devotion to direction

Get Organized!

2011-10-25T11:37:00.004-05:00

(1) Talk with your child’s teacher. Teachers work hard to develop their student’s organizational skills and their responsibility. Ask your teacher how you can reinforce what is being learned in the classroom.

(2) Getting things ready in the evening will help out the morning rush. Sign notes, check homework and get clothes ready before the alarm sounds in the AM.

(3) Check your child’s backpack every afternoon. I know, there are probably some things in there you would rather not touch or see...but on Wednesdays and some other days, there will be important information waiting for you to read.

(4) Monitor homework progress. If your child is becoming overwhelmed with homework, let the teacher know immediately. Try breaking homework up into smaller portions and complete each step methodically.

(5) Create a calendar for your child. If you are going to the Tiger’s basketball game, your child should plan ahead to complete homework before you leave. Deadlines are easier to enforce when it is placed on your child’s calendar.

(6) List making. Once your child can read and write, encourage them making a “must do” and “to do” list. This helped our daughter to remember to “scoop” after taking our dog Alfie out.

(7) There’s a place for everything. Your child can be responsible for putting away things they may have gotten out during the day.

(8) Pack rats have no place in an organized environment. Set aside one day per month to go through things and toss what is not needed. What about my Zambian coke bottle tops? Collections are fine as long as you have a place for everything.

(9) Set up rewards. Children love to be rewarded for their labors and being organized is hard work!

Like most things, being organized takes practice and diligence. Take the time to discuss what it means to be organized and hopefully your family life will improve! Now, if I can only find that remote...

Baseball and the Bible

2011-10-12T22:53:00.003-05:00

Here are some highlights from a chapel with the first through sixth graders…

The Bible brings people together. They meet in churches, homes, coffee shops and discuss the Bible.

Baseball brings people together. They meet in stadiums, offices, coffee shops and discuss baseball.

There has been great debate on the origins of the Bible as well as who invented baseball.

The first baseball team, the New York Knickerbockers consisted of a portrait photographer, an insurance salesman, a cigar dealer all listening to a dentist who was the manager.

Among the apostles there were fishermen, and a tax collector all listening to a carpenter.

The great Babe Ruth was a promising young pitcher with the Boston Red Sox. Ruth demanded that his salary be doubled, so his owner sold him to the New York Yankees where he became one of the greatest homerun hitters in baseball history. The money the Red Sox owner got from the Yankees was used to begin production of the play “No, No Nannette.” So Ruth was sent from Boston to New York.

In the Book of Ruth in the Bible it says, “You came to a people that you did not know before.”

The 1899 Cleveland Spiders owners traded most of their stars to what would become today the St. Louis Cardinals. Knowing that the Spiders would not be very good, they scheduled most 75% of their games on the road. The Spiders hold the record for the worst win-loss record in baseball history at 20-134. They were 11-101 on the road that year. The Spiders were also called the Exiles, the forsaken, and the wanderers.

How about Moses wandering the desert for 40 years?

What is it called when you make a fielding mistake? That’s right, an error.

Psalm 19:12 asks, “Who can detect their errors?”

In baseball it’s the official scorekeeper, in life…it’s God.

Numbers and statistics are very important in baseball. In fact, there is even a Brad Pitt movie about that very thing in theatres today.

In the Bible, numbers are very important as well. There is even a Book of the Bible called Numbers!

Here are some Bible verses that have baseball meanings as well…

“For everything there is a season.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

“Cover it inside and outside with pitch.” Genesis 6:14

Bible meaning? Yes, the ark. In baseball it’s working the plate by pitching to a batter.

“How awesome is this place!” Genesis 28:17

Jacob’s dream at Bethel. Tiger Stadium in Detroit.

“Thou shalt not steal.”

One of the Ten Commandments. Double Duty Radcliffe, a negro leaguer has this printed on his chest protector when he caught games.

“To the one he gave five talents…” Matthew 25:15

Jesus’ Parable of the Talents

In baseball – 5 talents scouts look for: hit for power, hit for average, arm strength, speed, fielding.

“There will be earthquakes.” Mark 13:8

Events on earth before the 2^nd coming. Baseball – 1989 World Series was delayed due to a major earthquake in the San Francisco area.

In the Bible, the brothers Aaron and Moses led the Jewish people to the promised land.

In Baseball, Hank and Tommie Aaron hit 755 combined homeruns. Hank won N.L. pennants – the promised land.

John and Jerry Moses hit 11 combined homeruns and wandered the major leagues for 20 years while playing for eleven teams.

Heroes can be found both in the Bible and in baseball. Here are my two choices:

The brother of Jesus, Joseph was called old camel knees because he prayed so much and for so long that his knees looked like a camel’s – craggy, dusty, and old.

Al Kaline, Hall of Fame outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, played 21 years for the same team. Youngest ever batting champion when he was 20.

