Happy New Year

The end of a year and the beginning of a new one always brings about nostalgia and resolutions. Shouldn't we just try to live a good and balanced life all the time? I think we try to but the challenges of that life make it hard to stay balanced. Strength of character will see you through it all but who knows where to find it all the time.

I cleaned my office and organized my thoughts this week. I played with the kids and hopefully will be skiing this weekend. I am ready for the best year yet.

Christmas

So here we sit the week of Christmas with so much to do and so little time to do it. Christmas is a wonderful time for family and friends but we get caught up in the preparation and the going. Party here and party there, go to the in-laws, go to the store, it all becomes a little too much. When do we catch our breath and allow for the spirit to seep into our mind and body and do we truly enjoy the holiday? I hope to find out.

C'Mon Man

Every Monday Night, my son and I watch the segment "C'mon Man" on ESPN Monday Night Football coverage. It is a review of teams that just don't get it or plays that guys make that are so bad all you can say is "C'mon Man!" Wouldn't it be great if we could do that in life when someone just blows you away with their ineptitude? When someone pulls a Tiger Woods or a parent forgets to pick up their child from a dance or even a student treats another poorly just because they can. "C'mon Man! would be so great!

Put away the clubs

So I left at 3:00 and ran around nine holes before it got dark Friday. My last round of the year. To be greeted by 3 inches of snow on Sunday morning, I realized that basketball season has begun. Sore muscles and bruised egos are next in line.

Slow Down

Thanksgiving was great. I actually took a couple of days to slow down. The rain helped slow down the activities but I made a "subconscious" effort to slow down. I spent time playing with my son and daughter. Not so easy with a 15 year old who seems to being going at 90 miles an hour all the time herself. We are overbooking ourselves and our kids. We are trying to better ourselves and our kids at the expense of really enjoying life and family. I am in favor of reaching potential and getting the most our of life but "the most out of life" is enjoying what we have right in front of us. Family and friends.

Vision for 2010-2011

I am asked to create a vision statement for the upcoming year when it comes to our budget. Here is this year's:

The vision for Rye Junior High School has changed very little in the past year. Preparing students for the world ahead of them is our highest priority. High school is the first step from here and the world after that can take on many different forms depending on the student and their individual skill areas. How do we meet the various needs of the students who walk through our doors every morning?
Students are developing at different rates in their three years at Rye Junior High School. Whether the changes come physically, mentally or even socially, RJH is positioned to meet the needs of all its students. We establish programming, opportunities, and a building to reach each student at their own level. Students challenge us each day to give them an understanding of the ever changing world by their questions, needs and dreams. Teachers respond by creating new lessons, activities, and assessments designed to push students to higher levels. They integrate technology in new and exciting ways. Research is being done both electronically and with traditional methods to allow students to find the answers they want and are asked to uncover. We work to develop the “whole child.” To quantify development is very difficult. Although we have measurable outcomes academically, the three years at RJH is a journey and the pace at which students get to the end varies dramatically. Each student hits his/her stride at different times. Think of your own journey and when you hit your stride.
Additions to the school, we have a couple that allow us to move forward at a more rapid pace. A newly finished library greatly expands our ability to teach integrated research in a suitable location. There is plenty of learning space while allowing the library to continue to function as a traditional lending library. Internet access and expanded collections allow students to have adequate resources to complete their work and read the most current literature. This space will once again be the hub of activity in our building but will allow for more access and enhanced learning opportunities. With funding from the Rye Education Foundation, we were able to create a One to One Netbook pilot in the seventh grade. This immediate access to technology for teachers and students has allowed students to grow more proficient with technology as they are using it on a daily basis in more than one classroom. Increased writing, research and data analysis promotes higher level thinking and greater skill development, not only in technology but in their core classes. Continuation of this pilot would be optimal for student learning for a modern world.
But these are tough times economically and continued expansion of programs is difficult. Our strength is in our teachers and their skill sets. We continue to pursue professional development opportunities for all and allow teachers to grow and develop. We have initiated the Professional Learning Communities model to bring a focus to learning and not teaching. Data analysis is part of our weekly conversation. How are our students progressing? What areas are they proficient and what areas need greater concentration? How does our curriculum allow for student progress? These are conversations that are the focus of common planning time. We are thankful to have the resource of our colleagues and their collective wisdom.
Moving into the second decade of this century, we are still committed to the ideal that all students can learn what they need to be successful in the years to come. We are preparing students for the world around them and the world that is to come. It is our mission and our responsibility.

