Panther Administration Newsletter
Weekend of May 2 and 3
Message from our Principal
Panther Seniors and Parents:
I know that you’ve all been desperate for information regarding Graduation 2020. No one is more disappointed in the circumstances facing this outstanding class than I. Nevertheless, it is important to know that we have worked very hard to come up with a plan that our Senior Leadership group was unanimously in support of. As well, we worked hard to include the input from their fellow classmates via survey. This has been a highly collaborative process, and one that respects the elected leadership of the Class of 2020.
We have reached a decision, and we’re ready to communicate the broad scope of our plan with you now. The class leaders and my administrative team appreciate the hundreds of suggestions and ideas that have come from parents, classmates, the community and everyone who wants to celebrate this class in a manner that they deserve. We also realize that this plan is not going to be perfect or fit the individual desires of each graduate, parent or grandparent. That’s simply not possible.
It is WPHS’s full intention to comply with the recommendations from the State of Colorado, the Teller County Health Department and the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines regarding social distancing. It is also our intention to create a celebration of graduation for our Class of 2020 that honors as much of the tradition as possible - while keeping our students safe. That is our primary goal: The safety of our kids.
It is important to know that 71% of the graduates told us that they wanted “as traditional a ceremony as possible.” As well, 86% of them reported that regardless of what kind of ceremony we had- it should happen on May 22nd. This is because far too many of their classmates were fearful that future dates might be conflicting with professional or personal plans. Senior Class leaders and WPHS Administrators have been in contact for several weeks and a decision about the ceremony was reached on Friday, May 1.
WPHS will have an “In Person” graduation ceremony incorporating the example that the US Air Force Academy employed last month. It will happen on May 22nd. If weather interferes, we will have a last-minute backup plan for a drive through ceremony using the same time-frame.
By mid-May, we expect guidelines from the three agencies mentioned above AND from the school district’s liability insurance carrier, suggesting a limit of 50 people per gathering. We are hopeful that the Teller County Health Department will approve our plan and allow a one time exception for this event. We have approximately 150 graduates. If such an exception cannot be made, we will “break this event” into three “repetitive” ceremonies.
Graduates will be carefully spaced using social distancing guidelines (6 ft apart in every direction) on the football field. A 90-minute ceremony (complete with speeches and diploma photographs) will be carried out live and “Live Streamed” via the internet using a professional company who specializes in doing this. No spectators/parents will be present.
Graduates will enter and exit the stadium following strict guidelines and protocols that will be shared at a later date. After the ceremony, the graduates will participate in a car “parade” so that interested family and community can show their appreciation for our Seniors using social distancing guidelines. Those details are being worked out with the City of Woodland Park.
Details will follow in the coming weeks. We appreciate your understanding that the constraints placed on us by several different agencies put us in difficult circumstances. We are doing our absolute best to comply with many differing interests. I want to give my direct appreciation to the Student Council President, the Class Valedictorian, Salutatorian and all 10 members of the leadership group who gave very thoughtful consideration to a multitude of ideas. They demonstrated strong leadership and decisive thinking on behalf of their classmates. This group made me proud to be their principal every day - and even more so throughout this unusual circumstance.
As always, I’m proud to lead Woodland Park High School. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our kids are amazing. Let’s make this as special as we can, together.
Mr. Burr
For Our Panthers
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Spirit Week Highlights
Brad Smerkonich
Mik Willett
Mik Willett
Mik Willett
Seamus Johnston
SENIORS!
WERE YOU AWARDED A SCHOLARSHIP?
SENIORS! Please complete THIS FORM regarding SCHOLARSHIPS you have been awarded. Please complete this ASAP. Please complete this as you recieve your scholarships and do not wait for them all to come in (you can submit the form multiple times). We are excited for the chance to recognize you!
GRADUATION CHECKOUT
For Our Panther Parents
Ten Ideas to Help You and Your Students Get More Done at Home
1. Use your imagination to motivate you and your kids.
Author Po Bronson reminds us of an experiment done with preschool-aged children. The kids were asked to see how long they could stand still beside a wall in the classroom. Most lasted for only a few seconds. Then, those students were asked to imagine they were guards in front of a castle, guarding it against enemies, and they needed to be very still. Those same kids were able to stand absolutely still for over a minute. Why? Our minds/imaginations are so powerful they enable us to do what we normally could not do.
