12-18-2015

Mary’s Minute

“If there is to be any peace it will come through being, not having.”

                        ~ Henry Miller

I think we are all still in the hustle and bustle stage of the holiday season.  This stage for some people is a jolly one, while for some it turns stressful.  We are busy “preparing” while we remain cheerful in order to spread cheer.  For me, although I am happy and love the joy of the season, I am running around like mad most of the time.  There comes a point that all becomes calm for me.  It may be a moment in church, the calm after the wrapping paper explosion, or maybe a simple moment when I catch a twinkle of Christmas lights.  At some moment, all becomes tranquil, and I am at peace.  There is something about Christmas that always gives me that wonderful feeling.  It may not last long, but there is something incredibly special about Christmas peace.  It is the kind of peace that I truly believe could solve all the problems in the world if everyone could experience simultaneously.  Wishing you and your family love, joy, and the special peace of Christmas!

                                                Mary

12-11-2015

Mary’s Minute

Last night I had the pleasure of watching Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic, A Christmas Carol.  I was thinking of the different perspectives of the basic theme of the play, and was intrigued with subtitles for the play.  “A Christmas Carol:  a story of _____________”  Phrases that came to my mind included, a story of missed opportunities, a story of greed, a story of the true meaning of Christmas, or a story of regrets.  The one that I personally like the best of the words that floated through my head was, “A Christmas Carol: a story of new beginnings.”  At intermission my Bill commented, “This is really sad,” after seeing the ghost of Marley and the ghost of Christmas Past, but the ending is wonderful with Scrooge committing to a life of generosity and kindness.  The focus turns away from the past where regrets and missed opportunities lie, and instead resides with gratitude for a new beginning.  Although the past is used as a tool for Scrooge to make positive change in his life, the real story lies in the present and future.  Scrooge cannot regret the past, but must move forward in a positive way.  That is what Christmas can be for all of us.  We can look back to learn how we can grow, but we cannot dwell in the past.  We cannot think of missed opportunities, but must be thankful for new beginnings.

                God bless us, everyone!

                                Mary

12-4-2015

Mary's Minute

Single moments have the power to change our lives.  In the blink of an eye our lives can be forever changed by an event, such as an accident.  Another example of the power of the moment is the "aha" moment of the student when they learn something new. We also recognize the power of words, and how saying one thing to a person can be a moment that is life-changing.

We look at life and realize that it is the compilation of moments that make us who we are.  It is this interplay of moments and the cumulative effect that living has on us that truly define us.  In education this is called scaffolding and means that we strive to provide students with rich learning experiences so that when an unexpected learning moment arises they are ready for it.

In life, we cannot control much of what happens to us, but by filling our hearts and heads with positive thinking, we are better equipped to deal with the negative things that occur. In order to be successful we have to use our experiences to face the unexpected in the most positive ways.  In other words, we cannot control much of what happens, but we can control our attitude towards it.

Everything can change in a moment that we cannot predict, but we can be prepared by making the experiences that are within our control positive.  

                                                                    Have a great week!

                                                                    Mary

11-20-2015

Mary’s Minute

A simple question that educators must never forget is, “What is our purpose?”  As simple as the question seems, I think sometimes schools fail to think deeply about it.  Most agree that the purpose of schools is for learning.  Everything else we do needs to center around our core mission – learning.  At Perry Central we spend a lot of time thinking and talking about learning.  There are a lot of catch phrases in education that relate to the unfaltering quest to promote student learning.  We have heard phrases like, “Failure is not an option,” or “whatever it takes” to describe schools’ efforts to ensure learning for all students.  At Perry Central we truly believe that we want all students to learn and do our best to take away barriers.  We believe that students cannot simply opt out of learning.  For instance, if a student chooses to not do an assignment, in some systems the student would simply take a zero and never be held accountable for the missed learning.  At Perry Central, we don’t let students off the hook that easily.  First, we try to make assignments meaningful so that students will choose to do them, but if they don’t, their first option is not taking a zero.  We communicate with parents, assign them to Learning Lunch or to Eighth Period (after school tutoring).  Although they may get a grade cut for being late on an assignment, they can’t opt for a zero by not doing the work.  We provide every support possible to make sure they do the work!  Why?  Because our primary purpose is learning.  We also understand the importance of teaching work ethics, like timeliness, (We will save that for another discussion.) but learning is our purpose!  We are proud of the results of our philosophy.  By creating support systems for students, they continue to do well, not just here but also when compared to students across the state, and more importantly when they leave Perry Central and go off to college.  I extend my sincere thanks to our teachers and support staff for understanding that learning is at the core of what we do!  Your efforts are working!