Yankee Baseball

So far the Yankees have lived up to their payroll. After years of people pointing to chemistry or the lack of it, it is clear the mix of players have made a difference in this playoff run. So the question is, what is the biggest factor in winning a playoff series. Clearly, you have to have the players and especially the pitching. But what about that player with all the intangibles; Nick Swisher, Bill Miller, Bucky Dent to name a few. Not the highest paid player but the ones who get it done despite their paycheck. Those are the difference makers and the ones I cheer for.

Get back to what is important

I am mired in reports and tasks. So many things that are dictated to be done that I can see an end. I realized this morning that I had gotten so far afield of what I do this for that I left my office and went to classrooms. I saw teachers doing great things and kids engaged in their work. I had to smile and was re-energized for a while.

Tell her that its human nature

I probably won't go see the Michael Jackson movie. It is just sad to hear "Human Nature" and remember how great his music was and how innocent he was. It was so long ago and he was even older than me but I will remember him with his brothers in the Jackson 5. I was young, it was easier to enjoy the music without knowing what would become of him.
I probably won't see the movie.

The Test is Here

The school has fully undertaken the NECAP test today. Kids are actively engaged in the test and you could hear a pin drop. It is too quiet in the building.
Life in the modern school includes this accountability measure, ours in NH is the NECAP test. Is this a measurement for the school and the children or is it a clearer picture of our society as a whole? Are kids coming to school ready to engage in their learning? How do they know to do so? Are parents supportive of the school and its practice? This question is answered in how students engage in the test.
Take out those students with specific learning issues. They are going to struggle with standardized tests and have struggled forever. But those who do not have learning issues, their level of engagement is partially due to the messages they get in the home. It is partially due to who students are as individuals. It is partially due to the nature of tests. It is partially the school and its presentation.
Will we solve the engagement issue at school? I have no idea.

Rainy Saturday

How about Sunday with the NFL on instead of Saturday with youth soccer games and end of year barbecues? Can somebody get control of the weather please?

Frost

I am not the person who wishes for colder weather but I may welcome a little frost tonight. Other than slowing the growth of my grass, I will be glad to have the frost take care of these mosquitos. EEE has been a concern for too long and it will be great for kids to go outside in the afternoon with no fear. I usually love September but this year it has been a cautious infatuation.

Communication Breakdown

In the day and age of multiple communication methods, how do we guarantee we stay in touch? Funny question huh? You can text me, email me, tweet me, check me out on my Facebook, call me on one of my cellphones, or even call me at the office. The problem seems to be that with all the options, no one does it the same way. You have to keep an inventory of the specific methods of communication for specific people. This is my latest challenge.

Friday On My Mind

Why is it that my whole mood changes with the prospect of the weekend? I do love the kids and teachers in my school and have fun with much of what I do here at RJH. But the prospect of the weekend and not working always brightens my Friday. Would I work if I didn't have to? Probably not.

Derek Jeter

Living in NE it is tough being a Yankee fan. It has gotten harder over the last few years. But after the last couple of days, I know one thing for sure. Derek Jeter is a throwback to a day gone by. He is professional, hard worker and great player. I am glad he is on my team.

Ted Kennedy

Sitting here watching Ted Kennedy's funeral makes me realize that no matter what you accomplish it comes back to family and the lessons you can teach your kids just by doing. Teaching is through doing not saying. I have to remember that,

Around the Corner

Here we are just around the corner from the first day of school. Looking at the weather for the next few days, I take solace. Cooler weather does not have students hoping for another day at the beach. September is the toughest month to go to school as we remember the glorious days of summer and see 70 degree weather. Can we find some time to hold on?

