Seeds of Greatness

Seeds of Greatness

A Book for the First Grade Class of 2025

By Coach Castillo

Acknowledgements

To the incredible first graders of Compass Academy—thank you for your laughter, your energy, and your open hearts. You brought your best each day and grew in ways you may not even see yet. To your families—thank you for trusting me with your children and allowing me to be part of their journey. And to the staff and my fellow educators—you made the magic possible every single day.

Seeds of Greatness

In every heart, a seed is placed,

A spark of light, a beam of grace.

It grows with love, with care, with truth—

It blossoms bright in early youth.

We learned to move, to breathe, to play,

To try again day after day.

No whining, no excuses here,

We faced our fears and drew them near.

We talked of courage, took our time,

Learned that each failure isn’t a crime.

Soft hands, deep breaths, a champion’s stance,

We always gave our dreams a chance.

We laughed, we jumped, we ran with pride,

We kept our compass as our guide.

With “yes, coach,” and “I’ll try again,”

We found our power deep within.

We learned to lead, to speak with grace,

To lift each other, run our race.

Each moment held a lesson clear:

Greatness grows when love is near.

So take this seed and plant it well,

In second grade, where dreams will dwell.

Remember who you are each day—

A light, a gift, in every way.

A Message From Coach Castillo

First Grade Champions,

What a joy it’s been to be your coach. You’ve grown so much—not just in your strength and skills, but in your hearts and minds. I saw kindness in your hands, courage in your eyes, and greatness growing in your spirit every single day.

Keep trusting the process. Keep choosing love over fear. And always—always—remember that the compass on your shirt points to something real inside of you. Use it well.

Thank you for letting me be part of your journey. I’ll never forget it.

Have a Great Summer!

Rest, play, read good books, move your body, and love your family. I believe in you. Second grade is going to be incredible—and so are you.

With love,

Coach Castillo