Principal's Pride Page
Keeping you Informed
"...but I know a change is gonna come. Oh, yes it will."
Hello All,
So now that we're back into the swing of things and students are settling down into their routines, old habits are starting to come back. Some of them good. Some of them not so good.
I firmly believe that every student goes into each successive school year with the highest of hopes. This year is going to be the year that I get stellar grades. This is the year that I make the team...or have perfect attendance...or do all my homework. Then something happens -- a missed assignment, an illness , an unexpected disagreement in the halls -- that disrupts and derails the best of intentions. This does not happen to all students, but for those that it does, the backslide into counterproductive habits can be quick and crushing.
We are all comforted by habits, even bad ones. It gives us a sense of confidence to know the result of our actions. Unpredictability increases anxiety and stress. People crave certainty, and the best way to predict the future is to rely on past habits...even if those past habits are, ultimately, counterproductive.
So how do we go about changing these habits in the face of uncertainty?
Numerous studies have shown that the very first thing that needs to change is one's mindset. Many refer to this as going from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. This basically means that a person goes into a situation with the belief that they have an ability to learn and improve upon past mistakes and missteps. Though this is a fairly straightforward concept, the shift in mindset can produce tremendous results.
Here's one you can try:
The next time you are faced with a situation that has traditionally been a hardship or challenge for you, instead of resigning yourself to a sense of defeat, add the word "yet" to your thought process. Though the change is minor, it leaves the possibility for improvement and growth.
Example-
Fixed mindset: I'm not good at math.
Growth mindset: I'm not good at math yet.
The shift in mindset takes one from a binary system (I'm either good or bad at something) to one of possibility (I have the ability to improve). This is the first step in changing counterproductive habits. I encourage you to try it with yourself and your children.
Thank you for your continued dedication to the success of our students.
Every year, over 1.5 million students take the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test. Only students scoring in the top 5% of this qualifying test are officially recognized for their achievement. Red Jacket has such a student.
Miss Emily Gray is being formally recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for high achievement on the PSAT/NMSQT. As such, she is now listed as a Commended Student in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program. She is receiving this recognition for the exceptional academic promise demonstrated by her outstanding performance on the qualifying test. Congratulations Emily!
YEARBOOK REMINDER:
Yearbooks are on sale at Balfour.com. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Liberati, the yearbook adviser.
Emily Gray
RJ Football
Challenging our Students
Mark Your Calendars
- Homecoming is October 3rd (Parade at 12 PM; Game at 1 PM; Dance at 7 PM).
- Open House is October 6th at 6:30 PM.
Contact Information
Email: Samuel.Martina@redjacket.org
Website: www.redjacket.org
Location: 1506 State Route 21, Shortsville, NY, United States
Phone: (585) 289-3966
Twitter: @RJHSPrincipal