Summer Over?

So the question right now is when are you going back to school? When I reply, the standard answer is that "summer is over!" It is almost said with glee.
I have never had a traditional 9-5 job. Since I was a 5 year old, I have had more flexibility in the summer than the 9-5ers. As an administrator, I spend a good deal of the summer in the office doing the behind the scenes work to get school ready to start. It is quiet (except our building project this summer) and very productive. I enjoy the summer because a great deal gets done. I miss the kids being here at school but it as everyone has said, they will be back soon.
For me, summer isn't over. I have much left to do here at school before everything will be ready. But I will still find time to hit the beach and the course. I just have to stop listening to the gleeful comments...

Kids at the Beach

So we went for a bike ride to the beach. After the obligatory complaining from the nine year old for the 1.8 mile ride, we arrived at the beach as the tide was coming in. Armed with no toys or sand castle equipment, we commenced riding some waves, fighting the shrimp, throwing rocks (playing fetch), and just plain having a great day. The 1.8 miles back to the car to rack the bikes was not nearly as bad as the nine year old envisioned.

Quest for youth

So I started my day yesterday by doing a little run. Nothing crazy but a couple miles. Pruning trees in the front yard followed by a bike ride and a little tennis with my family (or should I say tennis ball retrieval). Cap it off with hitting golf balls with the kids at 7:00 pm and it was an early bedtime. I am sore today and feeling all the years I have been on this planet.

Rain

When was it that a day of clouds and light rain qualified as a Good Day? We have to tolerate bad weather or is it that we are making the best of it? The other day it was sunny and I actually thought it was too bright! I feel a bit like the groundhog in February coming out of my winter quarters.

Day at the course

Embarking on my first 18 holes since Myrtle Beach, I was not sure what to expect from my game. The morning was overcast but the sun was about to come out when I birdied the first hole. A good start. A ball in the woods and a bogey on the second hole followed by a double bogey on the third and the the feeling of rust was clearly there. Playing the next three holes in even par, I played the seventh hoping to make something happen. I took advice from President Leonard and went for the green in two on the par five. The resulting eagle made the day worthwhile. It also gave me the momentum to play the rest of the way two under par and shoot a 70. Maybe I should take 5 weeks off from 18 holes, who knows what I would shoot?

Talking with Eighth Graders

I have endeavored to meet with all the eighth graders before the end of the year. I am soliciting their opinions about everything from how to make the school better to what their hopes and dreams are for the future. They say the darndest things. It is encouraging to hear what they aspire to do and how things could be better. My hope is that I will get real information that is useful and to validate their thoughts about the world around them. They truly are big fish in a small pond and are ready to move on to the world of high school and all its trappings; independence, challenges, and new friends. I am glad I finally have a chance to do this.

Fresh Air

After two days of rain and limited time outside, I need some fresh air. I cannot imagine living my life without time outside. I need to get outside and breath in the fresh air. Can somebody stop the rain?
Just venting, thanks.

Relax

Stress. We all deal with it. I think it is really about the threshold that people have for what life throws at them. Different things lead people to get overwhelmed in their life but I would venture that it is of their own making. Kids, jobs, and relationships are challenging parts of our life and yet quite often, we put ourselves in that position as a parent, employee, and spouse in the first place. Life is of our own making and we are to make the most of it. At least that is what I think.

Working with your hands

I spent a couple of hours yesterday with my son spreading bark mulch. Actually, he managed the back of the truck while I wheeled wheelbarrow fulls of mulch around the yard and spread it in our flower beds. Cool for him and therapy for me.

When you do a job that is mostly interpersonal and somewhat sedentary, the opportunity to work with your hands and get dirty is refreshing. I can't say I do enough of it. Mind you, shoveling snow fits into this category but I had more than enough of that this year and I need therapy after this winter.

With a weekend of yard work ahead, I should be in a good mental state. My physical state may be a different situation.

