Eagle Parent Update
January 2016
We Have A Dream!
(Updated from Eagle News, January 2014 edition)
Today Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have celebrated his 87th birthday. Each year our nation celebrates Dr. King’s life and legacy by taking one day to stop and reflect on our own lives and how we have impacted the world.
Dr. King believed that all men were created equally and strongly upheld the notion that one day all people would be treated with value and esteem. Even in the most difficult times, Dr. King held tight to his convictions and vision of a world free of racism and discrimination.
Dr. King knew that his thoughts were powerful and the words he spoke were like seeds that pollinated the atmosphere – touching the hearts and minds of others that desired the same outcome. Although the world that Dr. King viewed with his own eyes was a community of vicious racist acts with words of hatred echoing in the background, Dr. King pushed forward with nothing in hand but his voice and his dream to help create a world of peace and fairness for all.
Now forty-eight years after Dr. King’s death we stand witness to his dream and his vision of the world. We observe his dream every day in our schools and in our communities as we watch teachers and students of all races and nationalities learning and sharing their individual contributions to help create a better future for all.
Like Dr. King, we all have dreams. And even though we are challenged by the fact that we must help “all” children reach their full potential, Dr. King’s dream and his mission should remind us that all things are possible.
At QVE, We have a dream that all students can reach their full potential by providing an educational system that will enable all students to be successful.
We have a dream that student success will be best achieved through effective teachers that inspire learning in a supportive climate and safe environment.
We have a dream that QVE will provide a supportive climate and a safe learning/ working environment by empowered and effective leaders throughout the system.
We have a dream that we will promote leadership at all levels [including students, teachers, and staff] in a well -functioning, high-performing community of learners.
We have a dream today!
And when this happens- all schools across Fort Bend ISD will combine our talents and resources to create collaborative, efficient, and effective learning communities that uphold the idea that:
Our sole purpose is to inspire and equip students to pursue futures beyond what they can imagine!
Repeat after me: Inspire! Equip! Imagine!
Will you join us?
Happy MLK Day,
Principal Spears
No Fear in the New Year! - Jon Gordon
Updated for 2016
Fifteen years ago I looked out into the Atlantic Ocean on New Year’s Day with fear in my heart and uncertainty in my life. I had been fired from a “dot.com” company two weeks earlier with only two weeks of severance, no insurance for my two young children and only two months of savings in the bank. My wife and I had just invested every dollar we had and even took out a second mortgage on our home and $20,000 on a credit card to open what would be the first Moe’s Southwest Grill in Florida.
The restaurant was set to open January 13th and we had no earthly idea how we would pay our home mortgage and other bills since I planned on keeping my salary and job while my managers built the restaurant business. Now, it was New Years Day and I had no job, no salary and a restaurant opening that at worst would fail miserably or at best take a year to be profitable.
I thought of all this as I prepared to jump into the icy cold water-to take a symbolic plunge that this would be the year of NO FEAR. Regardless of the circumstances I was facing, this would be the year where I would trust and go for it. This would be the year I would be bold in actions and faith and humble in spirit. No longer could I do it alone. Now I needed a miracle and I decided to act as if my future depended on me and pray like it depended on God.
By jumping into the ocean I was declaring that no longer will I allow fear to cut off the flow of abundant and positive energy in my life. No longer will I allow fear to paralyze me. Instead of fear I would trust.
Now, fifteen years later, as I write this I am preparing to jump into the ocean once again on New Year’s Day. It has become my yearly ritual – to remind myself to follow my passion, live life to the fullest, surrender and to stay one step ahead of the fear that hovers around me. And as I take my leap into the ocean I want to invite you to jump in with me. Perhaps not in the ocean but in the depths of your mind. This jump doesn't necessarily require water but rather a leap of faith in your belief system and a shift in your mindset. The antidote to fear is trust and it is only a thought away.
No one is going to push you over the chasm of struggle to the life that you want. God will nudge you but you must take the leap. You must make this jump in your mind and then with your actions. You must make this jump with trust, determination and faith. After all, they don’t call it a leap of fear. They call it a “leap of faith” for a reason.
