We exist in a community that is full of excellent schools. Walk one mile in any direction from Holy Angels, and you will come across several excellent public and private school. It is one of the reason's Arcadia was recently selected as the best city in California to raise a child.
Considering the ample choices for a quality education in the area, the question regarding Holy Angels purpose in the community should be asked. Arcadia does not need another excellent school. However, along with Annunciation, what we do provide that does not exist elsewhere in Arcadia is an excellent Catholic school.
A component of being an excellent Catholic school, which we have included in our schoolwide learning expectations, is developing our students to be accountable citizens. I can say, proudly, that I think we do fulfill this purpose, and quite well. Sometimes I worry that we do not do enough to improve the community that we are part of, but then I take a moment and think back to all that has been accomplished by our parents and students in just the last month, and these worries vanish.
So what have we done? Since the middle of November we have provided a Thanksgiving dinner for 250 senior citizens; while our primary classes put together complete dinners for 18 needy families. We have had students raise thousands of dollars for the homeless and participate in a walk to raise awareness for this crisis in our society. Our parents have committed to purchasing over 150 Christmas gifts for needy children (in just 3 days), while we have students who have opted to forgo a Christmas gift exchange in favor of making gift packs for Maryvale Orphanage. Our CPTA has adopted a needy family in the community to ensure they have a wonderful Christmas.
This is a three week portrait of just some of the activities that are taking place at Holy Angels. While words are good, I have always told our students it is much more important to live our faith than it is to just talk about it. While I sometimes worry that we are too constant in our appeals to our families, we must also remember that helping those who are less fortunate than us should be a way of life, not just a periodic event. I am proud to say our families do this all year long. I think it is one of the aspects of our school that makes us an excellent Catholic school, and it is a strong argument for our existence in such a great community.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
On Halloween, Horror and Exposure
Halloween is just about here, and from a teachers perspective, I can tell you it is one of the worst days of the year. It is amazing how an over energized classroom full of kids can drain all the energy out of anyone 25 or older in a matter of minutes. That being said, we also all know what a great day it is for kids and how important it is to have a fun day once in a while.
I do not agree, at all, with the individuals who view Halloween as an "evil" day or satanic in any way. In fact, the day is very strongly rooted in Christian tradition (see the related article) and is nothing more than a fun day for kids. I vividly remember how absolutely magical Halloween was, dressing up as a hobo or a marine, and going out trick or treating. I never once thought of invoking the devil or summoning evil spirits. It was all about fun.
What I do have cocerns with regarding Halloween is the age appropriateness of some of the costumes children wear. The other day, I was privy to two second grade students arguing the merits of Michael Meyers, not the comedic actor, but the killer from the Halloween movies. I was horrified that these kids not only knew who he was, but knew him well enough to debate him. I refrain from making judgements about parental decisons because I know how difficult and crowded a day can get. Sometimes fast food may be the only option for a meal or a child may see a program that is not "child-friendly." But in this case, I did judge the parents. How is it that children seven years old are allowed to watch multiple "slasher movies" to the point of knowing dialogue? I find it inexcusable.
I never wanted to dress as a killer for Halloween because I was not exposed to killers as a child. I wanted to be a hobo because I read books about hobos (and infact,it was a career goal of mine for many years). Marines were heros and thats who I wanted to emmulate. Now it seems common place for young children to come dressed as some of the most brutal characters ever created for "entertainment purposes". They must be choosing the characters because they are familiar with them. The question then becomes, how are they familiar with them?
Parents can not relinquish their responsibility to monitor media for appropriateness. Children will be exposed to plenty of inappropriate material even with the most vigilant parents. I certainly think in the society in which we currently reside, it becomes more important than ever to limit exposure than we can limit and not glorify that which should not be glorified. It is often these same parents who just don't get it when their child acts out in a n aggresive or violent manner, since they never see that at home.
I do not agree, at all, with the individuals who view Halloween as an "evil" day or satanic in any way. In fact, the day is very strongly rooted in Christian tradition (see the related article) and is nothing more than a fun day for kids. I vividly remember how absolutely magical Halloween was, dressing up as a hobo or a marine, and going out trick or treating. I never once thought of invoking the devil or summoning evil spirits. It was all about fun.
What I do have cocerns with regarding Halloween is the age appropriateness of some of the costumes children wear. The other day, I was privy to two second grade students arguing the merits of Michael Meyers, not the comedic actor, but the killer from the Halloween movies. I was horrified that these kids not only knew who he was, but knew him well enough to debate him. I refrain from making judgements about parental decisons because I know how difficult and crowded a day can get. Sometimes fast food may be the only option for a meal or a child may see a program that is not "child-friendly." But in this case, I did judge the parents. How is it that children seven years old are allowed to watch multiple "slasher movies" to the point of knowing dialogue? I find it inexcusable.
I never wanted to dress as a killer for Halloween because I was not exposed to killers as a child. I wanted to be a hobo because I read books about hobos (and infact,it was a career goal of mine for many years). Marines were heros and thats who I wanted to emmulate. Now it seems common place for young children to come dressed as some of the most brutal characters ever created for "entertainment purposes". They must be choosing the characters because they are familiar with them. The question then becomes, how are they familiar with them?
Parents can not relinquish their responsibility to monitor media for appropriateness. Children will be exposed to plenty of inappropriate material even with the most vigilant parents. I certainly think in the society in which we currently reside, it becomes more important than ever to limit exposure than we can limit and not glorify that which should not be glorified. It is often these same parents who just don't get it when their child acts out in a n aggresive or violent manner, since they never see that at home.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Truth about Halloween
Halloween:
The Real Story!
Father Augustine Thompson, O.P.,
We’ve all heard the allegations. Halloween is a pagan rite dating back to some pre-Christian festival among the Celtic Druids that escaped Church suppression. Even today modern pagans and witches continue to celebrate this ancient festival. If you let your kids go trick-or-treating, they will be worshiping the devil and pagan gods.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The origins of Halloween are, in fact, very Christian and rather American. Halloween falls on October 31 because of a pope, and its observances are the result of medieval Catholic piety.
It’s true that the ancient Celts of Ireland and Britain celebrated a minor festival on Oct. 31 — as they did on the last day of most other months of the year. However, Halloween falls on the last day of October because the Feast of All Saints or "All Hallows" falls on Nov. 1. The feast in honor of all the saints in heaven used to be celebrated on May 13, but Pope Gregory III (d. 741) moved it to Nov. 1, the dedication day of All Saints Chapel in St. Peter’s at Rome. Later, in the 840s, Pope Gregory IV commanded that All Saints be observed everywhere. And so the holy day spread to Ireland. The day before was the feast’s evening vigil, "All Hallows Even" or "Hallowe’en." In those days, Halloween didn’t have any special significance for Christians or for long-dead Celtic pagans.
In 998, St. Odilo, the abbot of the powerful monastery of Cluny in Southern France, added a celebration on Nov. 2. This was a day of prayer for the souls of all the faithful departed. This feast, called All Souls Day, spread from France to the rest of Europe.
So now the Church had feasts for all those in heaven and all those in purgatory? What about those in the other place? It seems Irish Catholic peasants wondered about the unfortunate souls in hell. After all, if the souls in hell are left out when we celebrate those in heaven and purgatory, they might be unhappy enough to cause trouble. So it became customary to bang pots and pans on All Hallows Even to let the damned know they were not forgotten. Thus, in Ireland, at least, all the dead came to be remembered — even if the clergy were not terribly sympathetic to Halloween and never allowed All Damned Day into the Church calendar.
But that still isn’t our celebration of Halloween. Our traditions on this holiday centers around dressing up in fanciful costumes, which isn’t Irish at all. Rather, this custom arose in France during the 14th and 15th centuries. Late medieval Europe was hit by repeated outbreaks of the bubonic plague — the Black Death — and she lost about half her population. It is not surprising that Catholics became more concerned about the afterlife. More Masses were said on All Souls’ Day, and artistic representations were devised to remind everyone of their own mortality.
We know these representations as the "Dance Macabre" or "Dance of Death," which was commonly painted on the walls of cemeteries and shows the devil leading a daisy chain of people — popes, kings, ladies, knights, monks, peasants, lepers, etc. — into the tomb. Sometimes the dance was presented on All Souls’ Day itself as a living tableau with people dressed up in the garb of various states of life. But the French dressed up on All Souls, not Halloween; and the Irish, who had Halloween, did not dress up. How the two became mingled probably happened first in the British colonies of North America during the 1700s when Irish and French Catholics began to intermarry. The Irish focus on hell gave the French masquerades and even more macabre twist.
But, as every young ghoul knows, dressing up isn’t the point; the point is getting as many goodies as possible. Where on earth did "trick or treat" come in?
"Treat or treat" is perhaps the oddest and most American addition to Halloween, and is the unwilling contribution of English Catholics.
During the penal period of the 1500s to the 1700s in England, Catholics had no legal rights. They could not hold office and were subject to fines, jail and heavy taxes. It was a capital offense to say Mass, and hundreds of priests were martyred.
Occasionally, English Catholics resisted, sometimes foolishly. One of the most foolish acts of resistance was a plot to blow up the Protestant King James I and his Parliament with gunpowder. This was supposed to trigger a Catholic uprising against their oppressors. The ill-conceived Gunpowder Plot was foiled on Nov. 5, 1605, when the man guarding the gunpowder, a reckless convert named Guy Fawkes, was captured and arrested. He was hanged; the plot fizzled.