Have a great week!

Mary

11-13-2015

                                                                
     

Mary’s Minute

Words matter. Words have long been a treasure to me. Words are a powerful vehicle to help, to harm, or to bring enlightenment.  Words can used in simple, practical ways that are also vitally important as they give direction and warn of danger. I love words and have long loved other people's words, as I enjoy sharing and collecting quotes. I had forgotten until this week where my appreciation for other people's words began. Mrs. Gondring was my senior English teacher.  She made English literature come alive and always carried herself with the a quiet grace that defined her.  When it came time to write a speech my senior year, I didn't turn to Google or one of the many websites devoted to quotes for inspiration. I didn't open one of my quote books since it was before I began my collection.  Instead, sweet Mrs. Gondring loaned me her shoebox full of words she had clipped from magazines or jotted on scraps of paper.  I smile thinking of how I had the honor of flipping through the hundreds of scraps that she had collected. That simple shoebox was a treasure box!  The speech is long ago written and forgotten, but the gift Mrs. Gondring instilled in me lives on. Mrs. Gondring at 98 passed away this week. She was such an indelible blessing to Perry Central and to the world. I wish that I could find the words to express my appreciation for this special lady, but ironically I find myself at a loss of words for the woman who helped teach me the power of words.
                                                             
                                                                               Have a good week!
                                                                               Mary

11-6-2015

Mary’s Minute

“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”

~ Dr. Seuss

Time is a crazy concept.  I think even scientists cannot understand its vastness and limitations, and it certainly boggles a lay person like me.  The bottom line is that time is finite.  The older we get the faster it seems to go.  Days, weeks, months, and years fly by, and like Dr. Seuss we are left asking, “How did it get so late so soon?” or How did I get so old so fast? or How did my kids grow up so fast?  The other obvious factor that comes into play is that because of our unpredictability mortality we never know how much time we really have.  For people who long for control, it is a great reminder that we don’t control our destiny.  Time rolls on, and we cannot predict how much time we have in this lifetime.  With these factors in mind, the simple solution is to use our time wisely.  Every moment counts and more importantly, we need to treasure the time we have.  We must be accountable to ourselves to make sure we are satisfied with how we spend our moments because the way we spend our moments is the way we spend our lives.  Time is perhaps the greatest gift we have because it is something we cannot get back. 

 

                Have a great week!

                Mary

10-23-2015

Mary’s Minute

“Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights.”

              ~Pauline R. Kezer 

“We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.”

               ~Harrison Ford

 

Fall is perhaps the greatest time of the year to live in Perry County.  The weather seems perfect this week, and the fall color is breath-taking.  Although change can be a frightening endeavor, nature’s way of bringing in change reminds us that change is beautiful.  Fall color is a great reminder that we should not fear change, but rather see it as an opportunity for growth and a second chance.  is in a beautiful way that helps us see that change is not simply necessarily, but that it is helpful, providing a chance for new growth and second changes.  The Kezer quote makes me think of the important interplay between continuity and change.  The frame of our deciduous trees provide the foundation of continuity that Kezer describes, while the falling leaves represent the branches for growth.  When we are confronted with change and fear, let us try to remember that change can be as beautiful as autumn in Perry County!

                                                                                    Have a great break!