Finally, the Bible tells us about serving others.

Matthew 20:26 “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.”

John 15:13 “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.”

Roberto Clemente was a Hall of Fame ball player who played with the Pittsburgh Pirates for his entire career. He had all five talents I talked about earlier. He was always trying to help others and died in a plane crash while delivering food and medical supplies to an earthquake damaged Nicaragua on December 31, 1972. Selflessly serving others before himself.

Super Origins

2011-09-30T15:28:00.001-05:00

Our Super Citizens Program is entering its tenth year here at our school. Hundreds of students in grades one through six have been honored on a weekly basis for displaying characteristics of different monthly character traits. While this is in its tenth year here, the origins of Super Citizens run back several years.

While an assistant principal in the Harrisonburg City Public Schools, I was asked to be on a statewide commission which looked at successful school around the state. We visited twelve schools and I was able to pick up lots of great ideas. In one school in the Tidewater region, I noticed signs everywhere around the school. On lockers, in classrooms, the cafeteria, gymnasium, even in the stalls in the restrooms! They had one word, RESPECT. The principal explained that it was their character trait for the month. She went on to explain that they highlighted a different trait each month and the teachers would make an award at the end of each month to the student who best typified that trait.

Sometime after the visit, I was named principal of Spotswood Elementary School in Harrisonburg. As I began to roll those ideas around in my head, the first Super Citizen idea was hatched. I planned to make it a weekly event instead of monthly and to add an announcement at the end of the week on Friday afternoons. I designed a card to give to the students so they could take it home and share the good news with their families. The announcements grew to be a much-anticipated event. We even made the local news one Friday!

Around the second or third year of this program, the teachers pointed out that they felt left out of the Friday celebration. We created a Pat on the Back Program for teachers. Teachers would fill out a thank you note on the back of a paper hand to another staff member and one would be chosen to be announced and to get a prize!

I was fortunate to work with four outstanding assistant principals during my tenure in Harrisonburg. Three of the four now have schools of their own and carried the Super Citizen Program to their schools.

Today, technology allows me to create a podcast each week with each child's picture. The podcast is posted on our website and grandparents from all over the country can watch it.

The greatest joy I get is when your child(ren) get in the car on Friday and show off their card. What a great sense of accomplishment and celebration!

Do You Believe in Miracles? YES!

2011-09-20T17:39:00.000-05:00

Sportscaster Al Michaels was announcing play-by-play of the semi-final matchup in ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics when the U.S. defeated Russia 4-3 in one of the biggest sports upsets in history. As the last seconds ticked down, he exclaimed, “Do you believe in miracles? YES!” This has become one of the best-known “calls” in all of sports.

As Christians, we have heard the miracles of Jesus and read the stories about them in the Bible. While I doubt that Jesus had anything to do with that hockey game, there is NO doubt in my mind that He did perform miracles and they occur around us every day.

Usually when a student leaves us and moves on to another school, I am heart broken. This was not the case last week…I was overjoyed and thanking God. Now wait a minute, those skeptical readers out there might be thinking this was a troublemaker or a family we didn’t see eye-to-eye on things, but no, it was a miracle.

A St. Jude family visited CUMC and found a warm home full of support, love and prayers. They had moved to Memphis from the Eastern Shore of Virginia so their daughter could receive medical care at St. Jude. The outlook was grim and the family knew they had an extended stay ahead of them. They also have a younger son who applied and was accepted into our junior kindergarten program. They spent the month of August home with friends and family and made the return trip to Memphis in early September. MRI scans of the daughter showed a significant decrease in the cancer that was ravaging her body. A true miracle! So, I was delighted when the mother told me they were packing up and moving back to Virginia, I never thought I would say the following to any parent, “I hope I never see you back here again!” The daughter will be back for a check up in December, and truthfully, we do hope the family does keep in touch. The son spent just a week with us, but will forever be one of ours.

The redemptive value of believing in miracles keeps our Christian spirit, faith, and hope alive and well.

Humble in Victory, Gracious in Defeat

2011-09-14T22:09:00.000-05:00

I was a loser in college. Yup, check the records, in each sport I participated in, I was a big loser.

When I was fourteen, I tried out for and made the Arvo Internationals junior soccer team. This was a select group of teenagers from around Kalamazoo, Michigan who excelled in soccer and traveled around the state on the weekends. I still remember that first jersey, red and white vertical stripes with the number 14 on the back. I also remember playing fullback and while trying to clear a ball, having it slip off the side of my foot for an own goal. They kept me around until I graduated from high school, and I was fortunate enough to play in college for the Olivet College Comets.

Our first season was solid, winning as many games as we lost. We played in a league that featured two highly ranked Division III teams, Calvin and Hope colleges. It kind of fell apart half way through my sophomore year with a bad losing streak to end the season. The non-winning streak continued the next season and then the next. We managed to tie a few games but victory was something we did not experience.

