Valentine's Day

 We are now into the second half of February having just past Valentines Day.  As one of our celebrated ‘holidays’, many simply buy the obligatory card and flowers.  The origin however is much more interesting. Legend has it that Valentine was a priest during the rule of Cladius II. The emperor decided that single men made better soldiers so he outlawed marriage. Valentine defied the law and continued to perform ceremonies in secret. When Emperor Cladius II discovered this, Valentine was put to death.  Makes for a compelling story, but not historically accurate.  Valentine, was real and Cladius II did actually sentence him to death on February 14th for cimes against Rome. Quite interesting how the story changes.  I guess it is not much different than today.  Sometimes it is hard to believe all the stories we hear. That being said, I choose to assume the best of intentions. Have a super weekend…Go Pups! (cue: Andrea Bocelli – Con Te Partiro)

New Year

Happy New Year!  I think I am okay saying that until the end of January.  As for the weekend, thanks to Martin Luther King Jr., there is no school on Monday. For that, we should probably remember the issues for which Reverend King stood.  His push for civil rights through civil disobedience and nonviolence was inspirational at the very least.  As a Nobel Peace Prize winner, he was devoted to equality for all.  In his famous ‘I Have A Dream’ speech delivered on August 28, 1963, he made the most famous statement, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Powerful words that today we look at and say, “dah”! Judge people on the content of their character? Absolutely!  Everytime.  Thank you Dr. King for your profound words and actions.  We will forever be grateful. Enjoy yourself and have an unbelievable weekend…Go Pups! (cue: Pete Seeger – We Shall Overcome) 

Break has Arrived

The Thanksgiving break has arrived and not a moment too soon.  Many of us welcome the time with our families and will be suiting up for the Black Friday challenges that are before us. We will return on Cyber Monday with just enough energy in our tank to get to the end of the semester.  In the meantime, enjoy the time off with your families.  Take some time for you.  Reflect on the days past and on the future. I always revisit my annual personal goals at Thanksgiving to evaluate if I have attained them.  If not, I still have time until December 31st and the New Year.  Enjoy yourself and have an unbelievable weekend…Go Pups! (cue: Homeward Bound – Simon and Garfunkel)

Here Comes the Sun

We’ve reached the middle of November and the holiday season is certainly upon us.  It is time for us to re-evaluate our interactions with our students. The personal connection we make can reap big dividends and overcome many of the challenges our students face.  They will work hard for you when you give them the reason to do so.  They simple don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. For now, go and enjoy the brilliant three day weekend.  It is going to be a beautiful one. Go Pups! (Cue: The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun)  

Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th has arrived again and here come the stories of horror movies and historic legends. The day has a ton of history. Most notably, in 1307 King Philip of France in an effort to capture wealth and power from the Catholic Church, issued an order to arrest all Knights Templar for heresy.  That led to the torture and killing of 625 Knights Templar of the Masonic Order.  All this was the result of a feud created because, in Pope Boniface eyes, the Church was superior to the ruling class and should not be paying taxes to the King.  Since the Templars were an extension of the Church, they became enemies of the Monarch.  Sure gives another meaning to the term ‘death and taxes’!  History aside, there is always two sides to luck.  Make Friday the 13th a happy one and enjoy the 14th and 15th.  Go Pups! (Cue: Superstitious – Stevie Wonder)  

Easy Button

One more week is done and we now have one more sad tragedy. The events that happened in Las Vegas have effected many people and at the very minimum, reminded us all how precious life can be. Our hearts go out to everyone involved and especially to those people that lost loved ones. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had an ‘easy button’ to push that would just calm everyone down so we don’t continue to have these horrible man-made events. It truly makes me wonder what is going on? I wish I had the answer. That being said, I do know that lending and ear, a shoulder, or your time can make a world of difference. Be the ones to change this world. Have a tremendous weekend. Go Pups! (Cue: Old Coca-Cola Commercial – Hillside Singers – I’d Like To Teach the World to Sing)

Yom Kippur

We have made it to the end of September and Yom Kippur.  If you are like me, regardless of your religious affiliation or beliefs, religious traditions intrigue me.  For those that do not know, Yom Kippur is a Jewish day of communal and personal atonement that begins at sunset today and continues until sundown tomorrow.  The only reason I talk about it is because for people of the Jewish faith, it is a deeply religious time to be reflective through prayer.  For the none Jewish, it can remind us that personal reflection is vitally important to our personal growth.  Being reflective, not just on September 29th, but everyday can enhance every component of our lives.  Enjoy your weekend and the gorgeous weather. (Cue: Paul Simon - Kodachrome)