I have a tradition of reading A Wish for Wings That Work by Berkeley Breathed in the Lower School Assembly just prior to break. It’s a holiday story and one that I shared with my own children. In it, Opus The Penguin, from the 80’s comic strip Bloom County, dreams of flying, even though, as a penguin, flight isn’t something he’s naturally meant to do. He winds up saving Santa and his sleigh from icy waters in a moment of courage. Opus’ quest isn’t just about wings — it’s about perseverance, courage, and discovering the unique strengths that lie within each of us.
As I read the book to our granddaughter over break, it struck me how well this tale mirrors the journey we witness in our classrooms. Our teachers know deeply — not just in theory, but in practice — that every child has a gift worth celebrating. Whether it’s in music, mathematics, kindness, storytelling, science, or simply the way a child shows up for a friend, those gifts are real, meaningful, and deserving of recognition.
What makes our Crossroads community so special is how our teachers see those gifts, and help students see them too. They nurture wonder, curiosity, and confidence by listening to a child’s questions, offering encouragement, and designing experiences that allow every student to stretch just a bit further than they thought possible. Like Opus, our students learn that “flight” may look different for each of us — and that’s part of the joy of learning together.
The greatest gifts are the ones that help us grow — the courage to try, the resilience to keep going, and the humility to lift others as we rise. I enter 2026 with a renewed belief in the unique wings we each carry.
