Cedarville Elementary School

2014 and 2020 National Blue Ribbon School

Indiana "A-Rated" School

A “4 Star” School

2019 Reader’s Choice Best Elementary

Dear Cedarville Staff, Students, and Parents:

We Wear the Mask – Poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar

We wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—

This debt we pay to human guile;

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,

And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,

In counting all our tears and sighs?

Nay, let them only see us, while

       We wear the mask…

How long does it take to see what is hidden behind a smile?  What can be done in those moments of hiding?

For parents…When looking at your child, think about the difficulties we have as adults.  Can we see what is deeper by just looking at the faces?  When and why are the smiles just masks?

To navigate through life, at any age, we can learn how to cope and help others.

1. Think about feelings: By reflecting, you gain the ability to recognize emotions (and their impact) in both yourself and others.

2. Pause: Just stop a moment before acting or reacting (easy in theory, tough in application).  Pausing helps you refrain from making a permanent decision based on a temporary emotion.

3. Try to control your thoughts: You don't have much control over the emotion you experience in a given moment. But you can control your reaction to those emotions--by focusing on your thoughts.

4. Be authentic: Saying what you mean, meaning what you say, and sticking to your values and principles above all else.

5. Demonstrate empathy: The ability to show empathy, which includes understanding others' thoughts and feelings, helps you connect with others. Instead of judging or labeling others, work hard to see things through their eyes. Strive to understand.

6. Praise others: All humans crave acknowledgement and appreciation. When you commend others, you satisfy that craving and build trust.

7. Apologize: It takes strength and courage to be able to say you're sorry. But doing so demonstrates humility.

8. Forgive and forget: Hanging on to resentment is like leaving a knife inside a wound. While the offending party moves on with their life, you never give yourself the chance to heal.  When you forgive and forget, you prevent others from holding your emotions hostage--allowing you to move forward.

9. Keep your commitments: It's common nowadays for people to break an agreement or commitment when they feel like it.  When you make a habit of keeping your word--in things big and small--you develop a strong reputation for reliability and trustworthiness.

10. Help others: One of the greatest ways to positively impact the emotions of others is to help them.  Actions build trust and inspire others to follow your lead when it counts.

11. Protect yourself from emotional sabotage: Realize that emotions have a dark side--such as when individuals attempt to manipulate your emotions to promote a personal agenda or for some other selfish cause.

Stay safe and healthy in these emotional times; and understand others as they wear their masks.

Dr. Bakle

Click on the link above to watch Mrs. Rowan's 1st grade class say
"The Pledge of Allegiance"