This experience and a few more taught me valuable life lessons about why we do the things we do. It gave me a base of humbleness and one of introspection. It’s easy as a parent to insulate our children from losing, but having them know that you are supporting them in success as well as failure is even more important. Our children need a sense of stability and structure that only we as parents can provide. Rather than ask how many goals you scored, or what your batting average is, we need to ask them if they gave it their all.

I know that while playing soccer on teams that were not successful it can create stress and even a sense of failure, but we as parents need to place the focus elsewhere. Our children need to know it is OK to fail and that we have failed in our lives. True growth comes from learning from your past mistakes.

I’m not sure if Olivet College is still in the Division III NCAA soccer record book any more and I’m not really going to research that, but the experience is one that made me who I am today.

Traditions III

2011-08-31T13:21:00.000-05:00

My last Awards Day at Spotswood Elementary School in Harrisonburg, Virginia was in June of 2002. I had accepted a new position at was the last time I had to interact with my students. I knew I wanted to make it a special occasion, so I rented a tuxedo and hosted the

festivities in style. With the anticipation of summer vacation, the last few days of school can be hectic for teachers, parents, administrators, and students. That’s why I love Awards Day. It allows us to pause and reflect on the many achievements that our students have accomplished throughout the school year. Here at CMDS, our Awards Day is highlighted by many Encore and classroom teachers giving awards and honors. Lots of photos are taken, applause fills the sanctuary and certificates, trophies, and even checks are disbursed to eager students. Awards Day for our school is typically on the last day of school, a fitting way to end the year. Here are a few more traditions which I have not yet covered in my blog series: 5th Grade Visit to Junior Achievement Biz Town – In the fall of 2002, I was invited to hear about a new program started by Junior Achievement downtown on Madison. I had the fortune of sitting with Don Frazier, then headmaster from Woodland Presbyterian School and as we heard the presentation of how our 5th graders work, bank and spend their earnings in a miniature town, a partnership was formed. We go to Biz Town each year with Woodland and our 5th graders take on the roles that are needed for this miniature city. Our classroom teachers work during the second semester to prepare them for the day long event. It is a highlight of the 5th grade year. Grandparent’s Day - Grandparents have long been great supporters of our school through our Spirit Fund. We dedicate a day each year to them with a special performance and classroom visit. We have had grandparents travel from all over the United States and even from England. It is a wonderful site to see our students act as guides for their grandparents within the classroom. The program features an original song and composition by our talented music teacher, Linda Plunk and a rousing tribute to the veterans among our grandparents. 5th Grade Field Trip to Huntsville – A long day of travel sandwiches a wonderful visit to the Space and Rocket Center http://www.ussrc.com/ in Huntsville, Alabama. Our student learn about the early years of space travel and have a chance to walk beside a full size Apollo Rocket, lunar modules, and a full size space shuttle. The IMAX theater usually features a space or flight themed movie which is enjoyed by all. This trip prepares our 5th graders for their big Eureka Springs trip in the 6th grade. Graduation – The culminating event of our academic year and career of our students is graduation night. A special event just for the graduating class and their families has the faculty sit in a place of honor overseeing the ceremony. A special speaker is brought in to address the students. We have had pastors, a U.S. Congressman, a state senator, faculty members, the national teacher of the year, and even one of my heroes growing up, Kyle Rote, Jr. In fact, Kyle has spoken once in each of the last three decades. Special awards just for the 6th grade are given out as well. All this occurs in just one hour! A special reception follows which is coordinated by the 5th grade parents. I hope the series of three blogs about our school traditions have been informative. Having a school with the rich fifty-three year history is a wonderful benefit for our faculty, staff, parents and especially our students. There is so much more that we do, I could write several more about the fall carnival, chili cook-off, Christmas programs, etc. But, car pool is calling…yet another tradition!

2011-08-24T18:39:00.000-05:00

Typically, when the Governor of the state wants to talk, you listen.That was not the case this June when several Memphis Association of Independent School (MAIS) heads were invited to meet with Governor Bill Haslam. He asked to speak to us, and in forty-five minutes, I had a greater appreciation of the head of our state.

He was there to listen not to dictate or pontificate. He did tell us about his upbringing and his aspiration to become an English teacher upon graduation from college, but instead worked in the family business. (I think that turned out well for him)

After hearing a bit about our schools, he discussed his goal for education in Tennessee. He wants to work at raising the culture of expectation in Tennessee education. The discussion really focused on our schools and not on his policies or plans. He wanted to know about our training of future heads of schools and how we attract such great teachers. Further discussion followed on how to create a dialogue between the public and independent schools on what has and has not worked for us. We agreed that it is difficult at times to assist public schools with the two differing types of philosophies of education and the school boards we have, one political (public schools) and one functional (independent schools). He also noted the difference in the definition of professionalism in the public and independent schools, just another indicator that the culture of expectation in Tennessee education needs to be raised.

