A Fifth grade teacher brought me the journal entry below. The students were asked to write about their goals for the year. One of her students wrote the passage below:
"My goal is to live up to the honor code. The way I am going to get there is to get nicer everyday, one step at a time. To demonstrate commitment I will recycle, go on fundraiser tasks, and to do community service. To show selflessness I will help people with books, laptops, and lockers. Finally, I will show moral courage by standing up for people who are getting picked on and abused. I believe I can do it."
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Monday Ponderance 9/15/2008
This reflection is from Michael Josephson's Character Counts website:
July 14, 2008
Benny: The Man on the Bus 575.2
This is a parable about leadership.
A teacher assigned her 12th graders an essay about a leader they admired. Most kids wrote about famous people, but one student turned in this:
Benny: The Man on the Bus
I’ve been taking a public bus to school for years. Most passengers go to work and never talk to anyone else.
About a year ago, an elderly man got on the bus and said loudly to the driver, “Good morning!” Most people looked up annoyed, and the bus driver just grunted.
The next day the man got on at the same stop and again said loudly, “Good morning!” to the driver.
On the fifth day, the driver greeted the man first with a cheerful “Good morning!” and Benny replied loudly, “My name’s Benny. What’s yours?” The driver said his name was Ralph.
That was the first time any of us had heard the driver’s name. Soon all the passengers began talking to each other and saying hello to Ralph and Benny.
After a month, Benny extended his cheerful greeting to the whole bus. Within a few days, his “Good morning!” was returned by a whole bunch of “Good mornings.” The entire bus seemed friendlier. If a leader is someone who makes something happen, Benny was our leader in friendliness.
A month ago, Benny didn’t get on the bus. Some of us thought he had died. No one knew what to do. The bus got quiet again.
So I started to act like Benny by saying “Good morning!” to everyone, and they cheered up again. I guess I’m now the leader.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
July 14, 2008
Benny: The Man on the Bus 575.2
This is a parable about leadership.
A teacher assigned her 12th graders an essay about a leader they admired. Most kids wrote about famous people, but one student turned in this:
Benny: The Man on the Bus
I’ve been taking a public bus to school for years. Most passengers go to work and never talk to anyone else.
About a year ago, an elderly man got on the bus and said loudly to the driver, “Good morning!” Most people looked up annoyed, and the bus driver just grunted.
The next day the man got on at the same stop and again said loudly, “Good morning!” to the driver.
On the fifth day, the driver greeted the man first with a cheerful “Good morning!” and Benny replied loudly, “My name’s Benny. What’s yours?” The driver said his name was Ralph.
That was the first time any of us had heard the driver’s name. Soon all the passengers began talking to each other and saying hello to Ralph and Benny.
After a month, Benny extended his cheerful greeting to the whole bus. Within a few days, his “Good morning!” was returned by a whole bunch of “Good mornings.” The entire bus seemed friendlier. If a leader is someone who makes something happen, Benny was our leader in friendliness.
A month ago, Benny didn’t get on the bus. Some of us thought he had died. No one knew what to do. The bus got quiet again.
So I started to act like Benny by saying “Good morning!” to everyone, and they cheered up again. I guess I’m now the leader.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Anti-Bullying Resources
I received the e-mail below the other day about a new initiative on the Web regarding bullying in schools. As the Home Page says, the website "aims to gather links to best practices around the world on a searchable website." The text of the e-mail is below, and you can enter the website via the link below Useful Dean Links.
Schools Anti Bullying Web Gateway
In late 2005 a Transatlantic Schools Anti Bullying Initiative was created with the support of the UK and US Governments. We held a comprehensive consultation exercise on school bullying issues in the US and UK. Our Transatlantic Schools Anti Bullying Initiative has now run its course and the resulting Initiative Report is available free of charge from http://www.schoolsantibullying.com/report.htm
As a result of the Initiative we received sponsorship to develop and maintain a "Schools Anti Bullying Web Gateway" with information from around the world and to make it FREELY AVAILABLE to anyone who wants to access it. Please visit the site at http://www.schoolsantibullying.com/
This new “Schools Anti Bullying Web Gateway” does not create anti bullying projects itself. It is intended to be a fully comprehensive resource for young people, parents, teachers and practitioners that gathers together, in one place, anti bullying projects and materials (in English) from around the world, which is freely available.
Although there are links on the website to numerous successful projects/support groups/Networks we would still very much welcome others to contact us to ensure that the Schools Anti Bullying Web Gateway gathers as many links to best practices around the world as possible.
We would welcome working with anti bullying organisations around the world to discuss how we can develop this FREE resource to the benefit of young people.
If you require support or information please contact Stephanie at info@schoolsantibullying.com
Schools Anti Bullying Gateway
16 Brough Road, South Cave
Brough, HU15 2BX, UK
Tel: +44(0)1482 651695
Fax: +44(0)1482 659281
http://www.schoolsantibullying.com/
Schools Anti Bullying Web Gateway
In late 2005 a Transatlantic Schools Anti Bullying Initiative was created with the support of the UK and US Governments. We held a comprehensive consultation exercise on school bullying issues in the US and UK. Our Transatlantic Schools Anti Bullying Initiative has now run its course and the resulting Initiative Report is available free of charge from http://www.schoolsantibullying.com/report.htm
As a result of the Initiative we received sponsorship to develop and maintain a "Schools Anti Bullying Web Gateway" with information from around the world and to make it FREELY AVAILABLE to anyone who wants to access it. Please visit the site at http://www.schoolsantibullying.com/
This new “Schools Anti Bullying Web Gateway” does not create anti bullying projects itself. It is intended to be a fully comprehensive resource for young people, parents, teachers and practitioners that gathers together, in one place, anti bullying projects and materials (in English) from around the world, which is freely available.
