A wise parent sent me this story below. It sure resonated with me as the principal of a school in a very achievement driven district. Success is important, but so is failure. Being good at one thing in school or outside of school may be important, but trying lots of things may trump that in the long-term.
As you sit at dinner this week, ask your kids... what is the reason for learning? For trying something new? For failing? For winning or losing? For putting forth effort?
These conversations, though sometimes short or silly, mean something. They help us, as a family, define what is important to us and to our kids as they grow-up. Ask these questions... and you may be surprised by their answers... and yours!
Tim
“When I was 15, I spent a month working on an archeological dig. I was talking to one of the archeologists one day during our lunch break and he asked those kinds of “getting to know you” questions you ask young people: Do you play sports? What’s your favorite subject? And I told him, no I don’t play any sports. I do theater, I’m in choir, I play the violin and piano, I used to take art classes.
And he went WOW. That’s amazing! And I said, “Oh no, but I’m not any good at ANY of them.”
And he said something then that I will never forget and which absolutely blew my mind because no one had ever said anything like it to me before: “I don’t think being good at things is the point of doing them. I think you’ve got all these wonderful experiences with different skills, and that all teaches you things and makes you an interesting person, no matter how well you do them.”
And that honestly changed my life. Because I went from a failure, someone who hadn’t been talented enough at anything to excel, to someone who did things because I enjoyed them. I had been raised in such an achievement-oriented environment, so inundated with the myth of Talent, that I thought it was only worth doing things if you could “Win” at them.”
- Kurt Vonnegut
NEW- NAVIANCE! --- NUEVA PLATAFORMA- NAVIANCE
We are excited to share that our D303 Middle School Counselors have been working to create opportunities to share a new web based platform that is a comprehensive website where you and your child can begin to have discussions and make plans about colleges and careers. Naviance Student, which is connected to Naviance, is a service that will provide experiences where students can explore and identify key elements that pertain to colleges and careers.
------------------------------------------------------
Las escuelas secundarias del D303 están muy emocionados de compartir que los consejeros escolares han estado trabajando para crear oportunidades para compartir una nueva plataforma digital que es una página de internet completa donde usted y hijo(a) pueden comenzar a explorar para poder realizar planes sobre posibles carreras y universidades. El servicio de Alumno Naviance/ Naviance Student, lo podrán encontrar en la misma página. Este mismo proporciona experiencias donde los estudiantes pueden explorar e identificar elementos claves que pertenecen a las carreras en universidades.
Los estudiantes estarán recibiendo un correo electrónico la siguiente semana de la plataforma Naviance que contiene información importante sobre cómo crear una cuenta con Navience. El plan es que los estudiantes estarán visitando la plataforma digitalmente durante su periodo de tutoría la siguiente semana, y estarán tomando la evaluación para obtener su perfil de interés vocacional. Tomen en cuenta que esta cuenta con Naviance es la misma cuenta que los alumnos utilizaran cuando entren a Preparatoria y durante su permanencia en ella. Si tienen alguna pregunta, por favor comuníquese con el consejero académico de su hijo(a). Oprima Aqui para acceder a la información de contacto de su consejero.
Deadline Extended to Order WMS Yearbooks!
Buying a yearbook is optional and not all students choose to own one. The price of a yearbook is $25. We are extending the due date for ordering books to Friday, January 22, 2021. This will be the last date that you can order this year's edition. Login to Pushcoin and then click on "webstore". Scroll down to the Wredling webstore. The WMS yearbook is at the very bottom.
Not sure if you already ordered one??? You can check in your PushCoin account. Once logged in, go to "Transactions" and adjust the start date to April 1, 2020. Look through your transactions for "WMS Yearbook 2020-2021."
WE STILL NEED YOUR PICTURE SUBMISSIONS FOR THIS YEAR'S YEARBOOK. Your participation is crucial to completing our yearbook!
Current theme: "Winter Fun" and/or "Family Celebrations"
- Pictures can be shared through the Google drive or email at Timothy.Massie@d303.org OR
- CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW (computer or smartphone) and use access code - redhawks)
Dear Parents and Future North Stars-
SCN is a great place, but it’s also a big place. Peer Leadership (PL) hopes to make the transition to high school more comfortable and fun, while offering opportunities for growth.
The goals of Peer Leadership are to:
Match incoming freshmen with selected upperclassmen mentors.
Foster lasting friendships and bonds between the freshmen, their mentors, and the kids in their PL Groups.
Improve freshmen self-confidence and self-advocacy.
Prepare freshmen to become participants in clubs, sports, classes, and other activities at SCN.
Prepare freshmen for future leadership roles.
PL Students meet together in groups every day. PL is formally added to student schedules and takes the place of lunch/ study hall. There are weekly themes that are educational, informative, supportive, and fun. PL also attends a day of teambuilding “Camp”, has several “all PL” activities during the year, and meets together in groups both formally and informally.
We would like to be able to offer PL to all interested incoming freshmen, but our numbers are limited. In order to start the selection process, interested students (or their parents) should fill out this Preliminary Interest Form before February 5th.
Contact Stephanie Stavropoulos @ stephanie.stavropoulos@d303.org with specific questions.
Peer Leadership... a great way to start high school!
WANTED: WREDLING PTO VICE PRESIDENT
Looking for a job?
One of the more flexible positions available is that of a D303 Substitute. You can choose to work, or not work, as your schedule permits. Take a moment and read the Substitute Handbook to see what this job entails.
If you are interested and hold a:
- Bachelor's degree in any field you would qualify to apply for a substitute license with the state which allows you to sub for teachers or teacher assistants. You would apply using THIS link.
- Associate's degree you apply for a Paraprofessional license which only allows you to sub for Teaching assistants. You would apply using THIS link.
- High School diploma you have to take an aptitude test with the KANE ROE office. Once you pass that, you apply for a Paraprofessional license which only allows you to sub for Teaching assistants. You would apply using THIS link.
Contact Julie Wenger (julie.wenger@d303.org) with any questions.
Winter Reading Program
Wredling Middle School - Home of the RedHawks
#WredlingLearns