Nov. 5, Guy Fawkes’ Day, became a great celebration in England, and so it remains. During the penal periods, bands of revelers would put on masks and visit local Catholics in the dead of night, demanding beer and cakes for their celebration: trick or treat!
Guy Fawkes’ Day arrived in the American colonies with the first English settlers. But, buy the time of the American Revolution, old King James and Guy Fawkes had pretty much been forgotten. Trick or treat, though, was too much fun to give up, so eventually it moved to Oct. 31, the day of the Irish-French masquerade. And in America, trick or treat wasn’t limited to Catholics.
The mixture of various immigrant traditions we know as Halloween had become a fixture in the Unites States by the early 1800s. To this day, it remains unknown in Europe, even in the countries from which some of the customs originated.
But what about witches? Well, they are one of the last additions. The greeting card industry added them in the late 1800s. Halloween was already "ghoulish," so why not give witches a place on greeting cards? The Halloween card failed (although it has seen a recent resurgence in popularity), but the witches stayed. So, too, in the late 1800s, ill-informed folklorists introduced the jack-o’-lantern. They thought that Halloween was druidic and pagan in origin. Lamps made from turnips (not pumpkins) had been part of ancient Celtic harvest festivals, so they were translated to the American Halloween celebration.
The next time someone claims that Halloween is a cruel trick to lure your children into devil worship, I suggest you tell them the real origin of All Hallows Even and invite them to discover its Christian significance, along with the two greater and more important Catholic festivals that follow it.
The Real Story!
Father Augustine Thompson, O.P.,
We’ve all heard the allegations. Halloween is a pagan rite dating back to some pre-Christian festival among the Celtic Druids that escaped Church suppression. Even today modern pagans and witches continue to celebrate this ancient festival. If you let your kids go trick-or-treating, they will be worshiping the devil and pagan gods.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The origins of Halloween are, in fact, very Christian and rather American. Halloween falls on October 31 because of a pope, and its observances are the result of medieval Catholic piety.
It’s true that the ancient Celts of Ireland and Britain celebrated a minor festival on Oct. 31 — as they did on the last day of most other months of the year. However, Halloween falls on the last day of October because the Feast of All Saints or "All Hallows" falls on Nov. 1. The feast in honor of all the saints in heaven used to be celebrated on May 13, but Pope Gregory III (d. 741) moved it to Nov. 1, the dedication day of All Saints Chapel in St. Peter’s at Rome. Later, in the 840s, Pope Gregory IV commanded that All Saints be observed everywhere. And so the holy day spread to Ireland. The day before was the feast’s evening vigil, "All Hallows Even" or "Hallowe’en." In those days, Halloween didn’t have any special significance for Christians or for long-dead Celtic pagans.
In 998, St. Odilo, the abbot of the powerful monastery of Cluny in Southern France, added a celebration on Nov. 2. This was a day of prayer for the souls of all the faithful departed. This feast, called All Souls Day, spread from France to the rest of Europe.
So now the Church had feasts for all those in heaven and all those in purgatory? What about those in the other place? It seems Irish Catholic peasants wondered about the unfortunate souls in hell. After all, if the souls in hell are left out when we celebrate those in heaven and purgatory, they might be unhappy enough to cause trouble. So it became customary to bang pots and pans on All Hallows Even to let the damned know they were not forgotten. Thus, in Ireland, at least, all the dead came to be remembered — even if the clergy were not terribly sympathetic to Halloween and never allowed All Damned Day into the Church calendar.
But that still isn’t our celebration of Halloween. Our traditions on this holiday centers around dressing up in fanciful costumes, which isn’t Irish at all. Rather, this custom arose in France during the 14th and 15th centuries. Late medieval Europe was hit by repeated outbreaks of the bubonic plague — the Black Death — and she lost about half her population. It is not surprising that Catholics became more concerned about the afterlife. More Masses were said on All Souls’ Day, and artistic representations were devised to remind everyone of their own mortality.
We know these representations as the "Dance Macabre" or "Dance of Death," which was commonly painted on the walls of cemeteries and shows the devil leading a daisy chain of people — popes, kings, ladies, knights, monks, peasants, lepers, etc. — into the tomb. Sometimes the dance was presented on All Souls’ Day itself as a living tableau with people dressed up in the garb of various states of life. But the French dressed up on All Souls, not Halloween; and the Irish, who had Halloween, did not dress up. How the two became mingled probably happened first in the British colonies of North America during the 1700s when Irish and French Catholics began to intermarry. The Irish focus on hell gave the French masquerades and even more macabre twist.
But, as every young ghoul knows, dressing up isn’t the point; the point is getting as many goodies as possible. Where on earth did "trick or treat" come in?
"Treat or treat" is perhaps the oddest and most American addition to Halloween, and is the unwilling contribution of English Catholics.
During the penal period of the 1500s to the 1700s in England, Catholics had no legal rights. They could not hold office and were subject to fines, jail and heavy taxes. It was a capital offense to say Mass, and hundreds of priests were martyred.
Occasionally, English Catholics resisted, sometimes foolishly. One of the most foolish acts of resistance was a plot to blow up the Protestant King James I and his Parliament with gunpowder. This was supposed to trigger a Catholic uprising against their oppressors. The ill-conceived Gunpowder Plot was foiled on Nov. 5, 1605, when the man guarding the gunpowder, a reckless convert named Guy Fawkes, was captured and arrested. He was hanged; the plot fizzled.
Nov. 5, Guy Fawkes’ Day, became a great celebration in England, and so it remains. During the penal periods, bands of revelers would put on masks and visit local Catholics in the dead of night, demanding beer and cakes for their celebration: trick or treat!
Guy Fawkes’ Day arrived in the American colonies with the first English settlers. But, buy the time of the American Revolution, old King James and Guy Fawkes had pretty much been forgotten. Trick or treat, though, was too much fun to give up, so eventually it moved to Oct. 31, the day of the Irish-French masquerade. And in America, trick or treat wasn’t limited to Catholics.
The mixture of various immigrant traditions we know as Halloween had become a fixture in the Unites States by the early 1800s. To this day, it remains unknown in Europe, even in the countries from which some of the customs originated.
But what about witches? Well, they are one of the last additions. The greeting card industry added them in the late 1800s. Halloween was already "ghoulish," so why not give witches a place on greeting cards? The Halloween card failed (although it has seen a recent resurgence in popularity), but the witches stayed. So, too, in the late 1800s, ill-informed folklorists introduced the jack-o’-lantern. They thought that Halloween was druidic and pagan in origin. Lamps made from turnips (not pumpkins) had been part of ancient Celtic harvest festivals, so they were translated to the American Halloween celebration.
The next time someone claims that Halloween is a cruel trick to lure your children into devil worship, I suggest you tell them the real origin of All Hallows Even and invite them to discover its Christian significance, along with the two greater and more important Catholic festivals that follow it.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Essay on Parenting
For the last twenty years of my life, I have made a living teaching and telling parents how they should raise their children. I was very well schooled in theory and felt like I had a very logical answer for virtually every problem that arose. Slightly over 18 months ago, that all changed when my daughter was born. While I think I have always known this deep down inside, theory is great, practice is a bit more difficult. This new found philosophy was recently confirmed upon taking my daughter to her pediatrician. She too has recently had her first child, and I asked her how rigidly she was able to adhere to her own and advice, and she grudgingly admitted it was not always so easy to do.
As a young teacher, I would get offended when people told me that I didn't understand certain situations and practices, because I did not have kids. It did not deter me, however, from reiterating the theory I was already espousing, and letting them know that what I had to say was really what was best for their child.
Their is an emotional factor to parenting that can never truly be separated from the decision making process. We all want to do what is best for our child, but we also all know that what your child suffer through a bad decision, hurt themselves as they investigate, or sometimes, just the desire to do things the "easy" way cause us to interfere or make bad decisions, even though we know it is not what is in the child's best interest. Other times, we may be so intent on them learning a lesson that we let the lesson override what we know we should do as a parent. Most of them time, it is hard to decipher what is the right thing to do in any situation.
So while I understand, now more than ever, the reality of being a parent, I also hope that my child has some of those theory-driven teachers who can point out to me what I can do to best help my child. I want the teacher who does not let emotion beat out common sense when it comes to my child's development, and I want the teacher who is not afraid to tell it to me like it truly is. I hope I am the parent who is able to listen with an open mind and truly understand that my child's teacher has her best interest at heart. I hope that I am truly able to comprehend that if I truly want what is best for my daughter, I will try to apply the suggestions of that teacher and work with her teachers to ensure that she succeeds. I hope my mind is not closed when I hear things that are difficult to hear about the child I know is wonderful and then I hope I will do everything I can to help make her an independent, successful child. Lastly, I hope I will be compassionate when my child fails and understand that these failures should be turned into the most valuable learning experiences of her life.
And then, on the way home, I will probably buy her an ice cream before dinner and tell her not to tell her mom.
As a young teacher, I would get offended when people told me that I didn't understand certain situations and practices, because I did not have kids. It did not deter me, however, from reiterating the theory I was already espousing, and letting them know that what I had to say was really what was best for their child.
