What is the foundation of a successful educational experience for school age children? I believe the basis for a successful educational experience is happy and healthy children. When leaving principalaim, I hope you know that for me student health and success go hand in hand. I truly believe that a happy, emotionally healthy child can do anything in school and in life. Jeni Hooper (Child Psychologist) also believes children do best when they are happy and have a good sense of self. Specifically, Hooper says “what children need to be happy has little to do with the curriculum or the school and more to do with those little nuisances that determine how positive the learning experience is for children.” Schools should be looking at models that put the emotional health and well-being of its students above everything else. I can only hope that one day all of our schools adopt a mission that puts children’s well-being first. tlb