Tending the Fire

“…building fires
requires attention
to the spaces in between,
as much as to the wood.”

— From “Fire,” Judy Brown

Most of my growing up years were spent among the forests and creeks of the Alberta foothills, learning from my father and the land. During those adventures, my brother and I were taught the best ways to build a small campfire, carefully choosing tinder and thoughtfully placing the wood, making space for the fire to breathe.

As I age, I continue to discover the value of those early experiences, often in situations far from the trails and creeks of my childhood. I now realize that my father’s fire-building advice is as much about sustaining my inner fire as it is about tending a fire on a cold winter’s day.

As the holiday season approaches and the calendar year quickly draws to a close, we’re deeply grateful for all that you contribute to your education ecosystem. We understand that the work of teaching and leading can be both deeply gratifying and demanding. As part of the TC² community, we hope that you can tend to your fire in the weeks ahead, making space for the warmth of family, community, and all that sustains you.

We’ll be taking a break for the next couple of weeks, but we’ll be back early in the new year, ready to work with you in nurturing healthy and resilient learning ecosystems.

On behalf of TC², I wish you a restful holiday season.

​Warren Woytuck
(Director)