Although there are links on the website to numerous successful projects/support groups/Networks we would still very much welcome others to contact us to ensure that the Schools Anti Bullying Web Gateway gathers as many links to best practices around the world as possible.
We would welcome working with anti bullying organisations around the world to discuss how we can develop this FREE resource to the benefit of young people.
If you require support or information please contact Stephanie at info@schoolsantibullying.com
Schools Anti Bullying Gateway
16 Brough Road, South Cave
Brough, HU15 2BX, UK
Tel: +44(0)1482 651695
Fax: +44(0)1482 659281
http://www.schoolsantibullying.com/
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Interesting Article on School-Age Boys
The article linked below is a very interesting look at how our school age boys are struggling (as a whole) with behavior and attention span. If nothing else, it provides an opinion of the state of education and child growth.
Thanks to Mr. McLaughlin for passing this article along.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Monday Ponderances
Each Monday, during our middle school assemblies, a member of the faculty will relate some story, current event, or anecdote with the students. The intent is for the students to think about the message and discuss it in advisory. I will try to post the "ponderances" each week so you can share in the discussion at home.
This week Ms. Herrity shared the following tale from Michael Josephson (you can find more insightful thoughts from Mr. Josephson at his website, which is linked to the left).
Five Birds and Good Intentions 582.5
ShareThis
"Five birds are sitting on a telephone wire. Two decide to fly South. How many are left? Most people would say three. Actually, all five are left. You see, deciding to fly isn’t the same as actually doing it.
If a bird really wants to go somewhere, it’s got to point itself in the right direction, jump off the wire, flap its wings, and keep flapping until it gets where it wants to go.
So it is with most things. Good intentions are not enough. It’s not what we want, say, or think that makes things happen; it’s what we do.
I frequently think of writing thank-you, birthday, and congratulatory notes. Unfortunately, only a sad few of these good sentiments ever make it to paper. Still, if I don’t look too closely, I can delude myself into thinking that based on my good thoughts I’m a gracious and grateful person.
A truer and less admirable picture of my character is drawn by my actions.
In the end, we either do or don’t do. We either make the time to do the things we want to and should do, or we make excuses. As Alfred Adler said, “Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement.”
What do you want to do? Do you want to take a course, change your job, lose weight, make new friends, or spend more time with and appreciate more the ones you have?
What’s stopping you from jumping off the wire and flapping your wings?
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts."
This week Ms. Herrity shared the following tale from Michael Josephson (you can find more insightful thoughts from Mr. Josephson at his website, which is linked to the left).
Five Birds and Good Intentions 582.5
ShareThis
"Five birds are sitting on a telephone wire. Two decide to fly South. How many are left? Most people would say three. Actually, all five are left. You see, deciding to fly isn’t the same as actually doing it.
If a bird really wants to go somewhere, it’s got to point itself in the right direction, jump off the wire, flap its wings, and keep flapping until it gets where it wants to go.
So it is with most things. Good intentions are not enough. It’s not what we want, say, or think that makes things happen; it’s what we do.
I frequently think of writing thank-you, birthday, and congratulatory notes. Unfortunately, only a sad few of these good sentiments ever make it to paper. Still, if I don’t look too closely, I can delude myself into thinking that based on my good thoughts I’m a gracious and grateful person.
A truer and less admirable picture of my character is drawn by my actions.
In the end, we either do or don’t do. We either make the time to do the things we want to and should do, or we make excuses. As Alfred Adler said, “Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement.”
What do you want to do? Do you want to take a course, change your job, lose weight, make new friends, or spend more time with and appreciate more the ones you have?
What’s stopping you from jumping off the wire and flapping your wings?
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts."
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Honor is Everywhere
Many of you may have noticed the additions to the hallways in the middle school. Running across the beams of each grade level quad are the three main ideas of our Honor Code: Selfless Servants, Moral Courage, and Commitment.
We want our students to see these phrases (all three can be seen at once when one stands in the center of the quads) and to take it as a challenge, a challenge to live up to and exceed the expectations of the Honor Code each and every day.
As a school we have begun a running conversation about what these three phrases mean to us - as a community, as constutuencies, and as individuals. A helpful document in this is the Character Chart, which begins the discussion by assigning particular characteristics to the ideas of Selfless Servants, Moral Courage, and Commitment. Within those characteristics, the chart provides examples of how a student can exceed expectations. Furthermore, the student can see how their character acts will be rewarded under the Black & Gold point system. You can find that document under Character Chart in the Useful Dean Links section on the left side of this blog.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the new Honor Code, the phrases posted throughout the school, or the evolving definitions of the ideas that make up the Honor Code.
We want our students to see these phrases (all three can be seen at once when one stands in the center of the quads) and to take it as a challenge, a challenge to live up to and exceed the expectations of the Honor Code each and every day.
As a school we have begun a running conversation about what these three phrases mean to us - as a community, as constutuencies, and as individuals. A helpful document in this is the Character Chart, which begins the discussion by assigning particular characteristics to the ideas of Selfless Servants, Moral Courage, and Commitment. Within those characteristics, the chart provides examples of how a student can exceed expectations. Furthermore, the student can see how their character acts will be rewarded under the Black & Gold point system. You can find that document under Character Chart in the Useful Dean Links section on the left side of this blog.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the new Honor Code, the phrases posted throughout the school, or the evolving definitions of the ideas that make up the Honor Code.
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