On a personal note, the Governor told us that his daughter would be teaching in an inner city school as part of the Teach for America program. It’s easy to see why he has a passion for education. While mayor of Knoxville, Governor Haslam was a big supporter of the Fellows Program http://www.knoxvillefellows.com/. His daughter is a graduate of this program, which is designed for placing recent college graduates in the work force in their area of interest. The Fellows Initiative is a Christian based national program with a chapter not only in Knoxville, but Memphis as well.

Coming away from the meeting, three things became apparent to me:

1) I did not waste my vote on him last November; 2) he has a heart for education and educators; and finally, 3) he does have ears and uses them well.

Traditions – part two

2011-03-22T21:00:00.000-05:00

Did you hear about the newlywed housewife who was preparing her first pot roast? Her husband watched as she cut off two inches from each end of the roast prepared it and placed it in the pan. The husband sheepishly asked, “uh, honey? Why did you cut off the roast at each end?” The wife replied, “That’s the way my mom does it.” This answer didn’t quite cut it with the newlywed husband, but he did not ask any further. At the next family gathering, he asked his mother in law about the practice and she replied, “That’s the way my mom did it.” He then went to the grandmother who explained that she never had a pan that could fit the pot roast as it was cut from the butcher, so she cut off two inches on both ends so it would fit in the pan she did have.

Traditions are great when understood properly, traditions without understanding the background can be a bit odd at times. Thus, part two of Christ Methodist Day School traditions

First Grade President’s Day Program – Every year, our first graders recite the Preamble to the Constitution, all the presidents in order with interesting facts, and General George Washington, the father of our country even makes an appearance. The first graders work on this program every day after Christmas break. In art, they paint the portrait of a president and have it proudly displayed at the program. Parents and grandparents are always amazed with the amount of knowledge of first graders are able to impart.

Super Citizens – Each month, a different character trait is explored within each classroom. On the announcements, a specific example is given highlighting that month’s character trait. Every Friday in grades one through six one student from each classroom is highlighted as that class’s Super Citizen for the week. A podcast is made and sent to all classrooms, then placed on the website. The student is given a Super Citizen card before afternoon car pool. The best part of this is when the child shows off their card to their parent picking them up! The character traits include: respectful, responsible, grateful, loving, self-controlled, honest, loyal, forgiving, and persevering.

Field Day – At the beginning of May each year, classes get to determine who is fastest, strongest and who has the best three legged coordination. Field Day features lots of fun and games on a (hopefully) beautiful day in Memphis in May. Ribbons are awarded and a special lunch from Chic Fil-a is given to all participants. One of the favorite events is the famed tug of war and the teacher sled race.

Sixth Grade Roast – Each year to “honor” the graduating class, the fifth grade present awards Oscar style to each graduating sixth grader. Parents send in stories to choose from and the fifth grade teachers coordinate the program. This light-hearted program is usually followed by a viewing of the sixth grade video.

Day School Sunday – For several years, our school has worshipped with the Christ United Methodist Church family at the 8:30 service, usually in early February. Our children take the lead offering prayers, giving testimonies, and our choir serves as the church choir for the service. Being a ministry of the church comes into full light as we all become Methodists for one Sunday! Students are expected to be here as it does count as a day of school for our attendance.

Well, I see on my list there are even more traditions of our school. I guess this will be a three-part blog series!

Traditions

2011-03-11T18:15:00.000-06:00

When I was growing up, every Sunday evening meant dinner at Grammy’s. My two brothers were older than me by eight and ten years, so some Sundays it would be my mom and dad and me and Grammy, other Sundays one or both of my brothers would join us. That was a Sunday evening tradition I recall with great fondness and a sense of comfort. I believe that is what traditions are all about…fondness and comfort.

At Christ Methodist Day School, we have developed several traditions over the fifty-two years we have been in operation. These are “don’t miss” opportunities that are worth the time off work for our parents. I have listed a few below with a brief description of each, my next blog will contain even more traditions of our school!

Eater Walk Through – this event held on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week begins in the morning in the sanctuary of the church. Each grade level depicts a different scene from the last week of the life of Jesus. Our sixth graders act as tour guides to usher groups from scene to scene. The event concludes with each person placing a flower on a cross in our courtyard. After all the groups have gone through and the crowd begins to thin out, the sixth grade class and their teachers and parents gather around that flower filled cross for a circle prayer with each person thanking God for something in their life here at school.

Junior Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast – All of our junior kindergarteners work during the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving on songs and poems about the Pilgrims and Native Americans. Each class holds a “program” for the students to show off their newfound information. The event concludes with the students serving soup and cornbread to their parents and grand parents.

