Episode Details

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello, and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. Butterfield Canyon Elementary School teachers have been working hard to create meaningful connections and fun memories with parents this school year. On this episode of the Supercast, find out how a Thanksgiving performance by third graders, followed by "Parents and Pie" is bringing everyone together in a sweet expression of thanks and gratitude this holiday season.

We're here at Butterfield Canyon Elementary for the "Parents and Pie" event, and we're talking with Dr. Jay Eads, the Principal of Butterfield Canyon. Thanks for inviting us over today.

Dr. Jay Eads:
Thanks for coming. We appreciate it.

Anthony Godfrey:
I understand you're going by Dr. Jay these days. Is that right?

Dr. Jay Eads:
Yeah, that's a little easier to say than Eads so the kids can say, Dr. Jay pretty easy.

Anthony Godfrey:
That has a ring to it. I like it. Tell me a little bit about this event and the way that third graders have been talking about Thanksgiving.

Dr. Jay Eads:
So, the "Parents and Pie" event was something that was happening pre-COVID. Of course, COVID kind of put an end to it, but now that we're past that, we brought it back this year. The emphasis is helping kids to feel gratitude for the things that they have in their life so that they can express that. We have a Thankful Tree outside of our doors to our gym and cafeteria here, where students have listed what they're grateful for. And then just with the songs, it's just been the opportunity to perform for parents and for getting parents back into the building so that they can be part of the school and part of the community again. I think that's important.

Anthony Godfrey:
It's a great connection and it's a great combination. The tree with the leaves, it's a paper tree. Two paper trees at the entrance of the cafeteria with individual autumn leaves that have been written on by students just to express what they're thankful for. And then the program and the "Parents and Pies". We'll talk with teachers that have organized this. What impact does this have on the culture of your school having an event like this?

Dr. Jay Eads:
I think the most important thing, I think a couple things. One, it brings parents and students together back into the school. I think that's critical. It helps to reinforce, we're a Leader in Me school. As a Leader in Me school, it helps promote some of those concepts. We can link to them. Gratitude helps, it is a form of respect, actually I think. By being grateful for the things we have, we're actually showing respect for those things and gifts that we have in our lives, for our parents, and for others.

Anthony Godfrey:
And Dr. Jay, what are some of the things that you are grateful for?

Dr. Jay Eads:
I’m grateful for my family, of course. I'm grateful to be here. This is a wonderful school. It's a wonderful staff. Kids are just absolutely fantastic. They're responsive. They're eager to learn, eager to please. It's just been such a positive experience just in my short time here.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, we're very grateful to have you here. You've played various roles in the district extremely well at every turn. And we're really happy to have you here as principal.

Janet Hall:
Thank you so much for coming to our program today. In a minute, we're gonna have the kids come