We must learn to paint pictures and leverage their effects on our capabilities. What if you offered a scenario that is an aspiration of your young person and got vividly specific and clear with it, then—given that scenario—discussed what steps should be taken to make it a reality. Last year, I was teaching student leaders a principle and could tell it was all theory. Hypothetical at best. So, I gave them a very relevant scenario that likely many of them face on campus. Suddenly, the questions, discussion, and planning took off.
2. Plan to bundle similar tasks together.
I try to make this a rule, especially during these weeks of social isolation, knowing there will likely be exceptions. You’ll want to come up with your own categories as you review the kinds of tasks you have. Mine fall basically into three categories, which spell C.A.P.
C – Creative tasks: writing blogs, articles, outlining a book chapter, podcast script, etc.
A – Administrative tasks: planning meetings for apprentices; meeting w/Frank Blake, etc.
P – People tasks: meetings, webinars, video shoots, zoom calls with the team, etc.
3. Schedule your day the night before.
Do this with your kids if it helps: sit down before going to bed and plan the next day from beginning to dinner time. (In our home, we try to keep evenings for family time after dinner). Be sure to stay realistic. Schedule the projects you believe you can finish in a day. Talk them over for support and accountability. We would often leave a fun job that we looked forward to for the end of the day. So, this could look like each person seated at the kitchen table with a tablet, making a list of priorities, then discussing it with the others.
4. Wear headphones, and listen to content to prevent distraction.
My number one distractor from getting things done is interruptions. Wearing earplugs or headphones can reduce them. I will listen to music, podcasts, or TEDx talks. My wife will listen to books or a Marco Polo video from a friend.
5. Start with a full emotional tank, and plan brain-breaks every 60 to 90 minutes.
Two of our Habitude® images speak to this need: Starving Baker & Emotional Fuel. Let me explain. I have a better chance of completing my tasks and exceeding expectations on them if I’m intellectually and emotionally full. Years ago, our team attended a training day with a neuroscientist who taught us that every 60 to 90 minutes our brains need a break if we want them to function at full capacity. Take a walk; get some water to drink; talk to someone else on a break. This doesn’t prevent productivity; it accelerates it.
6. Do quick things first, then first things first.
I find I build momentum if I make my list of tasks to do, then choose my first task to be something that I can get done quickly and check it off the list. It furnishes me with the feeling of success. I feel the momentum, and I believe I can conquer other, bigger mountains that day. This week that task was writing two thank-you notes. The week before, it was planning for a meeting. I accomplished these tasks in 10 minutes and was raring to go for the bigger and longer tasks.
7. Utilize the Pareto Principle.
Vilfredo Pareto was an Italian economist who died nearly a century ago. He developed a theory we commonly call the 80/20 rule. With the right priorities in place, 20% of our effort will get us 80% of the results we desire. With wrong priorities, approximately 80% of our effort will get us 20% of our desired results. In short, all tasks are not equally productive. This is another Habitude we call: Big Rocks First. With your to-do list in hand, always be sure you place important tasks at the beginning of your day. For me, once I do my “quick task,” I usually move right into a big one that will take a while, such as preparing for an event or webinar. This is key to our mission and puts wheels in motion.
8. Leave breadcrumbs for yourself.
Have you ever been working on something and been interrupted or needed to research to finish a task, which caused you to lose track of where you were when you left off? It happens to me all the time. I’ve learned to leave “breadcrumbs” for myself so I can pick back up where I left off when I return to my original project. I will start the next paragraph and scribble an idea or two, so I can pick right back up when writing. I will minimize docs, scribble on notepads, and put notes on my calendar.
9. Communicate your deep dives to those around you.
Author Donald Miller taught me this idea. When you or your young people need a chunk of uninterrupted time, let others know ahead of time. In our office, we began putting signs up on our door that said, “Deep Dive,” letting everyone know to wait before interrupting the flow because the person inside was scuba diving deep into the ocean of their work. Let’s be honest. We avoid some tasks because they require a “deep dive,” and we know we won’t get uninterrupted time to do them—so we put them off. This idea could help.
10. Come up with relevant rewards for each person.
I’ve done this for years—for myself and my children. When you have a daunting (even intimidating) task to do, identify a reward you’d love to enjoy when you finish it. Have your young people come up with an appropriate prize they’d get if they complete a task. Then, hold each other accountable. Don’t let anyone enjoy the reward until they’re done. For me, it’s popcorn or watching a ballgame. Today, my wife finished her projects, and we went to Andy’s Frozen Custard to get a butter pecan concrete, extra nuts.