Sixth Grade Trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas – At the end of September each year, our sixth graders visit Eureka Springs for a three day, two night visit. The trip allows our graduating class the opportunity to bond in a very meaningful way. Every minute of the trip is planned and the trip is by far, the most fondly remembered event in a CMDS student’s life here.

Birthday Party for Jesus – In early December, each child in the school brings in a toy for a child who may not have any for Christmas. Our choir sings Christmas songs and carols and we have a speaker come and talk about the importance of the season. There are two highlights for me at this event, (1) watching the children place their gift under the tree, and (2) singing the song Happy Birthday, Jesus. Unfortunately, this program is not open to parents due to space constraints.

Fourth Grade State Fair – This event, held in Seabrook Hall in the Spring each year is a culmination of our fourth graders learning about Unites States history for the year. Each child creates a project and dresses as a famous American. Tasty treats from the different regions of the U.S. are available for snacking. There is usually an Elvis sighting at this event every year!

These are just five of the many traditions that make up who we are as a school. My next blog will look at a few more!

It's All About Loyalty

2011-03-03T15:52:00.000-06:00

My idol growing up was Al Kaline, right fielder for the Detroit Tigers. One of the things I liked most about him was his loyalty. He played for the Tigers his entire career from an 18 year old rookie right out of high school in 1953 to the curtain call season in 1974 at the age of 39. Twenty-one years, same team. Today, it is a rarity for a player to become so ensconced as free agency provides more money for moving to a new team.

Think about our school and the loyalty we see in the classrooms and on campus. When people come here, they tend to stick around. We have seven staff members who are former students. Thirteen staff members have been with our school for over twenty years! This type of loyalty and dedication to devotion allows our school to keep providing an outstanding educational experience for our students today and in the last fifty-two years.

CMDS LOYALTY HALL OF FAME

Linda McVean 39 years

Barbara Whitmire 33 years

Margaret Hickey 30 years

Carol Deaver 30 years

Zoe Jackson 29 years

Donna Robertson 29 years

Jeanne Russell 28 years

Linda Patterson 25 years

Ann Cameron 24 years

Linda Plunk 23 years

Kathy Greenway 23 years

Lynne Anderson 22 years

Cheryl Bryant 21 years

There's a Place for Everything

2011-01-25T15:29:00.000-06:00

Are you disorganized? What about your children? You have probably heard that a clean desk is the work of a sick mind. While we know there are extremes to everything, there does need to be a certain level of organization present within all of us. My desk is often piled with papers, articles, letters, etc. Amazingly, I do know where everything is...it just takes a minute to put my hand on it. I have listed below some helpful hints in getting children organized. Remember however, as parents, we can be a role model in making this work.
(1) Talk with your child’s teacher. Teachers work hard to develop their student’s organizational skills and their responsibility. Ask your teacher how you can reinforce what is being learned in the classroom. (2) Getting things ready in the evening will help out the morning rush. Sign notes, check homework and get clothes ready before the alarm sounds in the AM. (3) Check your child’s backpack every afternoon. I know, there are probably some things in there you would rather not touch or see...but on Wednesdays and some other days, there will be important information waiting for you to read. (4) Monitor homework progress. If your child is becoming overwhelmed with homework, let the teacher know immediately. Try breaking homework up into smaller portions and complete each step methodically. (5) Create a calendar for your child. If you are going to the Grizzlies game, your child should plan ahead to complete homework before you leave. Deadlines are easier to enforce when it is placed on you child’s calendar. (6) List making. Once your child can read and write, encourage them in making a “must do” and “to do” list. This helped our daughter to remember to “scoop” after taking our dog Alfie out. (7) A place for everything. Your child can be responsible for putting away things they may have gotten out during the day. (8) Pack rats have no place in an organized environment. Set aside one day per month to go through things and toss what is not needed. What about my Zambian coke bottle tops? Collections are fine as long as you have a place for everything. (9) Set up rewards. Children love to be rewarded for their labors and being organized is hard work!

Like most things, being organized takes practice and diligence. Take the time to discuss what it means to be organized and hopefully your family life will improve! Now, if I can only find that remote

Anatomy of a Snow Day

2011-01-11T18:45:00.000-06:00

I thought it would be helpful for you to understand my decision making process when considering calling off school for snow days. I too love a good snow day just like the rest of you. Growing up in Kalamazoo, Michigan meant that our snowfall had to be a bit more than what we have here. I would sit by the radio and wait for the announcements, praying that Comstock Public Schools would be cancelled.

The decision making process is different for our schools in comparison to other MAIS schools. Things I do have to consider include our faculty and staff and our parents and their drive in, and the safety in and around the campus. The main thing I do not need to consider is having student drivers on the road. Our school calendar does not play a role in closing school…safety always comes first. Our calendar committee builds in a couple of extra days each year in the event of foul weather. There is a process regarding make up days should we go over the amount of extra days. Typically, these are added to the end of the school year.

