Eagle Express
LHS Staff Newsletter--Year 18, Vol. 14, 11/26/2018
The late great Vince Lombardi said, "we will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all the while we can never attain it. But along the way, we shall catch excellence.” As I continue to reflect on our Heritage Week theme of leaving a legacy, it struck me that most of our speakers throughout the week didn't set out to do something grandiose. Most of their work was a series of small acts that resulted in excellence--their legacy. How does that translate to what we do day in and day out in our classrooms/offices? I found the information below on a blog post and I think it really speaks to this idea of excellence and legacy:
Librettist and theatrical producer Oscar Hammerstein II once remarked on an aerial photo of the Statue of Liberty taken from a helicopter. He described how the photo revealed finely etched strands of hair atop the head of Lady Liberty, details placed there by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi. It’s important to remember that the Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York Harbor on October 28, 1886, almost two decades before the Wright brothers’ first flight. In those days, no one believed that human beings would ever be able to fly over the statue and look down on the top of Lady Liberty’s head. Yet Bartholdi refused to cut corners with his sculpture. He paid attention to the little things, to the fine details he thought no one would ever see” (from Coach Wooden’s Greatest Secret by Williams and Robinson, pg. 119). Pursuing excellence means always doing your best. But it also implies that your best will be better than the norm.
Here are some key factors in pursuing excellence.
- Pay attention to details. The pursuit of excellence will always involve an obsessive infatuation with details. Famous American designer Charles Eames said, “Details are not the details. They make the design.” Everything that exists is a compilation of details; pay attention to them.
- Take the time to get it right. Picasso used up no less than eight notebooks just for preliminary sketches of his revolutionary painting, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. It takes a lot of time to fill eight notebooks with sketches but he wanted to get it right so the time he did take.
- Try to “do it once, do it right” but if the end product is inferior, be willing to “do it again to get it right.” Excellence can be obtained on the first attempt, but if it isn’t, be willing to stay with it.
- Embrace the concept of continuous improvement. In the 1960s and 1970s, W. Edwards Deming developed and introduced his quality-improvement methods into Japanese manufacturing. In two decades, Japanese products, which had been referred to as “Jap scrap,” became synonymous with “quality” and “super-engineering.” These quality improvement methods took Japan, within one generation, from a country that had been completely destroyed in 1945 to the number two economic power in the world. This transformation was built on the Japanese process called “kaizen” which means “continuous betterment” or “continuous improvement.” Never be content with the way things are; continually strive to make things better. Adopt the mindset that everything is a work in progress; incremental improvements will always be made.
- Be knowledgeable of benchmarks—they reveal how excellence is defined in any given area. Excellence is gauged by comparing an outcome with the generally accepted benchmark for that particular result. That’s why achieving excellence demands more than just doing the best we can do; our product must exceed standards that are established by others.
- Realize that excellence is an end unto itself. We should draw deep satisfaction from a job well done. Even if no one else notices or acknowledges our striving toward excellence, it will be its own reward. A job well done is very gratifying.
(Online at https://www.preachitteachit.org/articles/detail/how-to-pursue-excellence/)
Heritage Week Service Project
Don't forget that our Heritage Week service project this year is collecting hats, scarves, gloves, socks, and toiletries for distribution in our local community. Items will be donated through 1A classes through November 30. As we heard in Mike Smith's presentation, these are items that are most needed by our homeless population. As an added bonus, the class with the most donations will win breakfast on 12/4!
December 3 Staff Meeting Info
LHS Apparel Sale--Limited Time Only
Academic Support Block Opportunity
During Mrs. Bell's visits to academic support blocks, students asked to learn more about time management. On December 4 (A) and 5 (B), students have an opportunity to attend a time management workshop with Ms. Bell during their ASB, but they must register this week in order to attend. Please share these links with students in your academic support block.
A Day academic support blocks: https://goo.gl/forms/XHwki2KS3yllrmdu1
B Day academic support blocks: https://goo.gl/forms/3kwZKHNWB89UvEuM2
I Make a Difference
From Terri Gayer
We are very lucky at Landstown to have such an extraordinary day and evening custodial staff! They are the unsung heroes of our school. I get to work with them a lot in preparation for various events in the auditorium and for my play productions. I would be lost without their assistance in getting our performance spaces show ready. I would like to pass this weeks “I Make a Difference Award” to Chris Desrochers. Chris is a member of our daytime custodial staff. He not only works to keep our school looking amazing during the day, he also has a wonderful rapport with our students and takes time out of his busy schedule to check in on them. I often see him in the hallways during One Lunch feverishly cleaning up after the students, but in addition offering a kind word of encouragement to a student sitting alone or a student that is upset. He is also quick to praise a student’s work on the playing field or on the stage. He has a friendly and approachable manner that instantly puts a smile on your face. Seeing him each morning definitely brightens my mood. He truly cares about the staff and students at Landstown, and he is a wonderful example of what makes our school such an awesome place to work!
Upcoming Events
Monday, 11/26 (A)
Academy Staff Meeting, ECC, 2:20
Scholastic Bowl vs FC, Library, 3:00
JV Basketball @ Green Run, 4:30
Fall Sports Banquet, Cafeteria, 6:00
Tuesday, 11/27 (B)
Principal's List Reception, Cafeteria, 8:15 a.m.
NTHS Inductions, Schola, 11:50
Basketball @ PAHS, 5:30
SPC, Library, 5:00
PTSA, Library, 6:00
Wednesday, 11/28 (A)
Parent-Teacher Conferences, Cafeteria, 2:15
Scholastic Bowl @ OLHS, 3:00
JV Basketball @ Bayside, 5:30
Thursday,11/29 (B)
Have a thoughtful Thursday!