Watching Your Child Perform

A wonderful 9 year old pitcher took the mound on Monday. Dressed in his "Rockies" uniform he confidently warmed up and was ready to pitch his one inning of relief in a hotly contested match up against the Cardinals. Starting with a strikeout, he quickly fell behind the next hitter and when he walked him, the nerves showed through. Another walk and some frustration brought his coach (and father) to the mound. "Remember you leg kick and slow yourself down" were the words of wisdom from Dad. The inning continued with a couple of infield hits and a couple of runs given up and the 9 year old was deflated. "No worries" said his coach, "This was your first time pitching against live hitting. You did well." Oh the pressure of being perfect! This 9 year old had to be perfect for himself and everyone watching.
It is hard and wonderful to be a parent watching your children perform whether it be on the field, stage or wherever. You want to take the difficulty out the situation and make it go well for them, but you can't. The effort put into the performance makes it worthwhile. The challenge for parents is to not live vicariously through their child's experiences and allow them to struggle through these performances.
The next time on the mound that 9 year old struck out three and walked one without the dad/coach there. No living vicariously on this occasion. There might be a lesson in that too.

End of an Era

We went 4-0 in our last AAU tournament. Quite a nice weekend to watch my daughter's team (which I coached) win against some pretty good teams. They did so in convincing fashion but it was bittersweet.
Why you ask? It is the last time I will coach her on a team in basketball.
When she was in first grade I started coaching her team. To see her gradually learn the game and enjoy it was quite special. She grew as a player and as a person not to mention in her height. She made good friends, could look at her game with some pride and was part of teams that in the end had fun.
When she started playing at the middle school level, it was the first team she played on that I did not coach. It was hard not to coach from the stands, but I did anyway (Move your feet! Hands up on defense! Don't reach!) It was great to see her apply her skills to a team that I didn't have direct contact with.
We continued to play an abbreviated AAU schedule and extend her basketball season with her friends. We didn't always do well against these all star teams but the girls never got down and they saw how good it could be and how good they could be. I loved it!
Now we are done and she is into softball full steam; basketball camp this summer and onto high school in the fall. High school, ouch. I will miss working on the skills of basketball in a practice session with her but there is still the driveway and the gym possibly.
I know I will pine away for the days of coaching her. I will miss the early days of teaching how to dribble and shoot a basketball. I know I will pine away for the day I could beat her in one on one, whenever she does beat me. Not too far away....

Myrtle on my mind

We are about to make our annual pilgrimage to Myrtle Beach for April vacation. I am very fortunate to have a family that indulges my need for golf and actually plays with me. Friends, family, beach, pool and of course golf are the agenda for April vacation.

We drive the 15 1/2 hour trip to South Carolina. We usually stay overnight on the way down after a day of tracking licence plates from hopefully all 50 states, punch buggies, and water towers (that is my sons interest). It is quite a trip.

Weather for the next 10 days
Today
Apr 14

Scattered T-Storms

71°
54°

Wed
Apr 15

Partly Cloudy

66°
45°

10%

Thu
Apr 16

Partly Cloudy

65°
45°

0%

Fri
Apr 17


Mostly Sunny

67°
49°


Sat
Apr 18


Mostly Sunny

69°
55°

Sun
Apr 19

Partly Cloudy

72°
58°

Mon
Apr 20


Scattered T-Storms

70°
52°

Tue
Apr 21

Sunny

69°
51°

Wed
Apr 22


Mostly Sunny

69°
55°

Thu
Apr 23


Partly Cloudy

70°
54°

Information Overload

To say that the last few weeks have been stressful might be the understatement of the millenium. I have had so much going on that I don't know which end is up.

So then I come to the NELMS Annual Conference to connect with colleagues and get educated on all that is middle level education and the information is overwhelming. I have had a chance to go to new and exiting session with a plethura of information and I have nowhere to store it. How do I make sense of all this?

There are times when you have to slow down and make some sense of the world around you and put everything in its place. I don't mean shut it down but rather make sense of it all. Technology and all its components is just one area I have a small handle on and with emerging tools and applications, I wonder if I have any handle at all.

I am making a list of things to learn and get some control over and when I do, watch out.

What kind of child?

