Bauer Bits
December 15, 2023
From the Principal's Desk
Bauer Parents,
Recently, I've revisited a classic book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie. It's been a delight to have this book to look forward to on these dark evenings. As we progress through winter and I share with you through the Bauer Bits, it occurred to me to use each edition to share parts of this book which is packed with "old school" wisdom. The text is broken into four parts, and each part contains several smaller sections which help drive home key learning relative to the theme.
OVERVIEW:
Part 1:
Fundamental Techniques in Handling People
Part 2:
Six Ways to Make People Like You
Part 3:
How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking
Part 4:
Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment
If you have read the book, perhaps you will be encouraged to reread it, and if you haven't heard of it, perhaps my sharing some vignettes will inspire you to give it a go! The material shared over these next several months will likely be longer, but I think you'll find the wisdom conveyed worthy of your investment.
Enjoy!
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Part One: Fundamental Techniques in Handling People
Vignette: "If you want to gather honey, don't kick over the beehive"
On the morning of April 15, 1865, Abraham Lincoln lay dying in a hall bedroom of a cheap lodging house directly across the street from Ford's Theater, where John Wilkes Booth had shot him. Lincoln's long body lay stretched diagonally across a sagging bed that was too short for him. A cheap reproduction of Rosa Bonheur's famous painting The Horse Fair hung above the bed, and a dismal gas jet flickered yellow light.
As Lincoln lay dying, Secretary of War Stanton said, "There lies the most perfect ruler of men that the world has ever seen."
What was the secret of Lincoln's success in dealing with people? I studied the life of Abraham Lincoln for ten years and devoted all of three years to writing and rewriting a book entitled Lincoln the Unknown. I believe I have made as detailed and exhaustive a study of Lincoln's personality and home life as it is possible for any being to make. I made a special study of Lincoln's method of dealing with people. Did he indulge in criticism? Oh, yes. As a young man in the Pigeon Creek Valley of Indiana, he not only criticized but he wrote letters and poems ridiculing people and dropped these letters on the country roads where they were sure to be found. One of these letters aroused resentments that burned for a lifetime.
Even after Lincoln had become a practicing lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, he attacked his opponents openly in letters published in the newspapers. But he did this just once too often.
In the autumn of 1842 he ridiculed a vain, pugnacious politician by the name of James Shields. Lincoln lampooned him through an anonymous letter published in Springfield Journal. The town roared with laughter. Shields, sensitive and proud, boiled with indignation. He found out who wrote the letter, leaped on his horse, started after Lincoln, and challenged him to fight a duel. Lincoln didn't want to fight. He was opposed to dueling, but he couldn't get out of it and save his honor. He was given the choice of weapons. Since he had very long arms, he chose cavalry broadswords and took lessons in sword fighting from a West Point graduate; and, on the appointed day, he and Shields met on a sandbar in the Mississippi River, prepared to fight to the death; but, at the last minute, their seconds interrupted and stopped the duel.
That was the most lurid personal incident in Lincoln's life. It taught him an invaluable lesson in the art of dealing with people. Never again did he write an insulting letter. Never again did he ridicule anyone. And from that time on, he almost never criticized anybody for anything.
Time after time, during the Civil War, Lincoln put a new general at the head of the Army of the Potomac, and each one in turn – McClellan, Pope, Burnside, Hooker, Meade – blundered tragically and drove Lincoln to pacing the floor in despair. Half the nation savagely condemned these incompetent generals, but Lincoln, "with malice toward none, with charity for all," held his peace. One of his favorite quotations was "Judge not, that ye be not judged."
And when Mrs. Lincoln and others spoke harshly of the southern people, Lincoln replied: "Don't criticize them; they are just what we would be under similar circumstances.”
This section closes by highlighting a powerful principle:
Don't criticize, condemn or complain.
Mark Your Calendar
- Friday, December 15th: Early Release (12:15) - TODAY!!
- Monday, December 18th - Friday, December 22nd: Spirit Week (details below)
- Monday, December 25th - Friday, January 5th: Holiday Break
- Monday, January 8th: School Resumes
Please check the HPS Student Calendar for early release dates and breaks for the 2023-24 school year!
Drop Off Procedures
Parents:
If you are dropping your child off in the mornings we ask that you are mindful of a few details. When dropping students, please use the entire straightaway. We are having issues with folks stopping too soon and this creates a less efficient drop off. When you are allowed to pull forward, please pull all the way up to the grassy area at the end of the straightaway. The drop off area extends from this grassy area all the way back to the paper gator. Even our youngest students are capable of walking this short distance to the south building doors. Please have them exit your vehicle and head straight to the sidewalk to make their way into the building. Additionally, we close the doors at 8:45 sharp. If you arrive at 8:45 or later, please send your child in through the front/office doors by the flagpole.