If we do not close and the roads are questionable, our students are not counted tardy for that day. I want your child(ren) at school, but I want them safely brought to school, so take your time!

When our area anticipates wintry weather, I rise at 5:00 AM and check the local news and the radar and forecast on the National Weather Service website. Since our decision is independent of the city and county schools, I like to make sure all bases are covered before I make a final decision. The first call I make is to Jennifer Williams, our Director of Technology. She makes sure our closing (or opening) information is on our website. The second call goes to Paul Makris, CUMC administrator. If the school closes, so does the church. Next I call a couple of directors, Marilyn Sheron of Day Care and Amy Edwards of our Parent’s Day Out Program. At this point, I begin to notify three television news stations. Two of them are very easy to contact, Channel 3 and 30, the NBC station is the most difficult and has taken 45 minutes to get through at times….very frustrating! Channel 30 has an automated system which is very quick and easy to use, I have to talk to real people at the other two stations.

At this point it is around 6:15 or 6:30 and I have another decision to make – stay home and sit by the fire, or go in to work and complete some much needed paperwork that has built up over the last several weeks.

I hope this gives you some insight into how I make the decision to close or stay open. As you can see, the fastest way to find out is to check our website at www.cmdsmemphis.org.

Here’s to clear skies and precipitation free week days!

It’s all About the Pie

2010-12-30T10:15:00.000-06:00

Here are some random thoughts on pizza. We Americans love that pizza pie. Did you know that October is designated as pizza month? Every second, Americans eat 350 slices! About 93% of all Americans eat at least one pizza per month. The National Restaurant Association estimates that Italian food is the most popular ethnic food in the country and that it is a thirty billion dollar industry.

Being the pizza lover that I am, I have rated the best pizza parlors I have been to…

Top Five Pizzas for Mr. J.

1. Grand Lake Pizza, Grand Lake, Colorado

www.grand-pizza.com/

A braided dough crust and outstanding toppings, we were in Grand Lake two days and ate dinner here both days. The second day we even waited two hours due to a power outage

2. Crozet Pizza, Crozet, Virginia

www.crozetpizza.net/

A great rustic place in Albemarle County outside of Charlottesville. Crozet Pizza has all the ingredients listed on a huge blackboard. Great sauce and fresh ingredients highlight these pies.

3. Bilbo’s Pizza, Kalamazoo, Michigan

www.bilbospizza.com/

The absolute best deep dish pizza I have had. It comes to your table still sizzling. That crust is crunchy on the outside edge and soft and doughy inside. Terrific sauce as well. This was a place of my high school years.

4. Pizze Stone, Midtown Memphis, Tennessee

www.pizzestone.com/

Fresh ingedients and a crispy light crust make this one the best I have had in Memphis. I know this is not about salad, but their salads are great too!

5. Luigi’s Pizza, Harrisonburg, Virginia

Sadly, went out of business since we lived in Harrisonburg. A great place to go after the softball/soccer/football game for some wonderful pizza. They had fun t-shirts. If you went somewhere notable in the world and had your photo taken in a Luigi’s t-shirt, you got a free pizza (if no one else had done it). We wore four Luigi’s t-shirts all day on a visit to the four corners one vacation!

Honorable Mention

Pete and Sam’s, Memphis, Tennessee

www.peteandsamsrestaurant.com/

I have tasted a couple of barbeque pizzas in Memphis, but this one is tops in my opinion!

More than Graham Crackers and Milk

2010-12-23T12:07:00.000-06:00

On an early morning in September of 1964, I met Mrs. Bastian, my kindergarten teacher. I had a difficult transition from watching Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Green Jeans to that first classroom. I could not understand why there was no television and why we spent so much time learning to tie our shoes…wasn’t that what moms were for? As a four-year-old kindergarten student, I struggled because I was not ready. When my parents asked for me to be held back, Mrs. Bastian pointed out that I was already too big, so I needed to move on with my class.

Now we fast forward to 2010 and kindergarten is a whole new ballgame from forty-six years ago. A recent study (by Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Schanzenbach, Hilger, and Yagan) noted in the November issue of the Kappan Magazine illustrates just how important the kindergarten years are now. “For each one percent point increase in kindergarten test scores, the students’ yearly adult earnings increase by $1300 – or almost one percent of mean earnings – measured between ages 25 and 27.” So, these researchers have found that kindergarten is a key indicator in financial success among young adults. They go on, “By age 27, children with higher scores are much more likely to have attended college, have retirement savings, be a homeowner, and live in a better neighborhood.

I often tell prospective parents that the investment they make in an independent education has long lasting implications for their children. Now we see that this investment will help those children to become productive adults. This investment is also not affected by the Dow Jones average, home and property values, or by any recession the economy may be having. Combine this research with our Christian based education and you have yourself a nice investment indeed!