                                                                                         Mary

10-15-2015

Mary’s Minute

"What a teacher writes on the blackboard of life can never be erased." ~Author Unknown

 

Teachers make a difference - we say this over and over, and I cannot thank Perry Central teachers enough for the difference they make.  I had a powerful conversation that made me think about this phenomena.  Connie Holm and her mother spent a lot of their summer with her ill father in the hospital. During this time health professionals constantly were reminding Connie of the difference she made in their lives. Connie's mom asked, "Did you teach every doctor and nurse in this hospital?"  Connie shared that the experience was humbling and also provided an opportunity for reflection. Connie wondered/worried what memories past students held that might not be positive. I assured Connie that she should not worry, but her insight really made me think.  Our interactions with people matter; we leave an impression.  What we say to people, what we do for people, the way we make people feel - leaves a lasting impression. Each time we interact with others, we hold a metaphorical piece of chalk.  We hope that we leave people with positive memories, but we also have to take responsibility for the potential negative impacts we may have.  Personally, it is pretty scary!  What memories are we writing?  Thank you to Connie for sharing her insight, and especially to Connie and others for making a positive difference in our students' lives.

 

                                                                     Have a great week!

                                                                       Mary

10-9-2015

Mary’s Minute

“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That's because they were able to connect experiences they've had and synthesize new things.”

                                                                                                                                                              ~ Steve Jobs

Everyone agrees that the past several years have been difficult financial times in education.  In my thirteen years as superintendent funding has been cut more years than there have been even modest increases.  Through the tough times Perry Central has stayed strong and continued to build new programs.  One reason is our relentless vision to do what is right for our students, but to do that under difficult conditions something more is necessary.  We must think creatively, and we are fortunate at Perry Central that we have board leadership and a team that is always willing to look at situations from multiple perspectives to save money and/or make things better.  We don’t say things can’t be done; we always know there is a way.  We really don’t feel like what we do is anything special.  We just make things work, and somehow things do always work out when we live in the world of possibilities.

Have a great week!

Mary

10-2-2015

Mary’s Minute

“Follow your instincts. That's where true wisdom manifests itself.”

                                                                                      ~Oprah Winfrey

In our personal and professional lives we are constantly confronted with opportunities to change and grow.  Every single day we are forced to make decisions.  As educators we pride ourselves in continuous improvement and decision making based on theory and research.  At the same time we also need to trust our instincts.  We cannot use our reliance on our gut feelings as an excuse to ignore important information and opportunities to learn and grow.  We need to gather information by trusting the process of continual growth, examining it through our basic instincts because in many ways instincts can be defined as an impromptu manifestation of our core values.  We must stay true to our basic beliefs, and positive change occurs when we interrogate new ideas or practices against our beliefs.  In the moment, the best way to check the congruence is to trust our intuition!  We may make mistakes, but usually instincts are not random but a reflection of what we know to be true and right.

                                                                                Have a great week!

                                                                                Mary

9-25-2015

Mary’s Minute

“Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”

~ Marian Wright Edelman

Perry Central was born because a group of caring citizens believed in the power of education.  Perry Central was created because of the hard work and determination of Perry County residents who came together over fifty years ago, believing that our children deserve the very best possible education.  Many students were still using outhouses before the consolidated Perry Central campus opened in 1966, with schools spread across central and northern Perry County.  It is this spirit of hard work, determination, and pride that makes Perry Central what it is today.  Our roots are solid and steeped in optimism.  It is very fitting that our school corporation is called Perry Central Community School Corporation.  It is the sense of community that makes us who we are, and that is directly linked to the diligent individuals who believed in our students.  Our job now is to uphold the high standards that began over fifty years ago, and to continue to nurture an educational culture that will be part of a solid foundation in another fifty years.  The link to this video is a brief representation of what this sense of community means to us:   http://www.pccs.k12.in.us/2015-commercial.html  We extend our sincere thanks to those who came before us.  We understand the awesome responsibility we have to uphold the strong ideals upon which Perry Central Community School Corporation is built.  It is a huge charge, but also an exciting one! 

