CSHS Weekly Bulletin
May 21-25, 2018
The Power of Love
Dear Cougar Family,
I'm betting several of you saw the title and thought, "Oh, goodness...where is Parkerson headed with this one," but bear with me for a minute.
I am an accidental Anglophile. What I mean by that is that most of the literature classes I took in college were in British literature, and then I taught Senior English for ten years (also British Lit), so while I never set out to know quite a bit about British history and literature, that is where life has taken me. My favorite vacation I have ever taken was to England with my husband, and among many stops were the Cathedral at Canterbury, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, the Cliffs of Dover, Stonehenge, and Bath (locations all chosen due to either strong connections to literature or to history---or both). So, when another chance at watching history in the making occurred this weekend with the latest royal wedding, I donned my fanciest day dress and fascinator and awakened at 3 AM to watch the coverage--just kidding! I set my DVR and watched it after it happened in my pajamas while my kids played around me in the living room.
A few minutes into the ceremony, I was crying, and not because of googly eyes the soon-to-be-newlyweds were making at one another, but because of Bishop Michael Bruce Curry's sermon on "The Power of Love." Regardless of your religion, denomination, personal beliefs, and so forth, so much of what he said could right this broken world if ALL of us in this world lived this message each day--simply loving one another. I have selected portions of his text to share with you all to think about through an educator's lense:
He quoted Martin Luther King, Jr.: "We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world, for love is the only way."
Then he went on to extoll the virtues of all types of love: "Oh there's power, power in love. Not just in its romantic forms, but any form, any shape of love. There's a certain sense in which when you are loved, and you know it, when someone cares for you, and you know it, when you love and you show it - it actually feels right."
Later, he described how the world would be different if we all treated one another in a loving way:
"If you don't believe me, just stop and imagine. Think and imagine a world where love is the way.
Imagine our homes and families where love is the way. Imagine neighborhoods and communities where love is the way.
Imagine governments and nations where love is the way. Imagine business and commerce where this love is the way.
Imagine this tired old world where love is the way. When love is the way - unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive.
When love is the way, then no child will go to bed hungry in this world ever again.
When love is the way, we will let justice roll down like a mighty stream and righteousness like an ever-flowing brook.
When love is the way, poverty will become history. When love is the way, the earth will be a sanctuary.
When love is the way, we will lay down our swords and shields, down by the riverside, to study war no more.
When love is the way, there's plenty good room - plenty good room - for all of God's children.
Because when love is the way, we actually treat each other, well... like we are actually family."
We have two more weeks of school with our Cougar family--students and staff, and during those two weeks, we have tremendous opportunity ahead to show love to our students and one another. We show love by having high expectations but remembering to address transgressions from a place of kindness. We show love by greeting all those we encounter with a smile and a hello. We show love by treating our students in our classrooms kindly and respectfully, regardless of the type of day we may be having. As educators, we have the power to show great love for humanity, and as such, we have the power to change the world.
I challenge you all this week to continue your great work to change the world, in spite of how tired you may be.
May you all have an incredible week!
As always, COUGAR PRIDE!
Tiffany
Opportunities to Work with Student Organizations Next School Year
The CSHS Leo Club is looking for a new sponsor (after 6 years, Casey Akin is stepping away from this club to focus more on science-related clubs and teams) and she would love to speak to any of you who might be interested in sponsoring these fantastic kiddos. The Leo Club is a service organization that is the junior branch of Lions International and we have been a part of: food and toy drives each year, Keep Brazos Beautiful, CSHS sparkle crew, work on other campuses with school fairs and athletic events, and community events through our sponsoring Lions club.
Student Council
Mindi Cameron and April Todd are looking for a third sponsor to work with Student Council next year. Student Council is a service organization that also puts on school dances and meets weekly. (Being a StuCo sponsor was one of the best leadership opportunities I had as a teacher--Parkerson) Please email them if you have any questions about the roles/responsibilities of this position.
Please email Parkerson if you are interested in either of these positions.
Spring Final Exam Schedule
Duty Schedule
Check the full schedule here and mark the dates in your calendar.
Please be sure to see the full duty schedule on the Teacher Resource Guide. Direct any questions regarding duty to Mr. Davis.
Morning Duty
Afternoon Duty
Upcoming Events
5/28 School Holiday
5/31 Early Release for Students/Graduation Practice/Senior Sunset Supper
6/1 Staff Development Day/Graduation