Mustang Round-Up Volume 14
November 3, 2019
Reflections From the Principal
I would like to welcome Mrs. Peterson back to FC! I'm sure it won't be easy for her to leave her sweet little one at home tomorrow, but we are glad to have you back! Again, I want to thank Mrs. Duncan and Mrs. Townsend for covering Mrs. Peterson's maternity leave. Also, I would like to thank Mr. Hall and Mr. Walke for helping me keep with with all special education paperwork and IEP's while Mrs. Peterson was out. I cannot begin to tell you the amount of extra work these two have put in to help out. I truly appreciate your willingness to go above and beyond for kids!
Believe it or not, we are officially in November! I hope you have turned your clocks back and enjoyed your "extra" hour of rest! We are in for another busy week at FC. We will have two different assemblies this week. On Tuesday, Sergeant Terry Hall will present on a very important topic with our students. On Friday, we will have our Veteran's Day program. I look forward to this awesome program every year!
Have a great week!
Ashley
Great Things I Saw This Week
In Mrs. Baldwin's 7th grade English class, she was introducing the book "The Outsiders". To introduce the book, she had a lesson on "stereotypes" and the "greasers" vs. the "socs". In case you don't know, the "socs" are the middle class people and the "greasers" are the poor and dirty people. To bring this to real-life for her students, they had numbers on the back of their venn diagrams (to compare and contrast greasers and socs), either a 1 or a 2. Students had to move to the side of the classroom based on the 1 or the 2 on the back of their paper (she had done this in advance). From that point on, the number 1 side of students were the "socs" and the number 2 side were the "greasers". The "socs" definitely had a "better way of life" in class that day, as they were treated to pixy sticks, candy, and even the padded chairs! The "greasers" got no candy, did not have padded chairs, and even had less time to work on their "speed write" for the day. I guarantee you, her students won't ever forget this lesson. Mrs. Baldwin was able to make it relevant to their life today. I should also say that she did share candy with the "greasers" before they left class at the bell! They didn't miss out! Great job, Mrs. Baldwin!
I also had the opportunity to observe Mr. Smith's advanced Algebra II class. Mr. Smith has the natural unique ability to teach Math to any and all students. It was clear to see that Mr. Smith's students are invested in their work and his classroom is a safe place to take on challenges and risk failures. Mr. Smith sets high expectations for his students and offers support in so many ways to ensure all students have the opportunity to achieve success. Thank you, Mr. Smith!
The English department was hard at work on their instructional calendar during PLC this week. Look at all of their priority standards for different grade levels and classes! Keep up the good work, English!
Last but not least, I had the opportunity to visit Ms. Kler's early childhood education class this week at the elementary. I was thrilled to catch one of our high school students using the "sensory path" in the hallway with an elementary student before the school day began! Our high school students have such a positive influence on the elementary students and I was thrilled to see this. Keep up the great work, Ms. Kler!
The FC Choir performed at the WRC Choral Festival this week! Our Choir was by far the best group there! Great job, Miss Pate!
FEATURE A TEACHER!
Mr. Lucas Deel
Years Served in Corporation: 15 Years
Currently Teaching: English 7, Science 7, and Media Center
“Lucas Deel’s first year of teaching at FC was my 4th grade year. Not only did I have the privilege to be his student, but I also had the honor to wrestle for him. As a teacher, I thought of Lucas in two ways. First, he was a down-to-Earth and funny teacher who make learning fun. Secondly, he was a compassionate teacher who really cared for his students, their well-being, and their overall knowledge in any subject. As a coach, he was mostly the same. He was a well-rounded and fun coach. He was also a stern coach, whose main concern was not if the wrestler would be the next state champion, but instead, if the kid would enjoy the sport. He wanted the wrestlers to have fun with the sport, to make it their own, and to fall in love with it. I can say, under the supervision of Lucas Deel, that is exactly what I did. He may have started out as my 4th grade teacher and my wrestling coach, but his compassion, dedication, and overall way of living his life has connected us as adults as well. We not only share the bond of teacher & student or coach & wrestler, but I gladly call Mr. Deel family. He made such a positive impression on me and my life that I named my son, Lucas James, after him. I can only pray that he will emulate Lucas Deel.”
-Joey Tucker
“Mr. Deel is an amazing man! He has changed so many lives in his career as a teacher/ wrestling coach. Most of all he changed my life my eighth grade year. He talked me into wrestling and I fell in love with the sport. I wouldn’t be where I am today as the head coach of Fountain Central wrestling if it wasn’t for him!”
-Jaren Oakley
Nuts and Bolts
- November 4th - The Body Safety Program Preview Night (adults) @ 6 pm
- November 5th - No PM Vocational
- November 5th - The Body Safety Program - 7/8 @ 12:35 pm and 9-12 @ 1:20 pm
- November 8th - Veteran's Day Program @ 9 am - no AM vocational
- November 11th - Faculty Meeting (TBD)
- November 12th - Teacher COMPASS Meeting @ 7:15 am
- November 12th - NHS Blood Drive in the Auxiliary Gym
- November 12th - Bryan Hoffman from VALIC here, information coming soon
- November 14th - Senior Josten's Meeting during Homeroom
- November 19th - Safety Team Meeting @ 7 am
- November 22nd/23rd - Fall Play @ 7 pm, November 24th @ 2pm
- November 27th-29th - Thanksgiving Break
- December 11th - Band/Choir Concert @ 7 pm
- December 13th - Sunshine Club Hot Chocolate Bar, Conf. Room @ 7:45am - 12:30pm
#MustangMindset, SEL Coordinator
I just wanted to update you on the new LifeSkills Curriculum that we have implemented in grades 7 and 8. Mr. Bolin is teaching the curriculum in his health classes this year. The Botvin LifeSkills Training Middle School program is a groundbreaking substance abuse and violence prevention program based on more than 35 years of rigorous scientific research. Proven to be the most effective evidence-based program used in schools today, LifeSkills Training is comprehensive, dynamic, and developmentally designed to promote positive youth development. In addition to helping kids resist drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, the LifeSkills Training Middle School program also effectively supports the reduction of violence and other high-risk behaviors. It will also eventually be implemented at grades 3-6 in the elementary. That training focuses on increasing self-esteem, developing healthy attitudes, and improving their knowledge of essential life skills – all of which promote healthy and positive personal development. We hope to see some benefits in the lives of our students from this. Mr. Bolin says that implementation is going well so far! I just wanted you to know that it was taking place in the building and feel free to ask Dave about it! If you think you can help support or reinforce any of these things, feel free!
Here is your weekly classroom management tip and poem.
Tip 4: Make lessons “real” for your students.
Make It Real
I just don’t see the point in why I need to know this junk
You say if I don’t learn it, then surely I will flunk
But I need a better reason for learning all this stuff
It’s boring and it’s pointless, so learning it is rough
And every time I’m bored in school, I think of other things
Lost inside a daydream until the school bell rings
Which means I haven’t learned it, which means my grades are bad
Which means that I’m in trouble and my mom and dad are mad
And then I get so far behind that it’s just too late to pass
So next year here I am again-I’m right back in your class
I didn’t get it last year-I don’t get it today
Please, teacher, make it real for me so that I can move on in May!