Have a great week!

Mary

9-18-2015

Mary’s Minute

“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.”

~Peter Drucker

The difference between leadership and management was a common theme in nearly every administrative class I took for my superintendent’s license.  It is true that organizations need managers to make sure things run smoothly.  This is where knowledge of policy, procedures, and budgets come in handy.  Many elements of working with people also fall under the management umbrella.  The important element in operating an organization is leadership.  At Perry Central we strive to do things right, but as Drucker points out we believe that we must do the right things.  We are fortunate to have a school board that leads with the goal of doing the right things.  Speaking for myself, I know that I make mistakes, but my quest is to treat people fairly and do the right things for our students, employees, and community.  Leadership, like everything we do, falls back to our core beliefs, so when we believe that kindness matters that effects how we treat people and run our organization.  In education there is a rule of thumb to make decisions that are best for kids, and at Perry Central we take it a step further striving to do what is best for kids and also the right thing.  Again, I know that I fail, but I will continue to strive to do the right things because that is the true essence of leadership and the heart of Perry Central.

Have a great week!

Mary

 

9-11-2015

Mary’s Minute

“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.”

~ Dalai Lama

 “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.”

~ Albert Schweitzer

When we ponder the “meaning of life” it can translate to a deep philosophical discussion or a fun conversation to lighten the mood.  The truth is at some point we all ponder the question, and from an educational standpoint we take it a step further to ponder the purpose of education.  Just as philosophers spend countless hours contemplating the query, educators focus many strategic planning sessions on the same basic inquiry. 

I think being happy is pretty important, so the Dalai Lama’s simple quote has great meaning to me, but I have long believed that we have an obligation to make the world a better place.  The great thing is that the two viewpoints go hand and hand since the key to being happy is serving others and being compassionate.  Finding happiness is sometimes allusive, and moments of happiness may occur in more selfish ways but true happiness comes through living a life of service to others.

How does all of this translate to education?  One of my favorite quotes about the purpose of education comes from my mentor, Jerry Harste, “Education is a metaphor for the kind of lives we want our students to lead.”  Using Jerry’s definition, if we figure out the purpose of life, we also have figured out the purpose of education.  Our focus is obviously learning, but at a deeper level it is about finding joy in learning and serving other through what we learn.

I love to think about “deep” questions – I think it helps us to realize that we are part of something bigger than ourselves, and also to not take ourselves too seriously.  Education and life are complicated endeavors.  Reflection and conversation around our mission in life and our vision for education are important, but sometimes the simplest answer is the best.  What kind of people do we want to be? 

                                                                                Have a great week!

                                                                                Mary

9-4-2015

Mary’s Minute

 

“There is no substitute for hard work.”                                          
                                                  ~ Thomas A. Edison

 

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”                                                                                        
                                                    ~ Colin Powell

There are many successful people who attest to the value of hard work being a strong contributor.  I certainly am a person who believes in the value of hard work, but one thing that is not talked about as often is what “work” really means.  I believe that too often “work” is viewed as a something we must do to get to where we want to go.  It seems like too often work is viewed as a drudgery to achieve something else – money, success, or a chance to rest.  Work is not just good because it gets us where we want to go, but it is good in its own right.  There is the element of enjoying work because it gives us a sense of accomplishment, but I also strive to see the joy in work itself.  It is true that there are times we must work when we are weary or have a task that is not enjoyable, but my goal is to not see work as a four letter word.  I think that I am lucky that my parents taught me to see work as a good thing.  Both of my parents were educators, but they were also always busy working on the side, and they enjoyed it.  We spend so much of our life in a job, so I believe it is important to find joy in the work we do.  My mom, who turns 76 today (Happy Birthday, Mom!) works physically harder today than most people half her age, and she loves it.  She also has a positive attitude about life in general, and she has never viewed work as simply something you do to get somewhere else.  She takes pride in what hard work can achieve, but she also experiences joy in the journey of working itself.  I am lucky to have her as a role model, even if I can’t keep up with her!