Friday, 11/30 (A)
Dive @ Great Neck Rec, 3:30
Swim vs Salem @ PA Rec, 7:30
Saturday, 11/31
Wrestling @ Skyline Tournament
Announcements & Reminders
Principal’s List Reception: The Principal's List reception will be held Tuesday (11/27) at 8:15. A list of the students who were invited will be sent via email on Monday. The first quarter Honor Roll list was placed in mailboxes on Friday for teachers to post in their classrooms.
Cafeteria Lines: Teachers and staff members are reminded that they are not to go behind the serving lines in the cafeteria during One Lunch. In addition to this practice being against the rules, our wonderful cafeteria staff have their hands full getting all of the students through the lines!
Heritage Week Wristbands: If you had any wristbands left over from our Heritage Week advisory, please turn them in to Krissy Sanderlin or Kelly Singer in the Library.
Federal Cards: All teachers, please call the parents of all students who have not returned their federal cards. These students can return their cards to you or directly to Mrs. Mitchell in the main office. This is the last week for us to collect all federal cards.
Gifted Identification Letters: All Block 2A teachers are asked to distribute gifted referral letters to every student in your 2A class on Wednesday, 11/28. If you have any questions, contact Heidi Calma, our GRT.
Securly: Teachers will be receiving an email this week related to accessing the Securly application. Securly allows you to check students' browsing history.
Schoology Pathway Group: A folder for each PL pathway, dates and session descriptions can be found in Schoology. The code is: FQS89-5R52V
VBEA Jeans Day: The VBEA is sponsoring a jeans day on Wednesday, December 5. If you would like to particiate, please donate $5 cash or checks to VBEA to Dawn Euman, your VBEA Building rep. Help VBEA as they support the Beach Bags food program that provides weekend meals to VBCPS students in need. Pair your nice jeans with a RED shirt to show your support for public education.
Kudos
Congratulations to the following football players who were named to the All-Beach District Team:
1st Team Offense--Luqman Haskett, Kenan Luchan, Bryan Pedersen, Giovanni Ramirez
1st Team Defense--Taveon Lane, Denzel Lowry
2nd Team Defense--Bryan Pedersen, Iosefa Tanoi
Honorable Mention--Cole Arnold, Immanuel Idlebird, Jalen Jennings, Charles Kaiser, Isaiah Montgomery, Elijah Munden, Javil Painter, Chris Price, Calvin Sykes, Isaiah Williams
News from the SCA
Angel Tree: Our Angel Tree tags are up on the tree in the library foyer. Please consider sponsoring a child as an organization or individually. For accountability purposes, please email Chelsea Brechtel the tag ID number if you take one. Tags and new, unwrapped clothing items are due December 4th.
Leadership Workshop: The Landstown High School Leadership Workshop staff is hard at work planning our first overnight Workshop at Jamestown 4-H March 22nd-23rd. We are seeking names of students that you believe would benefit from a leadership training experience. Please consider students who may not be involved yet, but have potential (in addition to those who are involved). We would like a wide variety of delegates to maximize the impact this program has on our school. We are also seeking chaperones. We need at least 10 staff members who are willing to stay overnight. Comp time will be awarded. Please use the form below to submit student names and indicate your interest in chaperoning. The form may be filled out multiple times.
Eagles in Need
11/26 Melissa Porter, Social Studies
11/26 Jessieline Salvador, Custodian
11/27 Antionette Fleming, Custodian
11/28 Mona Adams, Special Ed TA
11/28 Mary Davanzo-Tysor, English
11/18 Keith Leonard, Science
12/02 Kathy Holbert, Math
Calendar Shift
Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) will use February 18 (Presidents’ Day) to make up instructional time lost during Hurricane Michael. Given the length of time out of school thus far, the division will also extend the first semester from Monday, January 28 to Thursday, January 31. Consequently, the division’s previously scheduled staff day/virtual learning day will now be Friday, February 1 and the second semester will begin Monday, February 4.
Report cards for the second nine weeks/first semester will be sent home Monday, February 11.
The 2018-2019 school calendar has been updated to include the makeup day and semester changes. The updated calendar is available on www.vbschools.com. Updated 2018-19 Calendar
Principal's Advisory Committee
The Principal's Advisory Committee serves in an advisory capacity to address employee concerns as they relate to site conditions that negatively impact on high student achievement and high employee morale. The PAC is committed to resolving issues professionally and in a timely manner. The following staff members have been elected to serve on this year's PAC: Katie Bennett, Caroline Clark, Jae Clark, Terri Gayer, Woody Gehlert, Kay Gramling, Kathy Holbert, Suzette Johnson, Connie Martinez, Michael Robinson, Kelly Singer and Anne Marie Sprague. Use this form to submit concerns to the PAC.
Our Guiding Questions
- How do students determine and engage with their learning targets?
- What is the evidence that students are exercising their voice and choice throughout the learning process?
- What evidence is there that the teacher has planned opportunities for students to choose from a variety of tools/structures during their learning?
- How are teachers using assessment tools as part of their assessment strategy?
- What evidence exists that supports student collaboration, exploration, and creation efforts?
Landstown High School
Email: cheryl.askew@vbschools.com
Website: http://www.landstownhs.vbschools.com/
Location: 2001 Concert Drive, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Phone: 757-648-5500
Twitter: @LandstownEagles