I Love Testing Days!

Today was a testing day. No, not standardized achievement tests or even IB exams. Today was a double Covid test day. Every Monday, our kids head over to the old Lucky Car building and take two tests – an antigen test and a PCR gargle test. We have a whole team of staff members who get here early to set up and then spend about an hour helping the kids to take their tests. My job is to man the door to the school and to collect these little entrance tickets that have the date and “negative” typed on them. 

What’s so great about that? I have the privilege of greeting every student as they enter the school, and we have awesome kids! They have been such troopers wearing their masks every day and submitting to these tests just to come to school. When they come to my door, the older kids hold the door for the little ones. They patiently wait for them, even when they get their backpack stuck in the door. They wish me a good day, and if they forget to pick up a “negative” ticket, they don’t argue with me when I tell them they have to go all the way back to the testing site to get me one. 

To be honest, I’m not sure that I would have been as compliant and flexible as our students have been. As I think back on my growing up years, I questioned a lot, and I made it known if I thought something didn’t make sense. I probably would have been the one to write to the Vienna Department of Education to make suggestions for how to handle the Covid crisis.  Today, those same analytical skills that probably drove my teachers and parents crazy come in handy. I like to joke that “I don’t follow the rules; I make them.” But, in reality, it’s probably true. 

But as I also look back, I remember being chosen to represent the school at a leadership conference when I was in eighth grade. I am amazed that my teachers were able to see that even though I was rough around the edges and didn’t always use my gift of leadership in the most positive way, they acknowledged it, and gave me opportunities to try it out.

I want to encourage you today. We have good kids. You may be frustrated when they try to argue with you or they want to question something. But did you know that in the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul gives advice to both parents and children? First, he writes, “Children, obey your parents; this is the right thing to do because God has placed them in authority over you.” But then he says, “And now a word to you parents. Don’t keep on scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful. Rather, bring them up with the loving discipline the Lord himself approves, with suggestions and godly advice.” (Ephesians 6:1, 4, Living Bible)

So, once again, I thank you for sending your children to ICSV. We love them and value them. Thanks for the great job you are doing as parents. Let’s continue to work together as a community to support each other for the sake of our children. 

Because of His Faithfulness,
Dr. Sharon Brobst, Director