Not Yet...

Welcome back!!! The feeling of the first day of school never gets old. As we settle in to our daily routines, let’s always keep in mind the power we have to influence. We have the opportunity to create adversaries or allies with our students. Let us all remember how good it feels to achieve and every student that enters your class begins with that goal. Also give consideration to the fact that grades can be demotivating or uplifting for a student. Though we don’t use the following scale, we can certainly keep it in our minds:
A = Excellent
B = Above Average
C = Average
NY = Not Yet
Whether the student learns in the first week or last week, they still learned. The difference between ‘Not Yet’ and ‘Fail’ is the difference between ‘Possible chance’ and ‘Certain defeat’ in the mind of a student that is trying. However measured, the feeling of success is a great motivator. Let’s make this year the best ever for our students (cue The Best is Yet to Come - Frank Sinatra). Enjoy your weekend…Go Pups!

Almost there...

We have three weeks to go until the end and things are busy as we prep for the final push to the end. Before I look too far forward, I want to take some time to reflect on how far we have come. This year we have had our share of wins: including two successful AGB visits, a WASC visit that reaffirmed accreditation, positive data in both cohort graduation rate and dropout rate, curriculum conversions, many successes in extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, and individual wins are too frequent to count. However measured, whether as objective as a win in a game or subjective as a feeling of success, 2014-15 has proven to be a really good year. On behalf of the administration team, thank you all for you hard work and devotion to our students. (cue Abba – The Winner Takes It All) Enjoy your weekend…Go Pups!

Home Stretch

Now that April is over, we looking down the home stretch. Some Seniors are looking forward to great things to come and finishing strong, others just want it to be finished, and then some just hope to reach the finish. This is a busy time when I get to meet with a number of students that are ‘sitting on the bubble’. They tell me they ‘hope’ to reach the finish and I respond every time with, “Hope is not a strategy”. That saying has meaning for all of us. Are ‘we’ collectively doing everything we can to make certain every student is given the opportunity to finish? Are we providing the motivation and pushing them if need be to the finish, or are we simply hoping they are going to make it on their own. I’ll let you be the judge. Enjoy your weekend…Go Pups!

Spring Break

Well, we have made it to Spring Break, and the end of the semester is quickly approaching. When we return, we will have testing on our doorstep, Senior Ethics will soon follow, Master Schedule planning, then AP testing, Senior jeopardy lists, and final preparation for graduation. Before all that, we have a week to catch our breath and rest up for the final 9 weeks. My hope is that you take some time to reflect on the year. Our collective success is determined by each one of us identifying our individual obstacles and overcoming them. Once we define them, we can implement a plan to overcome. In my office I have a little sign that says, “Bring It”. I look at it multiple times a day and it reminds me to take on my day with a competitive fire. Bring the hurdles, we will find a way to jump them; bring the challenges, we will meet them; bring the students, we will teach them. Enjoy the week off. You’ve earned it. Go Pups! (cue Go-Go’s - Vacation)

First Day of Spring

The first day of Spring has arrived very quietly and we may be able to attribute it to the fact we really didn’t have a Winter this year. Then again, we all know our Valley weather cycle to be the seasons of Fall-Fog Season-Allergy Season-Summer. Having not had a Winter, we can all count on a really hot summer with water restrictions that will make it more difficult. Thankfully, even with our extreme heat, our Valley is still a great place to be. I know this to be true, because every now and then I get reminded when I travel to other schools. Having made the trip to Compton High School last weekend, I have a new frame of reference that makes me really appreciate my surroundings. Yes, we have our challenges, but in perspective, we need not continue to chase something better. Have a great weekend. Go Pups! (cue Alanis Morissette – Thank U)

Testing Season

The first grading period has past and we are quickly approaching testing season. In no time, we will be at Spring break wondering where the year went. In the meantime, we need to focus on the student in the desk, not the teenage attitude, but the story behind the student. That story has you playing a key role and the ending has yet to be written. You have the power to impact a life. You can be the teacher you remember that influenced your life for the better. The next time someone asks you what you do for a living, tell them you positively impact lives because as Larry Bell puts it, “On your worst day, you are a child’s best hope.” So true. Have a great weekend. Go Pups! (cue Beach Boys – Be True to Your School)

Two week break...

 After missing in action for two weeks, the Weekly Communication returns. No doubt, the Spring semester has arrived fast and furious. Hopefully we will experience a wet and rainy February, so we can swim into March. Whether it rains or not, we all know allergy season is just around the corner. In no time, our our eyes will burn (just don’t rub them), and our noses will tickle causing us to get to the pharmacy. Ah yes…the Valley in the Spring. Before then, embrace the cold weather, rain, and snow. We’ll miss it when it’s gone. Have a fantastic 3-day weekend. Go Pups!