I hope during this holiday season, you will share the good news about our school. You are the best marketing we could ever have! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

In the Jaws of a Crocodile

2010-12-08T19:39:00.000-06:00

So your are traveling down the Nile River, fall out of the boat and are in the jaws of a crocodile…what do you do? (answer below)

We all have those moments of anxiety, worry, and uncertainty. Here are a few steps to take to relieve those anxious moments, (1) accept that uncertainty is a part of life, embrace it! (2) challenge your negative thoughts to see the bright side of things, (3) learn how to relax - include breathing exercises and prayer, (4) develop healthy routines – not too much caffeine and sugar, exercise regularly, get some sleep, (5) raise your emotional intelligence by quickly responding to frustration and disappointment, asking for help when needed, solving problems in positive ways and creative ways, remaining hopeful during stressful times.

How often do you feel like you are in the jaws of a crocodile? It’s not an easy place to be, but your actions can have long lasting implications. Are you like the Egyptian Plover who feeds on parasites inside the mouth of the crocodile? This little bird makes the most of what many would consider a dangerous proposition. He provides a service for the crocodile and in return, the crocodile provides food and safety for the bird.

Christmas is a stressful time for many. I hope these tips can help in those uncertain times.

Oh, and to answer the first question, you take your thumbs and depress the crocodile’s eyes and he will release his jaws. Hopefully, none of us will be in a position to verify this!

Fit to be "Tied"

2010-11-19T09:57:00.000-06:00

The great birthday celebration having each student wear a tie, nametag and a cap was really terrific! Seeing all those ties Tuesday made me thinking about sharing the history behind me and my tie, so here are some random Jackson Tie Collection thoughts.

I wear a different “kid friendly” tie each school day of the year. My collection hovers around 300 with about 30 being Christmas ties. I have several racks that I use to hold the ties. When I take it off the rack, I wear it, then place it in a box for the next year. After it comes out of the box, I wear it, then place it on the rack. It took me a few years to work out this system.

The first “kid friendly” tie I bought was a red Mickey Mouse tie…that was back in the late 1980's. The second came with some help from two students at the time (Carla and Cathleen Meyerhoeffer) who picked out a blue and pink flamingo tie with me on a trip to Williamsburg. I still have both ties and wear them in my rotation.

Several of my ties have been gifts from students, parents, and teachers. I wish I could remember each tie and where each came from, but there are so many! The students often ask for me to wear my double cheeseburger, Sponge Bob, and Scooby Do ties. Last year I was presented with my first hotdog tie…certain to be a classic. Two of my favorite ties include a Where the Wild Things Are tie given by a former assistant principal and a Curious George tie (worn on my birthday) given to me by my daughter, Madelyn. I once got a tie for each day of the twelve days of Christmas! Perhaps the oddest tie moment in my life came when I was at a principal's conference in Washington, D.C. There was a street vendor selling of all things - neckties. I bought an alligator tie for $5.00. That Christmas, my mother-in-law from Mississippi bought the very same tie for me for a present!

I try to be judicious and wear different college ties after a big win. My collection in this category includes Virginia, Tennessee, Memphis, and Ole Miss. My most numerous category non-Christmas ties include, baseball, Sponge Bob and Scooby Do ties.

One of our students has sisters at St. Mary's and they carpool with a couple of other girls. They stop at St. Mary's first then come to our school. Every day, the driver stops at my spot at car pool so the girls can check out my tie for the day!

Thank you again for a great celebration this week! Never have I felt so honored and loved!

Our Teacher’s Summer Reading Assignment

2010-10-04T15:53:00.000-05:00

This summer I asked our teachers to read one of

five books that appear often on the “suggested

reading” lists of educators around the country.

During our August in-service, they broke into

discussion groups to share what they had learned

and to come up with ways our school could benefit

from the information. Below is a quick review of their findings and a grade on

each book.

A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink

We live in a left brained world where we tend to forget about right-brained learners.

Pink’s book explains how left brained thinkers handle what is said, while

right-brained thinkers focus on how it is said. Creativity in the teaching process

can go a long way toward reaching both types of learners. Some ways to do this

include incorporating art, storytelling, drama, and humor into the lessons. The

overall goal is to challenge students to use both sides of their brain to create a

healthy balance that will help them to compete in the future.

Group Grade: A

Mindset by Carol Dweck

Dweck explores, not only how we think, but also how we respond to others’

thinking. Encourage the effort, she stresses, placing less emphasis on the ability

of the child. Innate ability doesn’t go very far without desire, effort, and

perseverance. Challenge students by keeping standards high and placing more

emphasis on effort rather than grades.

Mindset readers loved the book so much that I ordered several more for other interested faculty members!