Have a great week!

Mary

8-28-2015

Mary's Minute

When I entered the language education program at IU over twenty years ago, Jerome Harste was my idol.  He was a rock star to me, and I was in awe that I had the honor of sitting in his classes and discussing learning theory face-to-face with him.  I learned so much from Dr. Harste, who over time I called Jerry, and other professors during that time.  My philosophy of learning solidified during those important years.  Study involved pouring over books and writing countless papers, but the theory boils down to respect for learners.  

I remember seeing Jerry at a conference after I became a superintendent.  Most of his students become college professors, not school administrators. He groaned and said, "Oh no, you sold out!"  His fear was that I would be an administrator who put money and test score pressure ahead of respect for teachers and learners. When I look at Perry Central and the great things happening here I believe that we have not sold out!  We want teachers to feel supported so they can support learners. We want to respect learners as natural inquirers. We want to create an atmosphere that allows students to pursue their passions.  We want teacher meetings to focus on student learning and not test scores. 

My days of pulling all nighters in my cubby at the Wright Education Building are gone, but my awe of Jerry Harste, who now spends his days making sand sculptures on the beach is steadfast.  For him, and most importantly for our learners, I cannot let the pressures of day allow me to forget what really matters!

Have a great week!
Mary

8-21-2015

Mary’s Minute

“We do not learn only from great minds; we learn from everyone, if only we observe and inquire.”

~ D.A. Doxiadis

When we think of learning as a simple transfer of knowledge, it is logical that the best way to learn is from really smart people.  In this model knowledge is viewed as content – something tangible that can be held.  If learning is viewed this way, a good metaphor would be to think of education as a dump truck and learning as the process of filling up students with the content of the truck bed.  Thinking about learning this way is simple, but not accurate!  True learning is transitive rather than a transfer.  It is more complicated, but more exciting and accurate.  Learning from everyone by observing and inquiring is also fun!

This quote is helpful for me because it brings to light that learning is not about the content, but what we do with it.  Learning is enhanced by multiple perspectives when we the content is the springboard for questioning.  Thinking of learning this way, a better metaphor might be a lava lamp that is in constant motion with give and take. 

At Perry Central our students are learning not simply by being filled with knowledge of their “smart” teachers, but more importantly by working with their skillful teachers to observe and inquire in order to gain insight from multiple perspectives.  Our country is built on innovators, and by seeing learning as a transitive process we are helping to nurture the innovators of the future!

8-14-15

 

 

 

Mary's Minute

“Education is a social process; education is growth; education is not preparation for life but is life itself.”

― John Dewey

I spend a lot of time reflecting on the meaning of learning – after all we are an institution of learning.  I am interested in the dialogue of today, and I get excited listening to the educational theorists of today.  Yet, I still find myself drawn to the philosophy of John Dewey, an educational philosopher who was born in 1859.  Dewey believed in the social nature of education, as well as the notion that true learning is a continual process.  For learning to truly be learning, it must continue after the actual experience.  I am intrigued at how Dewey’s thinking fits with how technology has changed the way we think about learning.  Over one hundred years ago, “social” meant something very different than it does today, but the way it relates to learning is the same.  Dewey understood that learning needed to involve interacting with others through face to face discussions and reading/writing.  Today the same is true, but because of technology our social sphere of influence is exponentially greater.  Learning is still the dynamic, transformative act that it was in Dewey’s time, but because of technology the effects can be even more powerful.  Today we can connect with people across the globe, and interact through multiple mediums.  It is indeed an exciting time for learning!  I think John Dewey would be invigorated by how his theories still hold true, but are even more powerful because of technology.  Learning – what an energizing adventure!

                                                                        Have a great week!

