The Cardinal Way
Sharing the Stories of Southport High School
Leading and Learning: RETAIN HOPE
“Some people can’t believe in themselves until someone else believes in them first.”
– Sean Maguire,Good Will Hunting
While leading with L.E.S.S. and specifically in serving others, we must remind ourselves there are moments when it is not always about getting better, sometimes it is about retaining hope. Many times, people do not need another supervisor, they need someone to stand alongside them and help them remember their purpose. There are many moments in a school year that can be tough. Motivation can wane, frustrations from working with students can be intense, and the pressures of pushing kids to succeed can be overwhelming.
Our conversations with those we serve many times need to take on the emotional side of their well being and keep them hopeful that they can achieve success. Our daily conversations do not need always need to be focused on a logical path for improvement; the conversations must address the need of having hope in the work we are striving to accomplish. Those we serve (teachers and students) often know they need to put in more effort; they often know they are not focusing like they need to. Yet, when frustrations arise and the work becomes overwhelming people can struggle to see a reason to continue. They can lose hope. Instead of trying to help people by applying logic to the situation, service requires that we emotionally support people first. Before they need logic and a plan, they need hope.
Hope gives us the courage to make hard decisions
Hope sustains us in living a positive life and having a positive attitude
Hope produces endurance for the big and small tasks ahead of us
Hope keeps us focused on doing the hard work in front of us daily
Hope tells us that even on the worst days, each person is capable of a better tomorrow
While striving to get better is vital to our success, and equipping others with the tools they need to achieve is paramount in our role as leaders, we cannot lose sight of emotionally supporting those we serve. Sometimes it is not about getting better; it is about retaining hope.
I challenge you to make a conscious effort to build hope when you are working with those you serve. Whether your role focuses on the support of teachers or students, your most important role is to keep hope alive. Bringing and maintaining hope is the life blood of servant leadership.
Keep learning; keep growing; keep sharing!
What it takes to #BeACardinal:
- our School Counseling Office for coordinating college admission officers to be available during out lunch periods to talk to students.
- our Mentor Teachers for spending time after school on Thursday providing feedback to improve our upcoming PD cycle.
- our Exceptional Need Teachers (along with school counselors and admin) for the countless case conferences they have already coordinated this school year to support our students.
Grateful Friday Challenge
Week 7 Grateful Friday Challenge
Week 7: Welcome one and all to the end of another week! (Why do short weeks feel so long?) Regardless, we did it! We made it all the way to Friday and are a few hours from starting the weekend and having a few days to relax a little; and with the nice small dip into the 70s what a weekend it is promising to be.
This week, let’s do something new with a twist of some of our past favorites for the #SHSGFC. This week we are going to do a mash up of a few oldies but goodies -- we are going to have fun with finding funny memes and then slipping them to our colleagues with the stealth of the Positive Post-it challenge. This is going to be awesome!
So find a meme that inspires, encourages, or gives a laugh; then sneak it to someone who you think would enjoy it. Stick it to their door, place it in their mailbox, hide it on their desk, or pass it through a student… anyway you can think of, get the memes out there and the laughs circulating….
Let’s see how many smiles you can give with a meme. You just got memed!
With banners flying as we go...
Be a Cardinal; Change lives; Put a mission into motion!
180 Days of Learning -- #CardsLearn
Amanda Schnepp
Jim Poyser, the Executive Director of Earth Charter Indiana, visited Mrs. Schnepps freshman biology students today to talk about good environmental stewardship. The students are working on a project to share ways to protect the environment with Perry Township Preschoolers. Mr. Poyser helped the class brainstorm ideas that are appropriate for the preschool students. The students were challenged to think about what this age group is capable of thinking about and finding a solution to help our environment. Mrs. Schnepp's students will continue to work on this project and will visit the Preschool on October 3 to run fun educational activities that will help the preschoolers learn about how they can become good environmental stewards.
Daryl Traylor
Leadership Team
Kaleb Robinson
Educational Humor
Southport High School
Email: bknight@perryschools.org
Website: http://perryschools.org/sh/
Location: 971 E Banta Rd, Indianapolis, IN, United States
Phone: 317-789-4800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SHSCardinals/
Twitter: @SHS_Cardinals