Group Grade: A

Improving Schools from Within by Roland Barth

This is a must read for principals, directors, and headmasters. Barth suggests that, by utilizing a peer observation model, we can build upon relational partnerships between adults within the school setting. Teachers should be encouraged to teach one another and to allow their students to witness them learning. To create positive feelings within the community, faculty and staff, parents, and engaged community stakeholders should concentrate on building our school up, rather than pointing out its flaws.

Many of the suggestions in this book, our teachers noted, are already in practice on our campus.

Group Grade: B

The Art and Science of Teaching by Robert Manzano

The author makes a clear case for the importance of distinguishing between goals and activities and says that the promotion of positive communication and the affirmation of sound teaching practices (things we incorporate in our classrooms on a daily basis) prove very effective. Teachers who read The Art and Science of Teaching suggested that educators in grades 3-6 could benefit from reading it. Overall, though, it was a bit dry, with too much information presented in charts and graphs.

Group Grade: C-

Five Minds for the Future by Howard Gardner

The five minds laid out by the author are as follows: (1) the disciplinary mind - teaches each subject while searching for one in which each child can excel. (2) the synthesizing mind - shows how one subject relates to another, (3) the creative mind – explores “out of the box” approaches to learning, (4) the respectful mind - teaches students to be empathetic and to appreciate the points of view of others, and (5) the ethical mind - teaches students how to work without self interest.

Though this book does jive with our mission of reaching and teaching the whole child, at times, as with most Howard Gardner books, reading it took great concentration.

Group Grade: C-

How Do you Start Your Day?

2010-10-04T15:46:00.000-05:00

For most Americans, starting their day means a cup of coffee and the morning paper. Is that true for you? I have never been a coffee drinker, (sorry Lambert’s Coffee www.lambertscoffee.com/) however I did manage to get one cup down politely while visiting with my Aunt Bernice about thirty years ago. That was my last cup.

As we begin to think about how our children start their day, one clear message comes from our school. Every day, every class, before instruction begins, we start our day with a devotion and prayer. Once per week for grades one through six, we begin our day with a chapel usually led by Cheryl Bryant and Linda Plunk. We are able to sing praises to God, pray and learn more about God’s plan and path for us.

Occasionally, we will have special presenter for a school-wide chapel. Last week it was Kelsey DeFreece talking about her mission trip to Ecuador. Kelsey, a 2005 graduate of our school currently attending Briarcrest High School, took us along on her trip through Bible verses, videos, photos and a great auditory presentation. It occurred to me, listening to this talented, God filled junior in high school, that this is exactly what we try to build within our school culture. All those mornings of devotions and prayers, starting her day off in such a way, had paid off for her spiritually.

I am fortunate just about every week to be in three chapels. I know I still have a long way to go in my spiritual journey, but starting my day like this is truly a blessing!

A Lesson in Loyalty

2010-10-04T15:35:00.000-05:00

How loyal are you to your place of employment? What about your place of employment to you? I don’t see myself as a very demanding boss. In fact, loyalty is the only thing I demand from our employees here. Don’t get me wrong, I have plenty of expectations for them, both professionally and spiritually, but demand only one thing…loyalty. This has grown during my years working as a principal and headmaster and it all started with a great lesson while growing up in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

I grew up in a working class family who lived paycheck to paycheck. My mother was a medical secretary and my father had a couple of careers. His first was as a beater engineer for Allied Paper in Kalamazoo. He worked for twenty-four and a half years for them when he found out his site, the King Plant, would be closed. He asked management to be reassigned, anywhere, so he could get his twenty-five years (and pension) in. He was denied at every stop. Here was a man who gave a large part of his life and loyalty to a company who did not return the favor. He worked for a few months with his brother who owned a tire company, then was hired by the Comstock Public School System (www.comstockpublicschools.org). He rose from a night-time custodian at Green Meadows Elementary School, to head custodian at Gull Road Elementary School. About nineteen and a half years into his job, he suffered a major coronary that led to him being unable to work. Our family flashed back to his prior job and missing out on a pension, and with the Comstock Public Schools, you qualified at twenty years. Was this fate? No, it turned out to be my lesson in loyalty. While Dad was recuperating at home, the superintendent of schools, Dr. Bob Hamet came to the house. He chatted with Dad and told him he was aware that he was short a couple of months from his pension. He wanted Dad to know that he could come in and sit in the boiler room or read to the kids to fulfill his time. What a difference a caring and insightful person can make! He honored a man’s loyalty through his actions. Dr. Hamet ended up serving Comstock faithfully for twenty-five years as a superintendent.

That moment was one of the moments which led me to a life in education. Dad taught me many lessons about schools (even how to run a buffer), much more than I would learn at Olivet College or even the University of Virginia. One of the greatest of those lessons turned out to be me witnessing a visit by a superintendent of schools to a custodian.