Their is an emotional factor to parenting that can never truly be separated from the decision making process. We all want to do what is best for our child, but we also all know that what your child suffer through a bad decision, hurt themselves as they investigate, or sometimes, just the desire to do things the "easy" way cause us to interfere or make bad decisions, even though we know it is not what is in the child's best interest. Other times, we may be so intent on them learning a lesson that we let the lesson override what we know we should do as a parent. Most of them time, it is hard to decipher what is the right thing to do in any situation.
So while I understand, now more than ever, the reality of being a parent, I also hope that my child has some of those theory-driven teachers who can point out to me what I can do to best help my child. I want the teacher who does not let emotion beat out common sense when it comes to my child's development, and I want the teacher who is not afraid to tell it to me like it truly is. I hope I am the parent who is able to listen with an open mind and truly understand that my child's teacher has her best interest at heart. I hope that I am truly able to comprehend that if I truly want what is best for my daughter, I will try to apply the suggestions of that teacher and work with her teachers to ensure that she succeeds. I hope my mind is not closed when I hear things that are difficult to hear about the child I know is wonderful and then I hope I will do everything I can to help make her an independent, successful child. Lastly, I hope I will be compassionate when my child fails and understand that these failures should be turned into the most valuable learning experiences of her life.
And then, on the way home, I will probably buy her an ice cream before dinner and tell her not to tell her mom.
Monday, September 8, 2008
A School for All Ages
Despite its continual decline in quality and content, I still thoroughly enjoy the Los Angeles Times. I used to consider it the best paper in the nation, whereas now, I think its a good paper. In contrast to my assessment regarding its perceived decline, I am fairly happy with one area of coverage that seems to have increased in recent times, that being articles that pertain to educational issues.
One of these articles recently spoke about a movement in the public schools to eliminate junior high schools and have the schools include grades kindergarten to eighth. As anyone who has been involved in Catholic schools is aware, this has always been our model and a relatively successful model at that.
The irony here is that we have had numerous discussions over the last several years, both at the school level and in principal meetings, about the difficulty of providing programs that cater to all these grade levels. To solidify the point a bit, try considering how you would plan a birthday party that would keep a 5 year old and a 14 year old entertained. The same challenges that you could foresee in this scenario are prevalent in a school environment. We want our school to be inclusive and communal, but the reality is an assembly about Martin Luther King cannot possibly keep all the age groups enraptured to the same degree or teach the same lesson to all these students.
We have discussed the benefits of regional schools, including junior highs and pre-kindergartens and it may be a direction the schools in our area eventually go; but then again, it may never happen. That does not solve the dilemma we are currently faced with in a PK-8 school.
Fortunately, in our meetings prior to the start of school, we as a faculty finally addressed the elephant that has always been in the room. We cannot possibly do everything for every age group and do it well. Some of what we plan for the year may only be appropriate for children of a specific age group or grade level, and that's ok. It will not cause us to lose the community aspect of Holy Angels, thanks in part to programs like our school families. By allowing the children to gather several times a month, as a "family", we will continue to keep our commnity strong, teach leadership and responsibility to our older students, and allow our younger students interaction with older kids who are cool simply because they are older.
As with anything that is kid-generated and run, we will have some bumps in the road. We are aware of this and we prepare for it. By critiquing instead of criticizing, and providing guidance instead of directives, we will help all of our students to grow and become the responsible citizens that are highlighted in our school wide learning expectations.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Lazy Man's Blog (Apologies to Ben Stein)
I am too lazy to write too much over the summer, but I have had some interesting thoughts sent to me, so I decided to steal them and post them here.
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing yet? Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing yet? Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Of Primary Importance
This morning, the results of a new study regarding education were published in the L.A. Times. The findings indicated that a student's probability of passing the public schools' high school exit exam could be predicted fairly accurately as early as fourth grade. The indicators included a student's grades, their scores on standardized tests, and, somewhat surprisingly, their classroom conduct.
The reason a believe this is of particular note is not due to a students ability to pass a high school exit exam. I have never seen one nor its content, (and I have my scepticism about its true value. ) However, I do find that this supports a philosophy I have embraced for many years.
If you consider that these indicators can be recognized as early as fourth grade, it would seem to make sense that everything done prior to fourth grade has contributed to these indicators. I have always said that the primary grades are the most important grades in a child's school life.
Parents of primary aged children: you have the opportunity right now to truly shape your child's scholastic success by establishing good habits, expecting your child to do his or her best, and establishing habits that will lead to a successful child.
I have been preaching this mantra for twenty years. It is only in the last year and a half (which just so happens to coincide with the birth of my daughter) that I have realized how difficult this truly is. The theory is sound, but the practice is much more taxing. However, I continually refer back to this "theory" when it would be much easier to give in to my daughter than do what I know is right. Be it eating vegetables, taking her pacifier away from her, or requiring her to pick up the mess she has made, I try and forgo the easy road so as to better her as a person. The same practices hold true regarding what you expect of your child in school.
If you have ever tried to rid yourself of a bad habit, you know how difficult it is to do. The same is true of good habits. Ensure that you establish good habits in your children, one's that they will take with them into the upper grades of education, and you will ensure your child achieves his or her best. Putting in the earlt work will result in a lifetime of payoff for you and your children.
The reason a believe this is of particular note is not due to a students ability to pass a high school exit exam. I have never seen one nor its content, (and I have my scepticism about its true value. ) However, I do find that this supports a philosophy I have embraced for many years.
If you consider that these indicators can be recognized as early as fourth grade, it would seem to make sense that everything done prior to fourth grade has contributed to these indicators. I have always said that the primary grades are the most important grades in a child's school life.
Parents of primary aged children: you have the opportunity right now to truly shape your child's scholastic success by establishing good habits, expecting your child to do his or her best, and establishing habits that will lead to a successful child.
I have been preaching this mantra for twenty years. It is only in the last year and a half (which just so happens to coincide with the birth of my daughter) that I have realized how difficult this truly is. The theory is sound, but the practice is much more taxing. However, I continually refer back to this "theory" when it would be much easier to give in to my daughter than do what I know is right. Be it eating vegetables, taking her pacifier away from her, or requiring her to pick up the mess she has made, I try and forgo the easy road so as to better her as a person. The same practices hold true regarding what you expect of your child in school.
If you have ever tried to rid yourself of a bad habit, you know how difficult it is to do. The same is true of good habits. Ensure that you establish good habits in your children, one's that they will take with them into the upper grades of education, and you will ensure your child achieves his or her best. Putting in the earlt work will result in a lifetime of payoff for you and your children.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Summer Schedules
Ready or not, summer is quickly approaching and the unenviable task of keeping your children occupied is coming along with it. As I have often stated, I am a huge proponent of not scheduling every minute of every day for your child. Instead, allow them time to be creative, to develop their imagination and think up ways on their own to stay occupied. This simple step can have a very positive consequence in the classroom, when they are expected to explore problems, rather than just follow given directions. Not to mention, kids need a break combined with some time to relax.
That being said, Holy Angels will continue with mandatory summer reading for our students. I think this is a component of your child’s development that is crucial to their success in virtually all aspects of life and will be encouraged throughout next year, but not if reading becomes a burdensome task that has to be completed in a very limited time frame. In the coming week, you will be receiving a list of books that are readily available at local bookstores and libraries. I know some people have the habit of waiting until mid-August to look for these books, but do yourself a favor and look into getting the novels a bit sooner. Give them the opportunity to read and enjoy, not just read because they have to!
Our kids live in a world much different than the one we grew up in. However, if we recall the truly great moments of our childhood, we have to remember that our children deserve the same opportunity to enjoy life (and summer.) Keep things balanced and allow children time to just be kids, while giving them the opportunity to stay mentally sharp and engaged .
That being said, Holy Angels will continue with mandatory summer reading for our students. I think this is a component of your child’s development that is crucial to their success in virtually all aspects of life and will be encouraged throughout next year, but not if reading becomes a burdensome task that has to be completed in a very limited time frame. In the coming week, you will be receiving a list of books that are readily available at local bookstores and libraries. I know some people have the habit of waiting until mid-August to look for these books, but do yourself a favor and look into getting the novels a bit sooner. Give them the opportunity to read and enjoy, not just read because they have to!
Our kids live in a world much different than the one we grew up in. However, if we recall the truly great moments of our childhood, we have to remember that our children deserve the same opportunity to enjoy life (and summer.) Keep things balanced and allow children time to just be kids, while giving them the opportunity to stay mentally sharp and engaged .
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Gift of Teachers
We are a little behind the eight-ball as we honor our teachers and staff this week with Teacher Appreciation Week. I think it is extremely important to take a moment to pay tribute to the faculty and staff of Holy Angels. I have said this often, and am very genuine when I state that we have the best faculty I have ever had the fortune to work with. None of our staff come here slowly to receive a paycheck. They are here because of their dedication to Catholic education and Holy Angels School.
The career of an educator has many misconceptions about it. Some of these include that teachers only work ten months a year. Any teacher dedicated to their profession works during the summer doing their lesson plans for the year, attending professional development seminars, preparing their room and attending classes.
Another may be that their day ends at 3:00 PM. Again, I have never met a teacher whose day ended once the students leave. Correcting papers, preparing for the next day, extra tutoring, and meeting with parents are all part of the work day that takes place after 3:00 PM.
