October 2, 2026
Friday Reflection: Traditions, People & Belonging
Good morning, TCUSD Family,
There is just something different about Homecoming Week.
You can feel it. The spirit days. The decorations. The conversations in the hallways. The excitement from our kiddos. The parade. The game. Former students are coming back. Families and community members are coming together. And as I have gone through this week, I have been thinking about why traditions like Homecoming matter so much. I think it comes down to one word: Belonging.
Schools are about learning, and that will always be our priority. But schools are also places where memories are made, relationships are built, and traditions are passed from one generation to the next. Years from now, our students may not remember every lesson they learned or every assignment they completed. But they will remember how their school made them feel. They will remember Homecoming. They will remember wearing their school colors. They will remember walking in the parade, playing in the game, performing, cheering, laughing with their friends, and seeing their families in the crowd. They will remember being a Warrior.
And what I love about traditions is that they connect our past to our future. I am still relatively new to TCUSD. There are traditions here that existed long before I arrived, and there are people in this district and community who understand their meaning far better than I do. I respect that. Part of my job is to listen and learn those traditions, honor what makes this community special, and then work alongside all of you to continue building something our students will be proud to come back to someday. That also has me thinking about the people behind those traditions.
October is National Principals Month and today is National Custodian Day. What a great reminder during Homecoming Week that none of this just happens. Someone decorated. Someone cleaned up. Someone opened the building. Someone organized the parade. Someone coached. Someone drove the bus. Someone prepared the field. Someone fed our students. Someone stayed late. Someone solved the problem; nobody else even knew what happened. And somewhere along the way, someone probably did something that wasn't even in their job description because it needed to get done. That is what One Team looks like.
It takes all of us. I have said several times since arriving here that I believe we need to invest in our own. The longer I am here, the more strongly I believe that. Because programs don't create traditions. People do. Buildings don't create belonging. People do. And a logo doesn't create Warrior pride. People do.
So, on this Homecoming Friday, I want us to enjoy it. Take a minute and look around. Watch our students. Talk to our families. Thank somebody who helped make this week happen. And remember that what may feel like another busy Friday to us could become a memory one of our students carries with them for the rest of their life. That's pretty special.
To our principals, thank you for leading our schools. To our custodians, thank you for taking care of them. And to every professional educator and staff member who has put in extra time this week to make Homecoming special for our students and community, thank you. I see you, and I appreciate you.
Let's have a great Homecoming Friday, TCUSD. Celebrate our students. Celebrate our traditions. Celebrate our community. And let's keep building something our students will always be proud to call home. Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior.
Stronger Together,
Scott Nedrow
Superintendent
Tuba City Unified School District #15
#KidsComeFirst