You will always feel fear. Everyone will. But your trust must be bigger than your fear. The bigger your trust the smaller your fear becomes. And the more you trust the more you become a conduit for miracles. I know. A consulting project presented itself out the blue and we were able to pay our mortgage. A check came in the mail, the right opportunities came our way and somehow, some way my family and I were carried. A year after the restaurant opened I started writing which eventually lead to me writing books, speaking and doing the work I do now.
Maybe 2015 wasn't a great year for you but I believe the New Year represents a fresh start and presents a new opportunity to create the life and career you want. All you have to do is jump in with all that you are and all that you wish to become. I wish you an amazing 2016 and I'm sending positive energy your way.
-Jon
P.S. People often ask me what happened to my restaurant. Well, thankfully I eventually opened 4 restaurants and sold them eleven years ago knowing it was time to focus 100% on writing. That was another big leap of faith that lead to me writing 12 books. Thank you for your support and for sharing this message with others.
No Name-Calling Week
Dear Eagle Families,
This week QVE Students and Staff will celebrate National No Name-Calling Week !
Tuesday – Put a Lid On Name Calling and
wear a hat to school today!
Wednesday – Backwards Day!! Be sure to
wear your favorite shirt backwards!
Thursday – Mismatch Day!
We are all different and we should all appreciate our differences,
so wear mismatched clothes today!
Friday – Team Up Against Name Calling and
wear your favorite team jersey/shirt today.
Ms. Rodriguez
What's Up at QVE in January?
· Martin Luther King Day/No School
January 21st
- 5th grade Meeting 6:30-7:00 (In library)
- Carnival Planning Meeting 7:00 pm (In library)
January 25th
· GEMS/GENTS Meeting 3:30
January 27th
- Email addresses are due!
January 29th
· Synergize Celebration 2:30
Congratulations to our New Eagle Dance Team Members!
Help QVE become A Leader in Me!
In order to make this possible we are launching a Rewards 365 Fundraiser. The first stage of this fundraiser requires email collection. Students will be asked to collect as many GOOD* email addresses as possible. Email addresses will be entered into a data base which will send a request for a donation in support of our school. Donations of $10 or more will qualify the donor for a FREE membership to Rewards 365, the school’s website which provides deals, cash back online shopping and savings that can’t be found anywhere else and every purchase made creates an additional donation for our school.
Collect as many email addresses as you can, but rest assured that email addresses will only be used for the purpose of this fundraiser and no information will be shared with any other vendor or third party organization. Recipients will only receive three emails, but can choose to UNSUBSCRIBE at any time during the process.
Our goal is for every student to return AT LEAST 10 GOOD* email addresses; please help us reach our goal.
There will be prizes for the top three collecting classes:
· 1st Place – Pizza Party
· 2nd Place – Popsicle Party
· 3rd Place – Extra Recess
Please use the back of this sheet to record and submit your email addresses. These addresses are due back to your child’s teacher next Wednesday, January 27th.
* The term “GOOD” refers to valid email addresses of legitimate, potential donors. Please do not use email addresses of anyone that is not personally known to the parent or student.
Volunteers Needed for NEW QVE Running Club
Hello all!
I’m trying to get the final details worked out on our QVE running group for the 5k on April 2nd. My first idea was to have it be for just girls but as I think more I would love for both boys and girls to have an opportunity to join the group. BUT with more kids and mixed genders, I would need more help leading it than just me. AND I would need a male presence so that any gender issues are covered. So, here is the information and some questions. Let me know if you would like to get involved!
· The group would begin the first week of February and will continue every Tues/Thurs from 3:15-4:15 until April 2nd (the 5k).
· You DO NOT need to have any running experience! I’ve made a training schedule that fits all levels.
· You DO NOT have to even run! You can walk…I’m sure some students will want to just walk as well.
· You can miss some training runs here and there if you have other obligations.
· The training runs will be here at the school so you don’t have to leave and go anywhere.
· The more teachers, students, families, etc we have involved the more chance we have of winning the competition. And you know QVE likes to WIN!!
· I need a male to step up and help me with the boys. Any takers?
I’ve asked before who would like to help be a coach with me and I got a few responses. Please respond AGAIN or for the first time if you would like to join me in coaching our running group! This is a great way to do some mentoring with students outside of just our academics each day.
And a great way for you to work towards a fitness goal!
If you are interested, please email Ms. Blevins at rebecca.blevins@fortbendisd.com