                                                                        Mary

8-7-2015

Mary's Minute

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”

                                                                                    ~ Mother Teresa

Life has a way of shaping our beliefs, and I am intrigued that instead of life feeling more complex, it actually seems very simple.  Ultimately, what matters most in life is how we treat people.  Mother Teresa sums it up nicely.  Everything boils down to how we treat people.  My brother recently said, “I used to say we should be working to make the world a better place, but over the years I have boiled it down a little more.  That means we wake up every day working to make the world a better place by being nice to (loving) every single person we come into contact with every day, no exceptions, no passes.”  Perry Central is a place that puts people first, understanding that relationships are at the core of all we do.  The school year started with a powerful message from George Cuorus, who shared with our staff the power of technology and innovation, but most importantly the power of relationships. 

Unfortunately, I missed the opening day, but I feel connected and proud of that association.  On a personal level, I feel blessed in so many ways.  This week my daughter, Zoe, has been so sick, but while she lay in the hospital bed she smiled and thanked every caregiver her entered her room.  Life is complex; we have so much to accomplish, but in the end what really matters is how we treat each other. 

I appreciate the wonderful role models in my life, knowing I have so far to go to live the “simple” life to which I aspire.  Just last week my son, Bill, commented as I hung up with a customer service person, “Mom, why did you get so aggressive so quickly?”  I am not proud of that moment – I didn’t need to get aggressive at all, especially as Bill pointed out, “so quickly.”  Maybe on the backdrop of Zoe’s illness and the opening of this special school year, I am empowered to listen more intently and strive harder to follow Mother Teresa’s lead. 

Relationships matter.  People matter.  It is going to be a great school year!

 

                                                            Welcome Back!

                                                                        Mary

 

5-22-2015

Mary’s Minute

“There is a good reason they call these ceremonies "commencement exercises."  Graduation is not the end; it’s the beginning.”

                                                                        ~Orrin Hatch

Graduation is a nostalgic event.  It is a celebration of accomplishments, but also a time of reflection on the past for graduates and their family and friends.  It is saying good bye to a phase in life.  The great part about graduation, like many major life events, is that as we say good bye to one era, we open the door to another.  Life is that way, we can’t help but be sad for the passing of time, but we also celebrate all that has happened and are excited about the future.  Parents especially have these feelings as we watch our children grow from babies to adults.  We tear up as they reach milestones, but we also are happy for their futures.  My own mother, who many of you know, once said that her favorite age of her children was whatever age we were.  I think of that often and of what a sweet thing it was of her to say and also a great way to look at life.  It is a lesson to appreciate the past, but to enjoy the present.  On graduation day, I admit I will likely fight the tears as Pomp and Circumstance plays and I reflect on these seniors through their years at PC, but I will smile and remember that this is a commencement of their future. Also I will remember to celebrate the present like my mom taught me.

                                                                                        Have a great summer!

                                                                                                                 Mary

5-15-2015

Mary's Minute

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
                                                                                           - Martin Luther King, Jr.

With sunny days and the end of school near, my thoughts turn to the power of sunshine to brighten our days. It is hard to feel sad or discouraged when the sun is shining. When we think of negative feelings, hate being one of the darkest feelings to hold, it is good to think of the power of light and love. Just as it is hard to feel sad on a sunny day, it is hard to feel hatred when we fill our hurts with love. As we think about facing issues in life either on the grand international scale or within our own hearts, it is good to think of the power of light and love.  Enjoy the sunshine and let love and light build positive feelings in our lives and the world.  Thank you for spreading light and love for our students.
                                                                             Have a great week!
                                                                             Mary

5-8-2015

Mary's Minute

"Looking for equality everywhere is a huge mistake because equals are terrible and boring. But a sense of fairness and justice is a totally different thing and a much more complex thing."    
                                                                                                      - Josh Homme
"Equality is not in regarding different things similarly, equality is in regarding different things differently.”                                                                                    -Tom Robbins