Sometimes, the fact that everyone has attended school often leads to the belief that they have a better way of doing things or, at the very least, the ability to see what a teacher is doing wrong. Anyone who has ever had a birthday party for more than four kids knows that managing a group of children requires more than just telling them what to do!
In order to honor our teachers, the greatest gift a teacher can receive is a letter of gratitude written by his or her student. A card written from the heart has much greater meaning than any gift a teacher could be given.
Holy Angels School is fortunate to have a staff of teachers who spend countless hours of their days dedicated to the students they serve. I am honored to be able to work amongst such a hard working group of individuals. We will honor our wonderful teachers all week with a variety of meals and ceremonies. I challenge each of our families to do the same!
The career of an educator has many misconceptions about it. Some of these include that teachers only work ten months a year. Any teacher dedicated to their profession works during the summer doing their lesson plans for the year, attending professional development seminars, preparing their room and attending classes.
Another may be that their day ends at 3:00 PM. Again, I have never met a teacher whose day ended once the students leave. Correcting papers, preparing for the next day, extra tutoring, and meeting with parents are all part of the work day that takes place after 3:00 PM.
Sometimes, the fact that everyone has attended school often leads to the belief that they have a better way of doing things or, at the very least, the ability to see what a teacher is doing wrong. Anyone who has ever had a birthday party for more than four kids knows that managing a group of children requires more than just telling them what to do!
In order to honor our teachers, the greatest gift a teacher can receive is a letter of gratitude written by his or her student. A card written from the heart has much greater meaning than any gift a teacher could be given.
Holy Angels School is fortunate to have a staff of teachers who spend countless hours of their days dedicated to the students they serve. I am honored to be able to work amongst such a hard working group of individuals. We will honor our wonderful teachers all week with a variety of meals and ceremonies. I challenge each of our families to do the same!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Parish Unity
One of the strengths of Catholic schools in general, and Holy Angels in particular, is community. I have never been in a Catholic school where the communities were not closely bound and supportive, and I believe Holy Angels embodies this to a greater degree than any of the schools I have been at.
One component of this community that can show weakness, however, is the school's view of where it fits in the parish. It seems often times, we want the benefits of parish support without offering that same support in return. Over the weekend we had the opportunity to be part of a true parish event when all the children of the parish had the opportunity to receive the Eucharist for the first time. Complaints are some times levied that this sacrament should be celebrated with the school and religious education classes as separate entities, but this only furthers the misconception that we are not all part of one parish. We cannot make the claim of being an active parishioner only when it means receiving a discounted tuition rate while wanting complete separation from the parish on other occasions.
We all benefit by being active members of a united parish. Working together, celebrating together and worshiping together allows us to accomplish much more than it would if every ministry of the parish pilots its own ship. Parish support is not a one-sided proposition, nor will it be of ultimate benefit to Holy Angels School or Holy Angels Parish. Our greatest accomplishments will come from uniting together as one.
One component of this community that can show weakness, however, is the school's view of where it fits in the parish. It seems often times, we want the benefits of parish support without offering that same support in return. Over the weekend we had the opportunity to be part of a true parish event when all the children of the parish had the opportunity to receive the Eucharist for the first time. Complaints are some times levied that this sacrament should be celebrated with the school and religious education classes as separate entities, but this only furthers the misconception that we are not all part of one parish. We cannot make the claim of being an active parishioner only when it means receiving a discounted tuition rate while wanting complete separation from the parish on other occasions.
We all benefit by being active members of a united parish. Working together, celebrating together and worshiping together allows us to accomplish much more than it would if every ministry of the parish pilots its own ship. Parish support is not a one-sided proposition, nor will it be of ultimate benefit to Holy Angels School or Holy Angels Parish. Our greatest accomplishments will come from uniting together as one.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Authentic Learning
We recently had a faculty meeting that was focused on standardized testing, scores, and their relevance and validity. I believe that each individual teacher has his or her own opinion regarding these issues, but generally speaking, we see them as one indicator of student achievement, but not the primary indicator, or even an extremely relevant indicator. I could probably spend the next three months writing about thees rationales and the pros and cons supporting them, but more importantly, it got me thinking more about true "learning"
I have written numerous times about grades vs. learning, the difference between the two, and the ideological world it would be wonderful to live in regarding these issues. Standardized tests raise even more of these discussions. But the day after our meeting, the fourth grade class was involved in a project where they built structures and then tested their ability to withstand a simulated earthquake.
Take a moment to think about what is a better representation of "authentic" learning. I would be willing to bet most of those children will be able to discuss this project many years from now and what they learned. (They do so now, with great enthusiasm.) It will never be asked about on a standardized test, it will never be tested on a piece of paper, but it may very well spark a child's interest in engineering or architecture. It may also help a child to understand all that goes into the completion of a project, how to work with others, and how to be responsible to their group. Again, no learning that will show up on a written test.
As standardized tests become more and more the "norm" for gaging a school's success, we need to keep in mind that assessment has many forms, and many of the skills taught in the classroom will never receive a percent, a stanine or a grade.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Diversity of Interests
Congratulations go out to many different factions of our student body over the last several weeks! Our boys and girls soccer teams recently competed in the CYO Annual Tournament, and both teams played well. Our girls team advanced into the second round, before being defeated on Wednesday 2-1. Watching our teams play was extremely rewarding, primarily because they represented our school well as athletes and as people!
Also taking place on Wednesday was our first ever music recital, which featured performances from over twenty different students or collaborations. I was extremely impressed with all the participants, and floored by the talent that showed itself that evening, ranging form vocal performances, to solo instrument performances and group collaborations and dance. Very impressive, to say the least.
All the Holy Angels students who participated in the recent Civitan track meet must also be recognized, once again for performing well and also for representing the school in a very positive manner.
We have recently seen the reemergence of a cheer leading squad, and Mrs. Bennett's drama and dance classes continue to be extremely popular and well received.
It is so easy to focus on what we "should" have, but I am still impressed by all that we do have. We are fortunate to have coaches, teachers and volunteers who create programs that speak to our children and their diversity of interests. Hopefully this is a trend that will continue throughout Holy Angel's existence.
Also taking place on Wednesday was our first ever music recital, which featured performances from over twenty different students or collaborations. I was extremely impressed with all the participants, and floored by the talent that showed itself that evening, ranging form vocal performances, to solo instrument performances and group collaborations and dance. Very impressive, to say the least.
All the Holy Angels students who participated in the recent Civitan track meet must also be recognized, once again for performing well and also for representing the school in a very positive manner.
We have recently seen the reemergence of a cheer leading squad, and Mrs. Bennett's drama and dance classes continue to be extremely popular and well received.
It is so easy to focus on what we "should" have, but I am still impressed by all that we do have. We are fortunate to have coaches, teachers and volunteers who create programs that speak to our children and their diversity of interests. Hopefully this is a trend that will continue throughout Holy Angel's existence.
Monday, April 7, 2008
When Parenting Means Staying Out Of It!
Several years ago, when I first took the position at Holy Angels, I was on the playground and heard one of the yard monitors telling the kids not to run on the playground. When I asked her why she was telling them not to run, she said it was because they might fall and get hurt. My response was that sometimes, kids have to fall and get hurt.
As parents, we constantly want to "catch" our children, not allowing them to get hurt in any way. This can be taken literally, but it also has a much stronger figurative meaning. We want our children to learn to deal with the world in which they will live. All types of personalities exist in this world. Some of our kids are very passive while others are more aggressive. Some may be bullies while others are constantly concerned with the injustices faced by others. These same personalities exist amongst adults. To be functioning, effective adults, we need to allow our kids to learn how to deal with these different personalities on their own. We should provide the tools necessary, but they must apply their use properly.
Being a relatively shy child made it very difficult when my parents made me handle situations myself. If a child was picking on me, I was responsible for dealing with it. If someone owed me money, (I had paper route, and people loved to ignore a ten year old asking them for money!) I had to collect it. My parents could have easily stepped in to many situations and taken care of them, but they allowed me and all of their children to handle things themselves, and ultimately, helped create independent, self-reliant individuals.
Too often in elementary schools, parents let children's issues become adult issues. When we step in and try to handle situations for kids, we don't allow them the opportunity to grow and become strong, confident teenagers. In fact, we end up holding them captives to ourselves, when the expectation that mom or dad will always take care of their problems. (I have even been told about parents who have accosted their child's college professors over grades!)
As I often say, consider the individual you want your child to become when making decisions involving your child. Momentary discomfort will pass, and the lessons learned by a child dealing with a situation on his or her own is invaluable.
As parents, we constantly want to "catch" our children, not allowing them to get hurt in any way. This can be taken literally, but it also has a much stronger figurative meaning. We want our children to learn to deal with the world in which they will live. All types of personalities exist in this world. Some of our kids are very passive while others are more aggressive. Some may be bullies while others are constantly concerned with the injustices faced by others. These same personalities exist amongst adults. To be functioning, effective adults, we need to allow our kids to learn how to deal with these different personalities on their own. We should provide the tools necessary, but they must apply their use properly.
Being a relatively shy child made it very difficult when my parents made me handle situations myself. If a child was picking on me, I was responsible for dealing with it. If someone owed me money, (I had paper route, and people loved to ignore a ten year old asking them for money!) I had to collect it. My parents could have easily stepped in to many situations and taken care of them, but they allowed me and all of their children to handle things themselves, and ultimately, helped create independent, self-reliant individuals.
