Senior Nights

What a week!  I always like to watch the Senior nights.  It always gives me an opportunity to reflect on what we do. Some students only participate in one extracurricular activity during their time in high school and Senior Night may be the last time they participate in their home venue.  Many try to trick themselves into believing they will never have to say goodbye to the activity, the camaraderie, or even the difficult practices, but they do. Very few continue at a collegiate level and they know it.  The feelings and emotions the kids feel are real and something they have never experienced before. For them, it is difficult to explain and only truly understood by others who have been in the same position. I am humbled by the hours and hours our students, coaches, and parents log during a season.  The relationships and bonds that are built during a season of performance have the power to change lives.  It is truly amazing! Have an extraordinary weekend. Go Pups! (cue Bon Jovi:  It’s My Life) 

This Is Me

The middle of October is here and with it some cooler weather.  This is the time to build a movie watching list and I have a recommendation:  The Greatest Showman.  After having seen it several times, it is still captivating.  The song ‘This Is Me’ from the movie makes me think about high school students. Sometimes teenagers are mean and they attack other teens that are a bit awkward.  As adults, we see all teens as a bit awkward at times.  The song makes reference to people who attack others and offers an appropriate response:  When the sharpest words wanna cut me down; I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out; I am brave, I am bruised; I am who I'm meant to be, this is me. What a message!  Of course words hurt, but be brave and larger than those that say them.  We should encourage our students to be who they are.  Have an exceptional weekend. Go Pups! (cue Keala Settle, Greatest Showman Ensemble: This Is Me) 

Homecoming

Homecoming has now past and October has arrived.  The cooler weather is upon us and it could not have come at a better time.  Hot weather seems to make for shorter fuses in our students.  As educators we all learn patience during the months of October and March…long stretches with no 3-day weekends.  When challenges arise, I always ask myself a question about perception or reality. Are these concepts the same?  Probably not.  We need to understand that a student perception is their reality.  We should seek to understand their perception and the lens with which they view us. Have a most wonderful weekend. Go Pups! (cue Foreigner: Juke Box Hero) 

 

First Day of Fall

The first day of Fall was this past Saturday and the heat of the summer remains.  We are all looking for a change and a change will soon be coming.  We are happy the forecast is for after homecoming.  No matter when it arrives, it will not last.  What remains will be glorious weather.  As I wrote back in 2014, whether rain is literal or metaphorical, just remember that in both cases, it takes both rain and sun to make a rainbow.  That is always a lesson we need to teach our students.  The measure of a person’s character is not how they perform during the easy times, it’s how they persevere in difficult ones.  Don’t quit, wait out the rain, and cherish the rainbow.  Have an outstanding Friday and an even better homecoming.  Go Pups! (cue Creedence Clearwater Revival: Have You Ever Seen The Rain)

What's Your Soundtrack?

Many of you have asked why I make musical references in my weekly update.  Here is the explanation from my update on October 10, 2014:  I guess it’s time I explain why I have musical references in my updates.  When I was young, I lived in the country with only 3 TV stations, but we had radio and a great set of 8-tracks (Don’t hate!).  Around the house and on long trips we used to play games such as “Name that Tune” as the new song switched on the radio (first to yell the title won) or “If I was in a movie, what would the soundtrack be?”  The brainstorm of songs was hilarious to say the least.  Now however, the games are gone but the great memories and the soundtracks remain.  So the song references are reminders that however stressed or difficult times may be, there is always time to smile and possibly create a new memory.  So ask yourself, what soundtrack is playing?  Have a remarkable Friday and a most excellent weekend.  Go Pups! (cue: Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’)

Embrace the Good Things

Now that Spring Break is over, we look forward to the final push to graduation. Events are going to come and go at an increasingly fast pace, stress levels will be on the rise, and the weather is getting warmer.  Take the time to slow down and actually see the world around you.  Embrace the good things, throw away the bad things, and strive everyday to be better.  Isn’t this what we are asking our students to do?  Maybe we should spend the weekend swinging in a hammock pondering that question, or, since your in the hammock, read a good book or simply sleep. Have a fabulous weekend…Go Pups! (cue: David Lantz and Pual Spear – Behind the Waterfall)

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)