CSHS Weekly Bulletin
February 26-March 3, 2018
Risk & Failure
Dear Cougar Family,
I love the Olympics! While this time around, I haven't been able to watch every event, I have thoroughly enjoyed the evenings spent watching with my kids who attempt to replicate snowboarding and ice skating moves on my couch. I have taught Willa to chant, "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!" with me, which is sometimes followed by a "Go, Cougars!" if she is really feeling it.
I am always struck by the passion and purpose of the athletes who dedicate their lives both to perfect their craft and to push their sport as a whole to the next level. I am also fascinated by the number of times these athletes have failed to achieve their goals, but lifted themselves up to compete again, whether it took a long-term rehabilitation process or simply standing up after a fall.
For example, David Wise, the 2014 defending gold medalist in the freestyle skiing halfpipe, fell in rather spectacular fashion in the first of his two runs, yet when all odds were against him, he nailed his final run to earn the gold. Similarly, Shaun White had to lay out an almost perfect final run to win gold after not achieving his best in the first two runs. I'll also never forget the French skier, Kevin Rolland, whose wreck on the halfpipe was so spectacular that I thought they would need to drive the ambulance straight into the halfpipe to get him, but who after the medics examined him actually walked out of the halfpipe all by himself.
This type of mental fortitude--the ability to get up and try again--makes me think of what we do every day with our students. Scott Hamilton, retired figure skater, said, "“I calculated once how many times I fell during my skating career — 41,600 times,” he said. “But here’s the funny thing: I got up 41,600 times. That’s the muscle you have to build in your psyche — the one that reminds you to just get up.”
Therefore, my challenge to you this week is to think about the following:
- How often are students taking academic risks in your class? What systems do you have in place to help them build that muscle in their psyche to try something again, even if the first time was a spectacular failure?
- What risks are you taking to grow as a professional? How often do you try something new multiple times in an attempt to get it right? How often does something not quite go right in class, so you never use that strategy again?
May you all have an amazing week full of learning from failure and taking calculated instructional risks rooted in research!
As always, COUGAR PRIDE!
Tiffany
Project Innovation Studio
If students need supplies during the day, please do not send them to the CM room. You may send them to the library or check a supply cart out for your classroom. We are so glad it is helpful to our students!
Duty Schedule
THIS IS THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SPRING ONLY DUTY SCHEDULE--MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHEN/WHERE YOU HAVE DUTY IF YOU HAVE NOT YET HAD IT THIS YEAR.
If you have not had duty in the fall, you have duty this spring. 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
3/6 Softball @Bryan
3/8 Lady Cougar Soccer vs. Rudder
3/9 Softball vs. University
3/12-16 Spring Break
3/20 UIL District Academic Meet
3/30 Holiday
4/2 Staff Development