Friday Focus
Friday, September 25, 2015
Let Us Run with Endurance the Race Set out Before Us
Steve Prefontaine is a common household name for the Keith family. It isn't uncommon to hear one of his quotes applied to many different types of situations. I won't deny that I may or may not have sent a text on race day to Spencer that said, "Somebody may beat you, but make them bleed to do it." Of course I don't want anyone to actually bleed, but it does serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifice it takes to push ourselves from good to greatness. We can create an opportunity by attaching a Prefontaine quote to any situation. His quotes motivate and remind me what grit and perseverance can produce; how obstacles can become opportunities. Prefontaine often rubbed people the wrong way by the bold statements he made to newspapers and magazines alike, but there is no doubt that he was putting in the work and believed what he said. And clearly I love his confidence and the courage it took to be who he was. He understood that his races weren't short sprints and that he had to dig deep to get his desired results. One of his quotes states, "I'm going to work so that it's a pure guts race at the end, and if it is, I am the only one who can win it." This year, with guided reading and the implementation of think tanks throughout the campus, it may feel like a guts race. So I want to encourage you to dig deep. Problems will arise, you will run into obstacles; let those continue to push you to greatness. And...ask for help before you allow yourself to feel overwhelmed. I've said this before and I'll say it again - we have so many people that can help in various capacities. But you have to let us know. I can make think tanks, work with small groups, or assist in practice academies to improve classroom group work behavior while you work with small groups. Don't jump ship when something isn't successful in the beginning, we can troubleshoot together to make it work. I wouldn't say this to you unless I didn't believe it wholeheartedly - I feel like we're on the brink of moving from a really good campus to a great campus.
Make sure you scroll down to read all of his quotes.
UPCOMING DATES
9/25 Lunch and Learn
9/29 504 Meetings (select students)
9/30 ARD
10/1 Flu shots
10/5-10/9 Homecoming Week
10/6 Stillwaters (6th grade only)
10/8 Fundraiser party
10/12 ELAR meetings with Janie during conferences
10/13 6th Grade GT Classroom Instruction
10/14 5th Grade GT Classroom Instruction
10/14 Science Planning
10/15 Math Planning
10/19 - 10/23 Book Fair
10/19 Literacy Night
10/21 5th/6th GT Field Trip
10/21 Social Studies Planning
10/22 ELAR Planning