If a picture can sum up a life, I think the picture below does a sufficient job. In my sassy floral pants and my hair curled by these burn-inducing nightmares , I am proudly displaying my Principal's Award upside down. Story. Of. My. Life. This photo has been a huge source of family entertainment for years, but I want to know why the person taking my picture didn't notice this, or maybe they did, and they decided to let it happen for posterity. Anyways, the reason I thought of this picture was because the year's end is nigh (too much Hamlet ). I've been thinking about the ways we celebrate student success as a school and in our classrooms. There are athletic and academic award ceremonies, field trips, dances, class parties, graduations, and more. I love it all. I love how we look back at the end with a sentimentality that doesn't exist at the beginning. I love to see kids get recognized for greatness. I can't continue without saying that if you've n...