Too often in elementary schools, parents let children's issues become adult issues. When we step in and try to handle situations for kids, we don't allow them the opportunity to grow and become strong, confident teenagers. In fact, we end up holding them captives to ourselves, when the expectation that mom or dad will always take care of their problems. (I have even been told about parents who have accosted their child's college professors over grades!)
As I often say, consider the individual you want your child to become when making decisions involving your child. Momentary discomfort will pass, and the lessons learned by a child dealing with a situation on his or her own is invaluable.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Student Preparation
Yesterday I received an email form a parent with a link to a YouTube video that really had some amazing implications regarding education, as well as the state of our world. While much of it dealt with the changes or differences in populations amongst some of our most populated countries, what stood out the most to me, as an educator, was the information and implications regarding the labor market in coming years, and how it will effect today's students.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q
At the last CPTA, I was talking about our attempt to prepare students for the world in which they will live, not the world we grew up in. However, according to this video, the top ten jobs in demand in 2010 did not exist in 2004! Additionally, we are preparing our kids today for jobs that don't yet exist, using technologies that have not yet been invented, in order to solve problems we don't even know are problems yet. A great deal of additional information regarding world population and technologies is included in the video and is well worth viewing, but, again, it seemed to imply that it was almost impossible to repare students for the world in which they will work.
If we think back to our own childhood, many of us are of the age that computers were just starting to be used, and using them wasa major annoyance. Children today are digital natives, versus most adults who are digital immigrants. Many adults today still struggle with technologies that our children regard as simplistic. While the information contained in the video was initially overwhelming and almost made going to school seem futile, 24 hours later it gave me pause to think and maybe a new perspective as to what we need to focus on in school.
Foundation skills are obviously important and crucial to the future development of any child's success. But in addition to these skills, it seems to becoming more apparent that their is no way we could possibly prepare them for technologies we don't even know about. So maybe what we need to spend much more time on, as educators and as parents is problem solving. On one hand, this is not new information, and we have already identified this is an area we need to improve upon with our students. However, now more than ever, it seems that maybe this will be the number one skill necessary to ensure success in the "world of tomorrow." It is a skill that will be applicable to any career, profession or technology that comes along in the future. Any thoughts?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q
At the last CPTA, I was talking about our attempt to prepare students for the world in which they will live, not the world we grew up in. However, according to this video, the top ten jobs in demand in 2010 did not exist in 2004! Additionally, we are preparing our kids today for jobs that don't yet exist, using technologies that have not yet been invented, in order to solve problems we don't even know are problems yet. A great deal of additional information regarding world population and technologies is included in the video and is well worth viewing, but, again, it seemed to imply that it was almost impossible to repare students for the world in which they will work.
If we think back to our own childhood, many of us are of the age that computers were just starting to be used, and using them wasa major annoyance. Children today are digital natives, versus most adults who are digital immigrants. Many adults today still struggle with technologies that our children regard as simplistic. While the information contained in the video was initially overwhelming and almost made going to school seem futile, 24 hours later it gave me pause to think and maybe a new perspective as to what we need to focus on in school.
Foundation skills are obviously important and crucial to the future development of any child's success. But in addition to these skills, it seems to becoming more apparent that their is no way we could possibly prepare them for technologies we don't even know about. So maybe what we need to spend much more time on, as educators and as parents is problem solving. On one hand, this is not new information, and we have already identified this is an area we need to improve upon with our students. However, now more than ever, it seems that maybe this will be the number one skill necessary to ensure success in the "world of tomorrow." It is a skill that will be applicable to any career, profession or technology that comes along in the future. Any thoughts?
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Bad Televison Habits
Some things are more difficult to admit than others. I think we all hesitate to admit our mistakes or wrongs we have committed, and I am no different. So it pains me to admit that I was recently watching Dr. Phil. Before you completely discount anything I write from her on end, it was not an episode of Dr. Phil's House. It was, however, and episode regarding sexual predators and it actually had alot of valuable information.
One of the panelists was an admitted child predator and he described how he, in the 70's, would pick up and victimize young children who were hitchhiking. He then went on to state that the Internet is where children hitchhike today. I thought this was a very poignant point.
I have stated my concern over in the past about Internet safety for our kids. I do feel it is one of the greatest dangers our children face today. Not because of content ( although sometimes) but because, as it has been stated, it often times invites individuals with less than noble intentions directly into our living rooms.
To that end, we will be having a duo of speakers coming to discuss internet safety with parents on April 9 at 7:00 PM. Simply stated, no matter how savvy you believe you are when it comes to this topic, children are one up on us. Furthermore, the criminal mind is capable of accomplishing extremely creative ways to further its own agenda. Too much education can never hurt in this realm.
My hope is that this has frightened you a little bit. Be it due to my watching of Dr. Phil, or because of the dangers our children face, we hope it will result in your attendance on the 9th.
One of the panelists was an admitted child predator and he described how he, in the 70's, would pick up and victimize young children who were hitchhiking. He then went on to state that the Internet is where children hitchhike today. I thought this was a very poignant point.
I have stated my concern over in the past about Internet safety for our kids. I do feel it is one of the greatest dangers our children face today. Not because of content ( although sometimes) but because, as it has been stated, it often times invites individuals with less than noble intentions directly into our living rooms.
To that end, we will be having a duo of speakers coming to discuss internet safety with parents on April 9 at 7:00 PM. Simply stated, no matter how savvy you believe you are when it comes to this topic, children are one up on us. Furthermore, the criminal mind is capable of accomplishing extremely creative ways to further its own agenda. Too much education can never hurt in this realm.
My hope is that this has frightened you a little bit. Be it due to my watching of Dr. Phil, or because of the dangers our children face, we hope it will result in your attendance on the 9th.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Do We Have All We Want?
Seven of our teachers have been members of WASC teams in the last two years. These teacher work with a committee to ensure our fellow Catholic schools are teaching what they should be teaching, have a plan in place for improvement and and offer as complete a program as possible. The goal for every school is to receive the maximum six year accreditation.
With many of us, what has become glaringly evident is how truly fortunate we are at Holy Angels. We truly have an abundance, in terms of staffing, resources, funding and extra curricular activities. We so often can get caught up in what we don't have, ( Spanish classes, new bathrooms, new asphalt, new sports uniforms), that we fail to see how much we do have.
The first school I worked at, and which I stayed at for twelve years, was one such school. We did not have supplies as basic as paper. Many of our textbooks were hand me downs from other schools. Many of our teachers are going to schools very similar to this. I personally went to a school where the students said, among many other more relevant topics, that they just wanted some playground equipment.
We are a blessed community, much of this due to the hard work of our parents. But we must not forget one of the basic tenets of Catholicism, which is social justice. We have many wants at our school, but our needs are fulfilled. As we move ahead, and continue to improve our school, we must not forget our responsibility to help those who do not have their needs met. I think it might be a good component to add into all of our fundraising efforts as we look for ways to continue to make our school a great Catholic school.
With many of us, what has become glaringly evident is how truly fortunate we are at Holy Angels. We truly have an abundance, in terms of staffing, resources, funding and extra curricular activities. We so often can get caught up in what we don't have, ( Spanish classes, new bathrooms, new asphalt, new sports uniforms), that we fail to see how much we do have.
The first school I worked at, and which I stayed at for twelve years, was one such school. We did not have supplies as basic as paper. Many of our textbooks were hand me downs from other schools. Many of our teachers are going to schools very similar to this. I personally went to a school where the students said, among many other more relevant topics, that they just wanted some playground equipment.
We are a blessed community, much of this due to the hard work of our parents. But we must not forget one of the basic tenets of Catholicism, which is social justice. We have many wants at our school, but our needs are fulfilled. As we move ahead, and continue to improve our school, we must not forget our responsibility to help those who do not have their needs met. I think it might be a good component to add into all of our fundraising efforts as we look for ways to continue to make our school a great Catholic school.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
The Saints Come Marching In!
It's always the most fun to use this space to highlight some of the great events that are taking place at Holy Angels. One of the "rites of passage" every second grade student remembers is their Saint Report and Presentation. Each year, the students get to pick a saint, research them, and present them to classmates and parents, while in costume. It encompasses so many of our Schoolwide Learning Expectations, including "Catholics of Living Faith", Confident Communicators", "Lifelong Learners.
As always, the second graders did a great job, and we are very proud of them as they take another step towards receiving their First Holy Eucharist. Great Job!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Being a Catholic School ( Part 1!)
I have stated many times, to many people, I don't put a lot of relevance into what school a child goes to. Public or private, inner city or suburban, a "good" school or a "bad" school, it's all irrelevant. I have known students who have gone to school's labeled as "bad" who have received tremendous educations and gone on to great success. Similarly, I know children who have gone to school's that are considered excellent who have dropped out of school.
As an educator, I do feel the most important component of a child's success in school is his or her home life. We always state that parents are the primary educators, and I agree with this statement whole-heartedly. We at the schools have the tools the students needs to learn, but the parent is the one who will make sure a child uses those tools correctly and understands the importance of their use.
That being said, I think one important factor one should consider in choosing a school is the environment of the school. In my twenty years of teaching, I have always been impressed with the environment of the Catholic schools I have worked in, and this includes Holy Angels. It's a good place for kids to be.
