends and past classmates who have graduated from Heritage. The graduates shared messages of just how important goal setting is and how they should have made even more goals for themselves when younger. Each current student wrote a goal or two down on a salmon cut-out and they were all placed on a replica river. Just the like the salmon swim up river to fulfill their goals, the Heritage students aim to migrate high school and achieve their goals.