We often think of fairness and equality as synonyms when in reality, fair is not always equal. In terms of basic rights equality is important, and that is not what where I am going with this. We are not all equal. We are all created with unique skills and have different life experiences.  The children we serve are far from the same in terms of skills, needs, and experiences. To be fair to our students, we cannot treat them equally. Obviously everyone must be accountable, and rules must be enforced consistently, but we always need to be aware of unique circumstances to fully meet students’ needs and to "be fair."
A powerful example of this happened recently on a bus.  A Perry Central bus driver became frustrated with two misbehaving boys and pulled the bus over to give them a verbal reprimand. When the driver threatened to call their parents, the response was startling.   The first boy said, "My mom and my dad don't even like me, so I have to live with my grandma."  The second boy chimed in and said, "Well my mom is dead, and my dad is in jail."  To be fair we need to be consistent, but all is not equal.  Being fair means searching for understanding and facing each situation with compassion. Because fair is not equal we believe that we need to provide extra time for some students to meet the same goals.  Everyone deserves to be treated fairly. Thank you, Perry Central staff, for understanding the importance of fairness from a stance of understanding and compassion.  During this Appreciation Week and always you are appreciated for all you do to show compassion and fairness to our students!
                                                                           Mary

5-1-2015

Mary’s Minute

“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.”

~Pablo Picasso

“Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise. “

~Author Unknown

Unless risk taking involves personal safety or high financial stakes, I would always encourage people to take a chance!  When it comes to personal growth I have never heard anyone regret taking a risk.  I was reminded of the value of risk taking as I attended Coffee and Conversation here at Perry Central this week.  The event invited students to share their love of the arts and talents.  Students displayed visual arts, read poetry, sang songs, presented synthesized music, and more.  Several things stood out to me.  First, it was wonderful to see the talents of our students.  Second, I was so proud of them for taking the risk to perform.  Some of them were especially nervous, but they made themselves vulnerable and performed!  What I noticed most was the value of a supportive climate.  These students were able to take a risk because they were surrounded by people who supported them.  Although they were nervous, they didn’t need to fear being ridiculed.  They knew they were among friends – not necessarily buddies, but friends of the arts and supporters of vulnerability. 

I am so excited about the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) class that is being offered this year and will be expanded next year at Perry Central.  The class offers a supportive environment for students to pursue their passions, learning and taking risks.  The class brings together students with unique interests who support each other’s learning.  What the kids are learning is exciting, but for me what is even more exciting is how the class supports positive relations. 

As the quotes above remind us, taking risks for learning sake will pay off, so we must continue to create environments that nurture risk taking.  Thanks for all the people at Perry Central who do this for our students.

                                                                                Have a great week!

                                                                                Mary

4-24-2015

Mary’s Minute

“Don’t hesitate to live every moment out of your life in the best way you can because living is once, chances are rare and nothing is certain.”

                                                                                                                                                ~ Blaze Olaminday

As Perry Central students, staff, and community grieve the loss of a student we are all reminded about how precarious life is.  We realize that life can change in an instant, and that every moment is a gift. 

I am reminded of a family story that some of you may have heard me tell before.  As a child, my dad often told my siblings and me, “Remember what Jesus said: Love one another.”  It was not meant in an overly religious way, but as a reminder to be kind to each other always.  One day my parents left a note on the kitchen table with directions while they were out, and the post script was my dad’s typical direction to us, “Remember what Jesus said.”  He didn’t need to add the, “love one another,” because we knew exactly what it meant.  This time, though, he added another post script that seemed to run together as he left a direction for us to help out with the chores of running a hotel/boarding house.  Right under the words, “Remember what Jesus said,” he added, “Clean room 9.”  We have laughed for forty years about how Jesus’ commandment merged with the task at hand. 