Of course we have discipline issues at the school, although they are rarely severe issues. One thing to remember, however, is that they are almost always children's issues. So often, adults look at a situation from an adult perspective, and completely ignore the fact that childhood is a time for kids to screw up! They are supposed too make mistakes, and then learn from those mistakes. That is how they become responsible adults.
We have a responsibility to view what children do from this perspective. As a Catholic not only do we have this responsibility in dealing with kids who are normally well-behaved, but also with the students who may be a bit more challenging. We also need to consider what may be causing such behavior. Jesus did not preach amongst those who did not need him. He concentrated on the sinners, because he knew that is where he was most needed.
Again, we are fortunate to have relatively few discipline issues at Holy Angels. But we must remember the reason we exist as a Catholic school and adhere to these principles instead of just providing them lip service.
As an educator, I do feel the most important component of a child's success in school is his or her home life. We always state that parents are the primary educators, and I agree with this statement whole-heartedly. We at the schools have the tools the students needs to learn, but the parent is the one who will make sure a child uses those tools correctly and understands the importance of their use.
That being said, I think one important factor one should consider in choosing a school is the environment of the school. In my twenty years of teaching, I have always been impressed with the environment of the Catholic schools I have worked in, and this includes Holy Angels. It's a good place for kids to be.
Of course we have discipline issues at the school, although they are rarely severe issues. One thing to remember, however, is that they are almost always children's issues. So often, adults look at a situation from an adult perspective, and completely ignore the fact that childhood is a time for kids to screw up! They are supposed too make mistakes, and then learn from those mistakes. That is how they become responsible adults.
We have a responsibility to view what children do from this perspective. As a Catholic not only do we have this responsibility in dealing with kids who are normally well-behaved, but also with the students who may be a bit more challenging. We also need to consider what may be causing such behavior. Jesus did not preach amongst those who did not need him. He concentrated on the sinners, because he knew that is where he was most needed.
Again, we are fortunate to have relatively few discipline issues at Holy Angels. But we must remember the reason we exist as a Catholic school and adhere to these principles instead of just providing them lip service.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
41st Annual Jockey Game!!
If you have never been to our Annual Jockey Game, don't let this year pass without participating. If you have been before, then you know what a great time this is. On Thursday night, our Varsity Basketball team will be challenging the jockeys form Santa Anita for the 41st time! This is a great opportunity for the entire Holy Angels community to come together for no other reason than to have fun, cheer on our kids, and enjoy the evening.
A special thanks goes out to all the participants from Santa Anita, who have been supporting Holy Angels as long as the school has been in existence.
Don't forget...7:00 PM...LaSalle High School...Holy Angels vs. the Jockeys! We hope to see you there!
Friday, February 15, 2008
The Truth About Holy Angels
Every now and then certain rumors come to my attention, most notably because it is brought up numerous times by individuals who "heard" something, usually in the parking lot. Some of the most prevalent of late include the following:
Myth- It is required of all families to sell two raffle tickets for the auction.
Reality- No one is required to sell any raffle tickets. This raffle is an opportunity for us to raise funds beyond our normal school community. It has the potential to bring in $20,000 for the school if everyone sells an average of two tickets. The prizes are great, the odds are better than most raffles and the outcomes could greatly help Holy Angels School.
Myth- We are eliminating SCRIP at Holy Angels.
Reality- We recently discussed the fundraising situation at a CPTA Meeting. For a Catholic school, we have a very miniscule amount of mandatory fundraising. This is partially due to so many families participating in the non-mandatory fundraising. In any event, we are also aware that is seems from the moment we return to school, we are asking parents to buy something, or give to something else. We know it gets overwhelming. We are looking to make this process less burdensome and less continuous, while maintaining the income we need to maintain our programs. Bringing in extra funds at an event like the auction (i.e. previously mentioned raffle tickets) allows us the flexibility to eliminate other fundraising. SCRIP is a potential fundraiser to overhaul or eliminate, since we know the requirements can be difficult to meet, the amount of work to maintain the program is enormous and keeping track of your totals can be difficult.
Myth-Holy Angels is redoing the bathrooms.
Reality- We are constantly assessing the needs of the school, the children, and their safety. We have identified a plethora of needs in the school, and would love to address each and every one of them tomorrow. The reality is that funding, needs versus wants, and alternate remedies all have to be taken into account before any decisions are made. In addition, Holy Angels Parish is currently involved in a master facility planning situation that may render some changes unnecessary or obsolete in several years. The bathrooms are one area of focus, but are by no means the only area of focus, and no decisions have been made. Final decisions will be made based upon what is best for ALL the students of Holy Angels.
The fundamental purpose of this blog is to adress topics concerning Holy Angels School, and I hope this helps dispell some of the misinformation currently circulating!
Myth- It is required of all families to sell two raffle tickets for the auction.
Reality- No one is required to sell any raffle tickets. This raffle is an opportunity for us to raise funds beyond our normal school community. It has the potential to bring in $20,000 for the school if everyone sells an average of two tickets. The prizes are great, the odds are better than most raffles and the outcomes could greatly help Holy Angels School.
Myth- We are eliminating SCRIP at Holy Angels.
Reality- We recently discussed the fundraising situation at a CPTA Meeting. For a Catholic school, we have a very miniscule amount of mandatory fundraising. This is partially due to so many families participating in the non-mandatory fundraising. In any event, we are also aware that is seems from the moment we return to school, we are asking parents to buy something, or give to something else. We know it gets overwhelming. We are looking to make this process less burdensome and less continuous, while maintaining the income we need to maintain our programs. Bringing in extra funds at an event like the auction (i.e. previously mentioned raffle tickets) allows us the flexibility to eliminate other fundraising. SCRIP is a potential fundraiser to overhaul or eliminate, since we know the requirements can be difficult to meet, the amount of work to maintain the program is enormous and keeping track of your totals can be difficult.
Myth-Holy Angels is redoing the bathrooms.
Reality- We are constantly assessing the needs of the school, the children, and their safety. We have identified a plethora of needs in the school, and would love to address each and every one of them tomorrow. The reality is that funding, needs versus wants, and alternate remedies all have to be taken into account before any decisions are made. In addition, Holy Angels Parish is currently involved in a master facility planning situation that may render some changes unnecessary or obsolete in several years. The bathrooms are one area of focus, but are by no means the only area of focus, and no decisions have been made. Final decisions will be made based upon what is best for ALL the students of Holy Angels.
The fundamental purpose of this blog is to adress topics concerning Holy Angels School, and I hope this helps dispell some of the misinformation currently circulating!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Are We A Parish School?
We have recently been going through the process of testing new applicants for the school and meeting with each family. Probably the number one point I have been making with these new families is the importance of being not just an active school family, but active parishioners as well.
Many years ago, Catholic schools were parish schools, with the population of the school being made up parishioners. More and more, we are seeing Catholic schools become commuter schools, with the population coming from outside the parish boundaries. The result is we have very active school families, and very active parish families, but not as much interaction between the two as in the past. Ultimately, some activities are viewed as "parish" events and others as "school" events. This is not a good situation for either entity.
Holy Angels exists because sixty years ago, a group of dedicated parishioners worked to raise the funds necessary to build the school. We are all reaping the benefits of their labor. It is our responsiblity to continue this tradition for the next generation of Holy Angels students and parishioners The school is a ministry of the parish, supported by the parish and should be comprised of parishioners who are active beyond the $400 criteria used to define an "active" parishioner.
Catholic schools provide a great environmnet for children to grow, academically and morally. Catholic schools will only remain strong if they remain connected to, and involved with, the parish that they are an outgrowth of. It is the responsibility of every parent at Holy Angels who receives a lowered tuition because of their "active" status to truly be active parishioners and strenghten the bonds between the church and school in order to ensure a strong, vibrant and relevant school for the future generations.
Many years ago, Catholic schools were parish schools, with the population of the school being made up parishioners. More and more, we are seeing Catholic schools become commuter schools, with the population coming from outside the parish boundaries. The result is we have very active school families, and very active parish families, but not as much interaction between the two as in the past. Ultimately, some activities are viewed as "parish" events and others as "school" events. This is not a good situation for either entity.
Holy Angels exists because sixty years ago, a group of dedicated parishioners worked to raise the funds necessary to build the school. We are all reaping the benefits of their labor. It is our responsiblity to continue this tradition for the next generation of Holy Angels students and parishioners The school is a ministry of the parish, supported by the parish and should be comprised of parishioners who are active beyond the $400 criteria used to define an "active" parishioner.
Catholic schools provide a great environmnet for children to grow, academically and morally. Catholic schools will only remain strong if they remain connected to, and involved with, the parish that they are an outgrowth of. It is the responsibility of every parent at Holy Angels who receives a lowered tuition because of their "active" status to truly be active parishioners and strenghten the bonds between the church and school in order to ensure a strong, vibrant and relevant school for the future generations.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Safeguard The Children
Regarding my inaction on the blog lately, it is not because of a lack of material. In fact, I have an over abundance of topics to cover, but time limitations have prevented me from getting to them!
First and foremost, one of the recent events taking place at Holy Angels has been the reactivation of our Safeguard the Children Committee. For those of you unfamiliar with this committee, it was mandated by the Archdiocese roughly seven years ago for all parishes as a way of ensuring the safety of all the children of Catholic schools and Religious Education from any type of predatory behaviors or individuals.
