5-17-2019

Mary’s Minute

“Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.”

                                                             ~ Samuel Butler

As the end of the school year closes in, and I reflect on the Class of 2019, I have been thinking about learning, specifically I am thinking about what I have learned from this class.  That makes me think about learning in general.  We certainly never stop learning, and I love the idea of Sam Butler that learning is like playing a violin solo in public.  It is true that the more we practice (or the older we get) the more experiences we have, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t hit some sour notes.  From the missed notes we learn just as much or more than the times we get it pitch perfect.

I appreciate the lessons I have learned from the Class of 2019.  For instance, several students have started a breakfast club on the school parking lot on Monday mornings.  Their goal is simply to start the week in a positive way.  Their example has helped me look at Mondays differently.  Now when I see them I call out, “Win Monday, win the week!”

I have learned from this class that we cannot underestimate the potential of anyone.  This class has students who have done and will continue to do amazing things. 

I have learned about acceptance and caring from them.  And the list goes on and on. 

The lessons are important, but most important is that I am learning and that I recognize that learning goes far beyond noted experts or published books.  I just need to be aware and open. I need to keep learning – keep practicing my violin for the world to see all the notes I miss.  To stop learning is to silence our violins, which would make for an eerily silent world. 

           

                                                              Have a great week!

                                                                                                Mary

5-10-2019

Mary’s Minute

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

                                                                                             ~ Henry Adams

We get up each morning and go about our normal business.  We interact with people on a daily basis.  Sometimes we see a reaction immediately and know that we have made a difference in some way.  Other times we just go about doing our thing not really knowing if it made a difference.  People who work with students – everyone who works at Perry Central, does not know where their influence stops.  All we can do is do our best to do the right things for our students, but the impact we have is not always immediate.

My cousin, Dan Thurmon, poses the question, “Who is in your audience?”  We never know who is paying attention to what we are doing.  People who work with students know who we have in our audience every single day – the future.  Our students are paying attention to what we do even when we do not realize that they are listening or watching.

It is motivating and also scary.  I am so proud to work with the great group of people at Perry Central (bus drivers, cooks, teachers, instructional assistants, office personnel, maintenance and custodians).  As these great people go about their day to day work students are watching and listening.  You make a difference!  During this “Appreciation Week” I am proud to think of the influence the people who work at Perry Central have on the future.  You never know where your influence stops.  What you do today may not be realized until tomorrow or even years from now, but you are truly affecting eternity.

                                                                                  Have a great week!

                                                                                                     Mary

5-3-2019

Mary’s Minute

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”

                                                                              ~ Voltaire

I worry each year that during our annual “Appreciation Week” that there is no way to adequately show Perry Central staff members how much we appreciate them.  The truth is that a few meals and kind words one week of the year is not enough, but that doesn’t mean we should not set aside the week for appreciation.  Appreciation is a state of mind, and when we stop to appreciate the people around us we not only spread some joy to them, but equally importantly is that by embracing the excellence in others it becomes part of us.

We will spend the week focused on the practice of gratitude – letting our teachers, office staff, instructional assistants, nurses, social workers, bus drivers, cooks, custodians, and maintenance staff know how much what they do matters.

My hope is that the week of appreciation will be more than splurging on morning sweets, but a week where we practice appreciation of each other and ourselves.  By seeing the good in all those around us and taking time to appreciate yourself, the simple week of appreciation will go much farther. 

The act of appreciation is a gift in itself.  It feels good to be appreciated for things you do, and it feels even better to practice showing appreciation.  Please know you are appreciated and most of all take some time to reflect on what you appreciate about yourself and others.  That might taste as sweet as the cinnamon rolls on the menu!

                                                                                       Have a great week!

                                                                                                   Mary