The accidental merging of the phrases by my dad always helps me in times of tragedy.  They remind me that we must always remember to love one another – to treat others with kindness and treasure every moment with our loved ones.  By adding the, “Clean room 9,” we are reminded that as difficult as it is, life goes on.  We must love one another, but we also must take care of the tasks at hand.  It is not easy for school to go on as usual with the tragic loss of a precious student looming, but somehow we must.  Now more than ever, we understand the value of being a caring community and being there for each other.  Thank you for, “remembering what Jesus said,” as you try to, “clean room 9,” as difficult as it is to be “normal” through a tough time.

                                                                                                                                Mary

4-17-2015

Mary’s Minute

“People who consider themselves victims of their circumstances will always remain victims unless they develop a greater vision for their lives.”

~ Stedman Graham

Life is full of unexpected circumstances and even our pure being is unpredictable.  The circumstance into which we were born is unexplainable.  We could have been planted across the globe.  I think most of us would agree that our circumstances could have been better, but most of all our circumstances could be much worse.  At the most basic level, many of the things we take for granted like food, clean water, and shelter are not the norm for millions of people who happened to be planted somewhere else. 

It is wonderful that in life we all have the opportunity to control our destiny and in many ways determine our circumstances, even though so much is out of our control.  The one thing that we control is how we interpret our circumstances.  We can choose to see where we landed or the events in our life as victims, or we can see them as opportunities and be thankful for what we have.  The Graham quote reminds us that by seeing circumstances in a positive way we will achieve more.  Happiness comes from seeing opportunities.  Victims do not tend to be happy.  They are focused on themselves and their own negative circumstances, rather than seeing life as more than their current situation. 

Life is not easy, and I marvel at what some people I know have been through and yet they still are focused on helping others and being happy.  The key to their success is not seeing themselves as victims, but being thankful for all that life holds.

                                                            Have a great week!

                                                                        Mary

4-10-2015

Mary’s Minute

"Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are."                                                          - Author Unknown

I recently heard about a lady from Michigan who was celebrating her 115th birthday and reporters seeking to find the secret to her longevity.  The report noted that she loved fast food and watched a lot of television. (She loved Wheel of Fortune.)  When pressed for the reason for her long life, she revealed it was simply, "being nice."
When we view life from an empathetic stance we want to be nice because we know how it makes others feel, but it is more than that. Being nice is a reflection of who we are, and it it makes us feel better and maybe even live longer. I am proud that at Perry Central we strive to be nice because we truly care about our students, parents, and community. We also are nice because it is who we are. On rare occasions people are not polite to us, but we respond by being nice - not because of them, but because of us. School board member, Glenn Etienne, shared with me a comical take on this notion from a Roadhouse movie clip where Patrick Swayze tells bouncers to, "be nice."  (Warning - the clip is for an adult audience.)
Like the Michigan woman who credits her long life to being nice, I credit much of Perry Central's success to the action of kindness, reflecting who we are and what we believe. I am proud to part of this "nice" tradition.
                            Have a great week!
                                   Mary

4-3-2015

Mary’s Minute

 

“It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.”

~ Mark Twain

Mark Twain quotes nearly always are ripe with sarcasm and make us chuckle.  This one is no exception, but it also has a good message.  In a way, life is a series of impromptu speeches.  We don’t always know what to expect, yet we need to be prepared.  This week Perry Central hosted luncheon for community leaders and employers to talk about career and tech education at Perry Central and beyond with a national speaker.  Dr. James Stone was informative and entertaining, but I was won over by our own students who, along with the employer/mentors, shared their experiences as interns.  One student shared how the internship had changed his life.  He said he knew he wanted to work in the automotive field but he couldn’t afford to go to college.  Through his mentor he is developing the job and life skills necessary to be a productive employee.  These students are not being trained for the precise occupation.  They are preparing for an impromptu speech that awaits them in life.  They are learning to work as a part of a team, to communicate, and to solve problems.  They are learning skills that will translate into any path that life takes them.  Each day we all learn things that will help us prepare for the unexpected in life. 

                                                                                Have a good week and a blessed Easter weekend!

                                                                                                Mary