After accomplishing initial goals, the committees seemed to fade out in many communities, including Holy Angels. Last year, as an end product of an audit process we completed, we made the decison to re-commit to Safeguard the Children.
The focus of this committee has been modified a bit, with our purpose now focusing on identifying dangers throughout the parish and making the entire community as safe as possible for children. While this may include fingerprinting volunteers and educating parents on the dangers of predators within the world we live, it also will include highlighting areas that may be dangerous in a physical sense, or practices we can institute to best ensure all our children's safety.
Currently, the committee meets at 7:00 pm on the first Monday of each month. Parent and parish involvement is the cornerstone of making this committee the most beneficial it can be. Currently, we have a parent information night planned, a booklet to be distributed at the start of next year, and a grounds walk-through to point out potential hazards. Any individuals interested in offering input are welcome to join us at our next meeting.
First and foremost, one of the recent events taking place at Holy Angels has been the reactivation of our Safeguard the Children Committee. For those of you unfamiliar with this committee, it was mandated by the Archdiocese roughly seven years ago for all parishes as a way of ensuring the safety of all the children of Catholic schools and Religious Education from any type of predatory behaviors or individuals.
After accomplishing initial goals, the committees seemed to fade out in many communities, including Holy Angels. Last year, as an end product of an audit process we completed, we made the decison to re-commit to Safeguard the Children.
The focus of this committee has been modified a bit, with our purpose now focusing on identifying dangers throughout the parish and making the entire community as safe as possible for children. While this may include fingerprinting volunteers and educating parents on the dangers of predators within the world we live, it also will include highlighting areas that may be dangerous in a physical sense, or practices we can institute to best ensure all our children's safety.
Currently, the committee meets at 7:00 pm on the first Monday of each month. Parent and parish involvement is the cornerstone of making this committee the most beneficial it can be. Currently, we have a parent information night planned, a booklet to be distributed at the start of next year, and a grounds walk-through to point out potential hazards. Any individuals interested in offering input are welcome to join us at our next meeting.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Parent Input
I have to admit that many times I awaken at night thinking of topics that I need to pontificate about on this blog. Nine times out of ten, the idea that I consider brilliant at 2:00 AM is forgotten by the time my alarm goes off. Much of the next day can be spent trying to recall what exactly it was that was such a brilliant idea. The reality is, often times what I end up writing about comes at the suggestion of a parent or teacher. These suggestions are often much better than anything I can come up with on my own.
Collaboration between all of us is crucial to the well-being of our school. The other evening at our Parent Meeting, when I stated that I truly did not know how to remedy the problem of absentee parents from these mandatory meetings, I was genuine in my quandary. I know I can charge people who fail to show up, or continue to rewards those who do in some way, but that does not solve the root of the problem. My hope is that maybe a parent has a suggestion or idea that might help the problem.
More to the point, however, is my hope that parents would show up to our meetings because they find value in them. I understand that some times schedules dictate where we can and cannot be, and putting aside my multiple miscues and wise cracks to cover them up, I want parents to leave a meeting with a new perspective on something at the school, a pressing question answered, or a thought provoked. I never want to fill a meeting with useless information just for the sake of having a meeting. I want it to have relevance.
One thing I have learned over my years of education is that my concerns for the school do not always mirror parents' concerns. We view the school from different perspectives often times. This is why I always invite parent input at our meetings. I want to ensure the meetings address what you the parents want to know.
Equally important, I want parents to attend a meeting because it is an important element of their child's education. I would love our parents to leave a meeting feeling like they may be in a position to better help their child succeed in school.
I hope parents continue to offer support, input and critiques of what is going on at Holy Angels. It is the best way we can be sure that our school stays focused on all the needs of all of our students.
Collaboration between all of us is crucial to the well-being of our school. The other evening at our Parent Meeting, when I stated that I truly did not know how to remedy the problem of absentee parents from these mandatory meetings, I was genuine in my quandary. I know I can charge people who fail to show up, or continue to rewards those who do in some way, but that does not solve the root of the problem. My hope is that maybe a parent has a suggestion or idea that might help the problem.
More to the point, however, is my hope that parents would show up to our meetings because they find value in them. I understand that some times schedules dictate where we can and cannot be, and putting aside my multiple miscues and wise cracks to cover them up, I want parents to leave a meeting with a new perspective on something at the school, a pressing question answered, or a thought provoked. I never want to fill a meeting with useless information just for the sake of having a meeting. I want it to have relevance.
One thing I have learned over my years of education is that my concerns for the school do not always mirror parents' concerns. We view the school from different perspectives often times. This is why I always invite parent input at our meetings. I want to ensure the meetings address what you the parents want to know.
Equally important, I want parents to attend a meeting because it is an important element of their child's education. I would love our parents to leave a meeting feeling like they may be in a position to better help their child succeed in school.
I hope parents continue to offer support, input and critiques of what is going on at Holy Angels. It is the best way we can be sure that our school stays focused on all the needs of all of our students.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Continuing Development At Our School
We have many different boards and organizations at Holy Angels involved in numerous facets of the school. Some, such as the CPTA, are fairly well known, in regards to their membership and responsibilities. Others, such as the Development Board or Facilities Committee are less visible, but equally important to the school.
Holy Angels School and parish, have been making great efforts to address some of our physical plant issues that may have been overlooked. In some cases, what should have been preventive maintenance issues have become major projects due to neglect.
Just last weekend, one of those projects was the installation of new woods chips in our swing structure, a monumental task that was accomplished through the great efforts of a number of our parents.
Our Development Board has been very active in an attempt to prioritize these needs throughout the school, as well as to find ways to fund them. Major projects that have been discussed recently include renovations of the classrooms, re-doing the blacktop, upgrading the restrooms, and improvements to our field. These are just some of the ideas.
The most important action we can take to ensure that these projects will continue to happen and improvements be made is to ensure that we continue to have a strong enrollment. With new student registration currently taking place, we need the help of our parents to direct new families to our school. Word of mouth from our parents is the best advertising for Holy Angels. Holy Angels has a strong enrollment and a waiting list in most of our grades. But we can never get complacent and rest on our laurels. The community: parents, teachers and administration, has to be proactive in the recruitment of new students.
Nothing is as satisfying for me as a principal than to have a new family apply for the school and tell me what wonderful things they have heard about the school. We do have a lot to be proud of, and we need to let others know about it. Please contiue to direct new families to our school, tellothers about our school, and play a vital role in the further upgrades that will take place at Holy Angels.
Holy Angels School and parish, have been making great efforts to address some of our physical plant issues that may have been overlooked. In some cases, what should have been preventive maintenance issues have become major projects due to neglect.
Just last weekend, one of those projects was the installation of new woods chips in our swing structure, a monumental task that was accomplished through the great efforts of a number of our parents.
Our Development Board has been very active in an attempt to prioritize these needs throughout the school, as well as to find ways to fund them. Major projects that have been discussed recently include renovations of the classrooms, re-doing the blacktop, upgrading the restrooms, and improvements to our field. These are just some of the ideas.
The most important action we can take to ensure that these projects will continue to happen and improvements be made is to ensure that we continue to have a strong enrollment. With new student registration currently taking place, we need the help of our parents to direct new families to our school. Word of mouth from our parents is the best advertising for Holy Angels. Holy Angels has a strong enrollment and a waiting list in most of our grades. But we can never get complacent and rest on our laurels. The community: parents, teachers and administration, has to be proactive in the recruitment of new students.
Nothing is as satisfying for me as a principal than to have a new family apply for the school and tell me what wonderful things they have heard about the school. We do have a lot to be proud of, and we need to let others know about it. Please contiue to direct new families to our school, tellothers about our school, and play a vital role in the further upgrades that will take place at Holy Angels.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Readers Response
The folllowing are two responses to my ramblings that the writers were unable to get posted:
In response to "Educational Challenge:
As a teacher who has spent now half of my life teaching in Catholic schools, I am mystified by the entire discussion. First off,I want to know how these kids are being compared. What tests/assessments are being used in the comparisons? No one has ever told me this. Secondly, what value is there in this constant comparison? I haven't figured that out either. We Americans are a rather reactionary people. I recall that when we thought the Russians would beat us to the moon (Oh my!) we suddenly decided that every American child needed more science instruction. So there we went. That group is now working at JPL trying to get spacecrafts to far off places in the solar system or trying to contact E.T. (Yes, E.T.)But now, that is just not where it's at for Americans, so in many public schools, science is an afterthought at best. As to math, I agree with Mr. Carroll, why are we pushing our kids to learn a concept, like algebra, before their minds have developed the necessary abstract thinking capabilities. Half the time kids do not even know why we are trying to teach them what we are teaching them. And sadly, we often can not even tell them; but it's in the book, so they better learn it.
It seems to me, as Mrs. Yenny suggests, we are a bit confused these days about what it means to be "educated" or what schools and teachers should be focused on. In fact, a basic tenet of educational practice that does not take much of an education to understand is called "time on task". I learned this as a new teacher. Simply stated it means there is a direct correlation between the time you spend doing something (practice) and the resulting product (learning). Hmmmmm.
The curriculum today is jammed with so much "stuff" (often at the discretion of a non-teaching world) that the teacher and student often feel overwhelmed.
Speaking for myself, on many days I spend time trying to decide what I should focus on for the benefit of my students and what will have to be left out, because there just is not enough time in the school day for it all (Yes, 4:00 dismissal sounds good to me!!). My grandparents and parents did not have this kind of a school experience, that I am sure of. It was the "3 R's" along with a whole lot less "extra-curricular" distraction in their world when growing up.
