Tomorrow will begin my third year as an Educational Administrator. As I sit here tonight doing some final prep for the students to come tomorrow - I have many thoughts wondering in and out of my head. So.....why not blog.
One thing running through my mind is discipline. I heard something this week that continues to stick with me. Somebody was talking about discipline and they told me that it doesn't work. I was intrigued by the statement so I continued listening. Basically (in a nut shell) this is what was meant by it. People continue to be mean to each other and our prisons are becoming increasingly overcrowded. I've always thought that firm, fair, and consistent was the way to go. Now for the first time I'm beginning to question myself. I think that fair and consistent are no brainers...and probably firm is as well. I am however wondering if there should be a fourth added in there. How about a genuine understanding or care for the person that commits the crime.
Now I have been blessed to grow up in a family in which my parents cared deeply for me. We were raised with strict rules and guidelines and were taught morals and the values of life. Can't thank my parents enough for this. However, not all children have this luxury. Not all children are cared for by there parents, and not all children are taught (what seems to be) the universal morals and values of life. I'm a firm believer that if a child is not receiving something at home...then I as an educator need to fight like crazy to ensure they get it at school. So as I close this thought...I think we should do everything in our power to rehabilitate a bully and let them know that he/she does have potential, and that people really do care for them.
Second thought was kind of along the same lines. Bullying seems to be a real issue now days, and maybe people point to the school for answers. The school should (don't get me wrong) play a large part at minimizing it, however it does take a village to raise a child. This obviously leads me right back up to my first thought, but I need to get something off my chest in regards to this.
If the very people that we are supposed to put our trust in to keep us safe are bullying each other, then how can we expect our children to not do the same. If Politicians can bash each other on TV, why wouldn't kids bully each other? It just seems awkward that you can turn your channel to any station practically and within the first five minutes you can probably find an instance of somebody treating somebody in a negative fashion. I'm not saying turn the TV's off, or change the context of what we are seeing on the stations, but what I am saying bullying is not just a school issue. We all have an obligation to treat people with respect and dignity. This is a world issue. This is a world obligation.
In any event...its time to clear my mind and get some sleep. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. A new beginning and new dreams.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Sneak Peek: 2012-2013 School Year
Where did the summer go? We say this every year at this time don't we. I hope everyone had a relaxing, but yet very enjoyable summer.
I'm very excited for the up-coming school year. There is a freshness to every new school year that is very hard to explain, but its a brand new beginning to something I love to do.
We have a few new implementations this school year. Some are mandated by the state and others are unique to our school. Lets first start with those mandated by State Legislature.
We have a new Bullying Policy. It actually isn't a whole lot different then what we had before. The differences include...
1. Posting the policy on our website.
2. Allow for anonymously reporting.
3. Adopt a Bullying Prevention Program. We are adopting the famous Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.
With the anonymous reporting we have decided to team up with local law enforcement to adopt Text-a-Tip. This program allows anybody in our community to text in any information that they deem suspicious. If the texts that come into local law enforcement are school related, the authorities will notify the school immediately. What I really like about this is that the whole entire community can use this. Some details need to be worked out before we can kick start this program.
Unique to our school this year will be an extra period in the schedule. Yes, I said extra period. Our class periods will be 45 minutes in length with exception to periods 5 and 6. These periods will be 50 minutes in length as our Lab Sciences have to be 50 minutes.
The extra period (period 8) will be reserved for students to get extra help in whatever subject they need. Students will be able to visit with teachers in classes they are struggling in, or use the time to get make-up work done. It will also be used to give students interventions in subjects or standards they continually score low in, on the NWEA Map tests. I'm really excited about this period as we will be better able to serve our students and give them the extra opportunity to be successful. The bright part is, with students leaving late in the day for activities, they will not miss any of there core subject materials. Also, students with an "A" or "B" in all of there classes will be allowed to join art if they are in junior high, and pop choir if they are in high school. Seniors with an "A" or "B" in there classes will be allowed Senior Privileges for the last period of the day staring with the fourth week of school.
As I keep writing - lets get something straight that you may have already noticed. I struggle with the words "there and their." I always have struggled, and I will continue to struggle. So please don't judge me on my spelling error :).
So those are the major changes happening in 2012-2013. I look forward to an exciting school year and I hope you do too. I'm sure we will have our ups and our downs, but as long as we keep student safety and student success on the top of our priority list we should continue to move in the right direction.
I'm very excited for the up-coming school year. There is a freshness to every new school year that is very hard to explain, but its a brand new beginning to something I love to do.
We have a few new implementations this school year. Some are mandated by the state and others are unique to our school. Lets first start with those mandated by State Legislature.
We have a new Bullying Policy. It actually isn't a whole lot different then what we had before. The differences include...
1. Posting the policy on our website.
2. Allow for anonymously reporting.
3. Adopt a Bullying Prevention Program. We are adopting the famous Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.
With the anonymous reporting we have decided to team up with local law enforcement to adopt Text-a-Tip. This program allows anybody in our community to text in any information that they deem suspicious. If the texts that come into local law enforcement are school related, the authorities will notify the school immediately. What I really like about this is that the whole entire community can use this. Some details need to be worked out before we can kick start this program.
Unique to our school this year will be an extra period in the schedule. Yes, I said extra period. Our class periods will be 45 minutes in length with exception to periods 5 and 6. These periods will be 50 minutes in length as our Lab Sciences have to be 50 minutes.
The extra period (period 8) will be reserved for students to get extra help in whatever subject they need. Students will be able to visit with teachers in classes they are struggling in, or use the time to get make-up work done. It will also be used to give students interventions in subjects or standards they continually score low in, on the NWEA Map tests. I'm really excited about this period as we will be better able to serve our students and give them the extra opportunity to be successful. The bright part is, with students leaving late in the day for activities, they will not miss any of there core subject materials. Also, students with an "A" or "B" in all of there classes will be allowed to join art if they are in junior high, and pop choir if they are in high school. Seniors with an "A" or "B" in there classes will be allowed Senior Privileges for the last period of the day staring with the fourth week of school.
As I keep writing - lets get something straight that you may have already noticed. I struggle with the words "there and their." I always have struggled, and I will continue to struggle. So please don't judge me on my spelling error :).
So those are the major changes happening in 2012-2013. I look forward to an exciting school year and I hope you do too. I'm sure we will have our ups and our downs, but as long as we keep student safety and student success on the top of our priority list we should continue to move in the right direction.
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