Your attention to these details will make things more efficient so THANK YOU in advance!
Reminders and Happenings in PE:
- Please help and make sure that your student has proper footwear on their PE days. Every Sunday evening I post the PE schedule for the week on BAUER ELEMENTARY PE, Facebook page. Please follow for updates.
- In the month of January we partner with Hudsonville Lanes for our Bauer bowling unit. They provide us with 6 portable bowling lanes, pins, and balls so that all of our Bauer students can experience the fun of bowling right here at Bauer.
Bauer Parent Club News
Santa’s Secret Shop: THAT’S A WRAP!
Our students enjoyed so much holiday shopping fun this week! They were so kind and polite — they thanked volunteers and beamed with holiday joy! HUGE thanks to the many merry elves that made Santa’s Secret Shop happen, proving that the best part of gifts is in the GIVING!
Committee members: Lauren Miller (chair), Courtney Voorus (BPC liaison), Kathryn Walker, Tara Hartman, Alisha Slotman, Katie Rediske, Jenny Montag, and Jill Bosnjak – these folks handled all event logistics start to finish AND participated as day-of volunteers!!
Volunteers: Alisha Rodriguez, Jessica Troost, Rebecca DeSmet, Cassie Beauchamp, Robin Phillips, Eva Kristianti, Sarah Koetje, Kelly Boprie, Kristen Simons, Nikole Skipp, Brianna Koster, Valerie Willock, Shelby McGovern, Kristen DePirro, Lauren Bosch, Sarah Snyder, Jill Zaagman, Lindsey Gaona, Krista Diephouse, Mary Manilla, Jessica Hitchcock, Becca Johnson, Tracy Campbell, Justine Bouwkamp, Kevin Bouwkamp, and Tracy Worthing.
Special shout outs: Great Lakes Family Dentistry, Gemmens, Jill Bosnjak and Tracy Campbell!
Bauer Staff Favorite Things
If you’re still searching for some gift-giving inspo, look no further than our collection of Bauer Staff Favorite Things! This is simply for your reference/interest.
Staff Holiday Luncheon
Our wonderful Bauer staff will be treated to a delicious Holiday Luncheon provided by BPC next Wednesday, December 20th. Thanks to our Bauer community for making our Culver’s and Pizza Nights so successful, this event is fully sponsored and no additional donations are needed. Shout out to Adam and Shannon Soehner for chairing and organizing this special event!!
Yearbook Order
The last day to order a yearbook is this Sunday, December 17th. If you already ordered one as part of your student's photo package in September you do not need to submit another order.
Non-School Sponsored Events
Hudsonville Little League 2024 Spring Registration is now open!
The deadline is January 14 for most divisions (available space only following).
Eligibility is based on home address, school address, or having played in the league prior.
All students from Forest Grove, Jamestown Upper & Lower, South, Park Elementary Schools, Riley St. Middle School, Early Childhood Center, and Hudsonville High School are eligible. For more information and to register, please visit: www.HudsonvilleLittleLeague.com
The Girl Scouts are in Hudsonville!
Become a part of an empowering program that gives girls opportunities to learn, grow, discover, and soar to new heights.
January 9th, 5:30-6:30 pm
Baldwin St. Middle School Media Center
3835 Baldwin Street, Hudsonville, MI
If you or your girl are interested in becoming apart of the Girl Scout movement, come join us for our informational meeting! Registration is $25 per year; financial aid is also available. Please call 231-220-0508 or email Taylor at Tzenobia@gmail.com if you have any questions!
Attendance
If your student will not be attending school due to illness or other reasons, please call the office at 616--669-6824 or email ehuizen@hpseagles.net AND apalmbo@hpseagles.net BEFORE 9:00 am. Students who are not called in by a parent/guardian will be marked with an unexcused absence.
If your student will be late, arriving after 8:45 am, please call the office at 616-669-6824 in the morning.
If your student will be late and needs a hot lunch, please let us know when you call. Hot lunch needs to be ordered by 10 am.
COVID Tests
Free at home COVID tests are available in the office.
Volunteer/Visitor Policy
The HPS criminal background check is required for all school volunteers. In order to complete this request, we ask that you fill out this volunteer form at least 48 hours prior to volunteering. Once your request is submitted, all Volunteer status updates (Approval, Denial or Limited Access Approval) will be sent directly to the building you have selected to volunteer in.
The Hudsonville Public School District has the right to approve or deny your request if your background check does not meet the standards of HPS Board Policy.
If you have any questions regarding the Volunteer Background Check process, please contact our Human Resources Department at 616-669-1740 or by emailing our office at eagles@hpseagles.net.