In any event, I guess it is important to note that our kids today have learned a lot of stuff that I never have and never will.I have a feeling these things will serve them well in the years ahead.
(By the way, no one ever taught me how to use a computer when I was in grade school, or high school for that matter, but I seem to have mastered at least the basics.)
In the meantime, let's keep encouraging our kids to work hard and believe in their ability to learn. Let's challenge them to excellence by expecting them to do their best.
Let's teach them what we know and value and give them real opportunities to use what they have learned. And I'm pretty sure all will be well.
Mr. Kristoff
In response to the "Hidden Accomplishments":
I haven't been successful in commenting on the blog, but wanted to send an email to recognize the teachers in Pre-K and Kindergarten who put on the Christmas program for those grades. Though I'm sure the level of organization pales in comparison to the larger event, it is such a special program and one of my very favorite experiences at Holy Angels thus far. I think it is especially meaningful to the children, because it is so age appropriate. I am so very appreciative of all that Mrs. Mac, Ms. Melinda and the other teachers do to enable our children to shine in their own special way.
Clare Maher
Thank you to every member of the Holy Angels community who offers input!
In response to "Educational Challenge:
As a teacher who has spent now half of my life teaching in Catholic schools, I am mystified by the entire discussion. First off,I want to know how these kids are being compared. What tests/assessments are being used in the comparisons? No one has ever told me this. Secondly, what value is there in this constant comparison? I haven't figured that out either. We Americans are a rather reactionary people. I recall that when we thought the Russians would beat us to the moon (Oh my!) we suddenly decided that every American child needed more science instruction. So there we went. That group is now working at JPL trying to get spacecrafts to far off places in the solar system or trying to contact E.T. (Yes, E.T.)But now, that is just not where it's at for Americans, so in many public schools, science is an afterthought at best. As to math, I agree with Mr. Carroll, why are we pushing our kids to learn a concept, like algebra, before their minds have developed the necessary abstract thinking capabilities. Half the time kids do not even know why we are trying to teach them what we are teaching them. And sadly, we often can not even tell them; but it's in the book, so they better learn it.
It seems to me, as Mrs. Yenny suggests, we are a bit confused these days about what it means to be "educated" or what schools and teachers should be focused on. In fact, a basic tenet of educational practice that does not take much of an education to understand is called "time on task". I learned this as a new teacher. Simply stated it means there is a direct correlation between the time you spend doing something (practice) and the resulting product (learning). Hmmmmm.
The curriculum today is jammed with so much "stuff" (often at the discretion of a non-teaching world) that the teacher and student often feel overwhelmed.
Speaking for myself, on many days I spend time trying to decide what I should focus on for the benefit of my students and what will have to be left out, because there just is not enough time in the school day for it all (Yes, 4:00 dismissal sounds good to me!!). My grandparents and parents did not have this kind of a school experience, that I am sure of. It was the "3 R's" along with a whole lot less "extra-curricular" distraction in their world when growing up.
In any event, I guess it is important to note that our kids today have learned a lot of stuff that I never have and never will.I have a feeling these things will serve them well in the years ahead.
(By the way, no one ever taught me how to use a computer when I was in grade school, or high school for that matter, but I seem to have mastered at least the basics.)
In the meantime, let's keep encouraging our kids to work hard and believe in their ability to learn. Let's challenge them to excellence by expecting them to do their best.
Let's teach them what we know and value and give them real opportunities to use what they have learned. And I'm pretty sure all will be well.
Mr. Kristoff
In response to the "Hidden Accomplishments":
I haven't been successful in commenting on the blog, but wanted to send an email to recognize the teachers in Pre-K and Kindergarten who put on the Christmas program for those grades. Though I'm sure the level of organization pales in comparison to the larger event, it is such a special program and one of my very favorite experiences at Holy Angels thus far. I think it is especially meaningful to the children, because it is so age appropriate. I am so very appreciative of all that Mrs. Mac, Ms. Melinda and the other teachers do to enable our children to shine in their own special way.
Clare Maher
Thank you to every member of the Holy Angels community who offers input!
Monday, January 7, 2008
The Hidden Accomplishments of Our Teachers
For those of you who attended our Christmas Program, you know what a truly beautiful program it was. Afterwards, it was quite easy to accept all the accolades from parents who were equally moved by the program, but it certainly would not be fair.
The accolades for the evening's program have to go to our faculty. As the students processed in at the program's conclusion, I was wondering how many parents who ever experienced the frenzy of putting together a birthday party for ten children realized what a truly spectacular occurrence it was to move three hundred students reverently into the Church, onto the altar, while singing such a beautiful rendition of Silent Night.
This year, the faculty of Holy Angels worked as a committee to make sure the program went well. I have to admit that some friction existed shoed itself along the way, but I think that's actually one of the strengths of working as a committee. When varying thoughts and viewpoints are considered, heads will bump occasionally, but ultimately, you come out with a superior end product. That's what our faculty accomplished.
Christmas programs are a great deal of work and actually very stressful for teachers. They are expected to continue to keep the students focused on their school work, while practicing and polishing their performances, and try and get the students to ignore the excitement of the upcoming holiday. Our faculty did an excellent job and need to be commended for everything they ALL did to make the program work.
Probably the two staff members who undertook the greatest bulk of the work were Mr. D'Leon, in teaching the students a multitude of traditional Christmas songs, in other languages, and Mrs. Bennett, who arranged the beautiful Nativity Scene and helped choreograph many other aspects of the program.
I think it is often overlooked that our teachers voluntarily take on many extra assignments outside of the classroom. Every one of them has taken on days of significance this year, be it during Catholic Schools Week or events like the Art Show or Grandparent's Day. We need to be thankful that we have a staff capable of working together, while sharing talents that ultimately go towards the improvement of the school experience for our students. Thank you to all our teachers.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
What I Did Over My Christmas Vacation
Virtually every person reading this can identify with the horrors of receiving this, or a like assignment, upon return to school after an extended break. (I have to confess to assigning this paper more than once!) As I began writing this blog, the topic was to recognize our teachers for some outstanding work ( coming tomorrow) but it very quickly ended up going in another direction. I was ruminating over what I wanted to get done at the school during the break and bothered at certain projects I failed to complete, when it struck me that some excellent upgrades have occurred over the break at Holy Angels that could easily go unnoticed by many of our families.
First and foremost, we are pleased to have almost completed the installation of computer projectors and screens in all the classrooms, thanks to the funds raised from our recent Jog-a-Thon. These projectors will greatly aid in bringing to fruition the promise held by having computers in the classrooms. Now, teachers can use the Internet, streaming video, pre-written notes and lessons, along with and more engaging graphics and learning tools in a format that will allow all the students to view them simultaneously. I think it is an exciting upgrade to our classrooms, and will really help our teachers to keep their lessons fresh, relevant and engaging.
Also, at the end of this week, we will be receiving a shipment of long overdue wood chips to replace the ones currently in our swing and slide structure. Maybe not as exciting as computer projectors, but badly needed and a definite upgrade towards ensuring our students remain as safe as possible. This money is coming form Angels Among Us funds, once again donated by friends and families of Holy Angels.
Finally, we have just about completed the input of all our library books into our new cataloging system, allowing all our books to be looked up on computer. This has probably been one of the most labor intensive and completely monotonous tasks any person could undertake, but our new librarian, Mrs. Chowdhary, has been vigilant in this job, and is a excited about it being completed as I am. We have also just ordered over 250 brand new books for the library, with the funds coming, once again, from supporters of the school.
Thank you to every individual who has donated towards are many projects in my last three years at Holy Angels. I am gratified by your generosity and excited by the way it continues to improve the school experience for our students. We have lots more to do, and we will do it, and it continues to be inspired by the holy Angels community. Happy New Year.
First and foremost, we are pleased to have almost completed the installation of computer projectors and screens in all the classrooms, thanks to the funds raised from our recent Jog-a-Thon. These projectors will greatly aid in bringing to fruition the promise held by having computers in the classrooms. Now, teachers can use the Internet, streaming video, pre-written notes and lessons, along with and more engaging graphics and learning tools in a format that will allow all the students to view them simultaneously. I think it is an exciting upgrade to our classrooms, and will really help our teachers to keep their lessons fresh, relevant and engaging.
Also, at the end of this week, we will be receiving a shipment of long overdue wood chips to replace the ones currently in our swing and slide structure. Maybe not as exciting as computer projectors, but badly needed and a definite upgrade towards ensuring our students remain as safe as possible. This money is coming form Angels Among Us funds, once again donated by friends and families of Holy Angels.
Finally, we have just about completed the input of all our library books into our new cataloging system, allowing all our books to be looked up on computer. This has probably been one of the most labor intensive and completely monotonous tasks any person could undertake, but our new librarian, Mrs. Chowdhary, has been vigilant in this job, and is a excited about it being completed as I am. We have also just ordered over 250 brand new books for the library, with the funds coming, once again, from supporters of the school.
Thank you to every individual who has donated towards are many projects in my last three years at Holy Angels. I am gratified by your generosity and excited by the way it continues to improve the school experience for our students. We have lots more to do, and we will do it, and it continues to be inspired by the holy Angels community. Happy New Year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
