CSA Lincoln Newsletter
Friday, September 13th
Try Everything
I won't give up, no I won't give in
Till I reach the end
And then I'll start again
No I won't leave
I wanna try everything
I wanna try even though I could fail
Oh oh try everything
Calvin calls it the "bunny movie." We watched Zootopia awhile back, and admittedly I was somewhere between consciousness and asleep. So I missed bits and pieces, but the song "Try Everything" by Shakira came on the radio yesterday, and it jogged my memory of Judy, the bunny, and her relentless pursuit of finding the missing predators. The lyrics above are from the song, and I included the music video too. It is a beautiful message about stepping outside your comfort zone to try something new, knowing that it may not work out. It is a story about resilience and determination.
Last year, I wrote to you about the idea of either winning or learning. You don't have to lose. If you don't accomplish your goal, then you should look at it as an opportunity to learn from your mistakes, improve, and come back better next time. With this mindset, when you encounter an obstacle (not making the team), it isn't the end. It's a lesson.
The LEGO Robotics team selection was last week, and they have started practice. Spell Bowl held tryouts earlier this week. Cheerleading tryouts wrapped up yesterday. Basketball and Math Bowl tryouts are still upcoming. With success, comes interest, and a desire to be part of something special. The reality is that there are only so many spots available on these teams.
Helping your child cope with disappointment isn't easy. No one wants to see their child hurting. I would venture to guess that we have all experienced the frustration of not making the team, been picked last at recess, missed out on a promotion, dumped by a girlfriend or boyfriend, or not passed a test at some point in our lives. As adults, we see the bigger picture. When your child encounters these obstacles, I encourage you to see it as an opportunity to get better or try something different because it might very well be the best thing that happens to them — case and point: me.
I played basketball in elementary school (K-5) at a school smaller than CSA Lincoln. Eight elementary schools merged into one middle school. I made the sixth-grade "B" team and rode the bench all year. It was an eye-opening experience. I didn't give up, and when seventh-grade rolled around, I tried out and made the "B" team again. I also rode the bench again. Swimming was in the same season, and my mom encouraged me to join the team. So for the entire season, I would practice for basketball after school, change in the back of my mom's 1992 Ford Aerostar Minivan as she drove me to the high school, and then go to swim practice. I didn't love swimming as much as I did basketball.
A funny thing happened. I started winning races at the swim meets, and it was a lot more fun collecting blue ribbons than it was counting nail heads on the bench at basketball games. By 8th grade, I didn't even try out for the basketball team. I swam four years in high school and went on to swim varsity for four years at Wabash College. By having great role models as coaches, I realized my passion for coaching and teaching. I coached a club team (similar to Donner Swim Club) after college and went on to become the head swim coach and a teacher for six incredible years. When it was time for me to move on to school administration, it was swimming that got me an interview at Northside Middle School for assistant principal. See, I had built a relationship with Jim Sheridan (former Columbus North Head Swimming Coach) as an athlete and fellow coach who put in a good word for me. Three years later, I was the new principal at CSA Lincoln Elementary.
Oh, and I met my wife through swimming.
So you see, I owe everything to trying everything.
Happy Friday!
Brett
Updates
- The Serve-a-Thon is at the halfway point! The class that raises the most amount of money will get a pizza party. The following classes earned an extra recess by meeting their halfway goal of $250: Miss Fenske (leader), Miss Cook, Mrs. Biehle, Mrs. George, Mrs. Aldrich, Mr. Wright, and Mrs. Sickels.
- For those students pursuing Principal for a Day by being in the top ten for most money collected, here are the current standings at the halfway point: Stella Streeval, Jack Hale, Ciara Bragg, Aniket Ghatge, Chloe Voelz, Brody Brubaker, Ayden Brubaker, Sawyer Hartwell, Sebastian Hartwell, and Emma Gibson.
- Parent-Teacher Conferences will be the week of September 30th. Teachers will be sending home information regarding your time to meet with your student's teacher.
- Mark your calendar for September 18th, for our first P.E.P. (Parent Education Program) Night of the school year. The program will take place in our beautiful outdoor classroom area at 6:00 (weather permitting). This month, come to learn about healthy eating options for busy families and keep ourselves safe when it comes to poisonous or hazardous substances.
One Year Ago Today...
Important Upcoming Dates and Notes
Please mark these dates on your calendar!
- 9/16- Girls on the Run and Trailblazers start next week (info below)
- 9/20 Serve-a-Thon Ends (School Fundraiser)
- 9/30-10/3 Parent-Teacher Conferences
- 9/30-10/4 Book Fair
- 10/2- Walk to School Day
- Basketball Tryouts will be the week of October 14th. Details regarding tryout times for both boys and girls is TBA. All students must have a physical on file to participate.
5th Grade Field Trip to Conner Prairie
Parker Coy stamped her passport to South America!
Cora Bartels stamped her passport to North America!
Staff Spotlight- Mrs. Kirk
She is excellent at her job and ensures our students are ready for middle school.
CSA Reading Challenge
Welcome to an exciting new Reading Challenge for CSA Lincoln students. In this challenge, we will travel the world, making stops at each continent. At each stop, students can choose books they are interested in while exploring various genres for grades 3-6 and the author’s last name or title for K-2. There will be weekly drawings for participants and prizes for continental completions.
Husky Gram Winners
Callan Jones Ellison Coy Aubrey Chytka Chloe Wright Maycee Campbell Aubrianna Gates Pato Amuchastegui Logan West Hannah Ousley Natalie Pickup Sophia Thompson Landon Manuel John Eggers Tucker Artis
PTO Update
PEP (Parent Education Program) Session Next Week!
Join us in the CSA Lincoln outdoor classroom (on the playground) next Wednesday, September 18th @ 6 pm as we welcome speakers to educate us on healthy family meal planning and household poison safety! Kids are welcome to play on the playground during this PEP Session. See attached flyer for more details. Hope to see you there!
If you have ideas, comments, or questions OR you want to join the PTO email list to receive info and opportunities in your inbox you can always reach us at ptocsalincoln@gmail.com
Upcoming events
PEP Session: Healthy Meals and Poison Control - Sept. 18th 6:00-7: 00 pm
PTO Meeting - Sept. 19th 6:00-7: 00 pm
Family Night: Book Bingo/Literacy Night - Oct. 18th
CSA Lincoln on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter
Instagram: CSA_Lincoln
Facebook: CSA Lincoln Community
Twitter: @csaprincipal
Brett Findley
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
Email: findleyb@bcsc.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.bcsc.k12.in.us/site/default.aspx?DomainID=788
Location: Columbus Signature Academy Lincoln Campus, 5th Street, Columbus, IN, United States
Phone: 812-376-4447
Facebook: facebook.com/CSALincoln
Twitter: @csaprincipal