Cobra Strike
From the Desk of the Junior/Senior High School Principal
"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time." Edward J. Murphy
We all know of Murphy's law, which is us basically saying anything that could go wrong would. However, that is not the heart of Murphy's law at all. In fact he hated that it became a crude way to describe accidents. Murphy was an engineer for the United States Air Force in the 1940s. he specifically designed and tested rockets that would eventually become jet propulsion that modern aircraft use today. He would eventually be the chief engineer on the ejection seat for jet aircraft like the SR-71 Blackbird. When he said that anything that can go wrong will go wrong, he meant that you should be prepared for every circumstance in his designs. This concept became the key to defensive design, where you build something with failure in mind. By doing this, you set yourself up for success and prevent catastrophe by over-designing the item in question.
With that being said, I feel like our Athletic Director, Brad Alley, had Murphy's heart in mind when he was putting together most of our athletic schedules. With having 5 snow days in the span of 6 school days, we wound up canceling/rescheduling over a dozen events. Someone that doesn't think about all of the contingencies would have lost their minds. However, Mr. Alley hopped right on it and got to work. With every cancelation, you have to wait to see when the game will be rescheduled. He has to make about a dozen phone calls to different schools, officials, KSHSAA representatives, school administrators, coaches....the list goes on. For every cancelation, I get at least four phone calls from Mr. Alley with all of the contingencies. He always has at least three dates in mind before we even hit send on the cancelation notification. This week in particular is a prime example of how well Mr. Alley can juggle the madness that is rescheduling. We have events stacked upon events this week so that might mean making decisions on families' parts on what event they want to watch. Careful consideration it taken when we set the new date, and I will apologize now when there is inconvenience. However, you must remember the vast amount of moving parts that go into setting these new dates. I appreciate Mr. Alley for doing so well with all of these snow days. Remember, while you are making snow angels and sipping hot cocoa, he is making many calls and jumping through many hoops to get your schedule squared away. If you see him at a game this week, make sure to thank him for his hard work.
Needless to say, this week is packed!
"Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind" The Doctor
Keep on making a difference.
Derek E. Smith
JR/SR High Events This Week: Jan 22-28
Monday Jan 22
Hs Scholars Bowl NEKL @ p- Ridge 4:00 pm
MS Boys Basketball Vs. P Ridge @ Home 4:30 pm
HS Boys Basketball C Team @ Maur Hill 6:00 pm
HS Boys Basketball Tournament Vs. Hiawatha @ Seneca 7:00 pm
HS Girls Basketball Tournament @ Hiawatha 7:00 pm
Tuesday Jan 23:
HS Girls Tournament @ Hiawatha TBD
HS Boys Vs. Oskaloosa @ 4:30 pm
Wednesday Jan 24:
FFA Speech @ Marysville
Thursday Jan 25:
Ms Boys Basketball @ ACCMS 4:30 pm
HS Boys Basketball Vs. JCN @ Home 5:30 pm
Friday Jan 26:
No Activities Scheduled
Saturday Jan 27:
Hs Girls Basketball Tournament @ Hiawatha TBD
Forensics @ Sebetha 8:00 am
Forensics
Get ready for an exciting start to the Jackson Heights forensics season! Beginning next Saturday, January 27, the Acting Cobras will kick off the season with a spirited competition in Sabetha. Under the guidance of Mrs. Cormier, who is embarking on her first season leading the team, there's a sense of anticipation and optimism. As the team heads into this competition, the hope is high for stellar performances and memorable experiences. Let's cheer on the Jackson Heights forensics team, wishing them the best as they take the stage and, as they say in showbiz, break a leg!
Alumni Basketball Game Reschedule
Set you calendars for May 3rd. That will be a big day.
During the school day: We will hold our 50th anniversary events for the class of 1974
5 pm: Alumi Volleyball Game (any alumni can participate)
6 pm: Alumni Basketball Game (any alumni can participate)
7 pm: Block party (any JH student and their families and any alumni can participate)
Just as last time, please please contact Gera or Janice to sign up for either the volleyball or basketball teams.
Cobra Cup Standing
Snake Kingz won big last semester and by doing so, they get a special pizza party where I will be driving them to the Holton Pizza Hut for lunch this upcoming Tuesday, Jan 23 for lunch. This is a free event for the students that are part of the Cobra Kingz. Congratulations Cobra Kingz, led by Mr. Plattner, Mr. Alley, Mrs. Cormier, and Mrs. Massey
Derek E. Smith
I do not discredit the need for snow days here as the infrastructure is completely different from Kansas to Pennsylvania when it comes to plow trucks and the availability of salt for the roads. Plus Kansas has something Pennsylvania will never have. WIND!!! However, there is no place on earth that knows snow quite like the snow growing up in the snow belt of Lake Erie. My first college was the University of Edinboro where they consecutively broke their own record for total snow fall for three years in a row by the time I went there. Their current record is 220 inches. We grew up right in the middle of the lake effect zone for Lake Erie. Here is a picture of ol buttercup, my 79 CJ5. that snow is new. The night before I drove it there. All of that is what came down over night. It is typical for that area to get two to three feet of snow in a single outing. Additionally, growing up, that snow would stay and you would just get more and more snow on top of it. There was one year that it came down for so long and stayed that I was able to walk directly off of our porch that was four feet off the ground without sinking in as it had packed in that much. It is also worth noting that this picture was taken ten years ago and my nieces still went to school that day.
Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind.
Email: derek.smith@jhcobras.net
Website: jhcobras.net
Location: 12692 266th Rd Holton, KS 66436
Phone: (785)248-4386
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jackson.Heights.USD335