So is it the child supposed to be when they grow up? My answer is the well rounded child. A child who is able to a little bit of everything; play sports, be successful in the classroom and be a good citizen.

That is the mission of the middle school. We are designed to keep all things in mind in all we do from the classroom to the hallways to the ball field. When in life is it enough to be just successful at one thing? By the time we are done with school, what does the world expect from us? We need to be able to be good at many things.

How do we prepare kids for this? We just do.

Golf

To say I like to play golf is like saying that my teenage daughter likes the Jonas Borthers. "Like" doesn't quite encapsulate the level to which we are infatuated with the two pursuits.

So bad is my infatuation that I look for the 15-30 minutes to chip and putt before I have to pick up a child of mine. So bad is it that I would know all the commentators on the golf channel. So bad is it that I played golf this past Saturday on a rain soaked fairway in 40 degree weather.

I love my family and NH. I enjoy my work and my own learning but golf is my personal quest for perfection. I can infuse all my competitive urges into this singular pursuit for a given amount of time and no one will think less of me. It isn't really supported to be competitive in the workplace, certainly not my workplace.

Don't misunderstand me, I do not spend endless hours on the golf course, contrary to what my wife might say. I find time throughout a busy week to keep the game in tune. When there is a large amount of free time, maybe in the summer, I do manage to fill a great deal of it with golf. It isn't solitary, I will play with anyone. I do prefer my family and friends but if you need a game, give me a call.

Looking forward to the warmer smells of summer and the late night round after dinner. But even now, you may find me playing if the snow isn't flying.

Self Analysis

I have found there are people who in life don't look at what they are doing, how they are treating others, and certainly are not letting people work in their own manner. It is true that sometimes people need a gentle "nudge" to improve or grow but then they are doing it truly because they were "nudged."

I find that we need to instill in our youth the ability to analyze themselves and their work or behavior. The ability to sensor themselves at the right time or to say the right thing at the right time can be as important a skill as learning your multiplication tables. Social development and the desire to succeed in the right way are two very important skills that schools can teach through modeling and certain lessons. It could be all they take from school.

Don't you wish some of the people we work with or are our neighbors had learned these things when they were younger?

Are we the same...

Are we the same as the kids we teach at the middle level? Limited attention spans, messy, and sometimes disorganized? I know I am. Shouldn't we empathize with their plight of adolescence as a result of our own challenges? Just a thought

Vacation: Rest or Excitement?

Can you have a vacation that is both restful and exciting? I don't know if it is possible.

When you don't go away for vacation and fill it with excitement, there is a good chance you will be rested but you will suffer from potential boredom.

When you go away and fill the week with excitement, you run the risk of needing a vacation from your vacation.

I have two solutions. The first is to extend the vacation to two weeks. Just when you are starting to relax, the week is over and a second week would allow you to really do both (have fun and relax).

The second choice is to have a snow day and to work on your blog. I am stuck with the second.

Boston is not fair

We are heading to Boston on Tuesday. Three of us for fun and another to take the Bar Exam. The kids and I are planning to go to the Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum and the Aquarium. My wife is answering 200 multiple choice questions over an eight hour period. On the second day she will get to answer essay questions for another 8 hours while we hit the Union Oyster House for some chowder.

It is not fair.

She has spent hours preparing for this and granted, the exam will bring closure for this chapter of our lives. Meanwhile, the kids and I will be seeing the seals and sea lions. Definitely not fair.

She will have sleepless nights and worry between the two parts of the exam. We will be swimming in the pool and Fanueil Hall. Surely, this can't be fair.

What are the three of us to do? Stay in and read? Don't see that happening...

Boston is not fair.

Rock Band

I have a very generous sister in law that give the family wonderful gifts. The problem is she gives the wrong person the great gift.

Case in point, the latest wonderful gift has been Rock Band she gave to my kids for Christmas. Rock Band is the game that allows you to belong to a band and play music at different levels of challenge. Whether it is the guitar, the drums or vocals, you get to rock and be part of a band.

The problem is that Natalie and Ethan's parents enjoy the gift more than they do. Much of the music is from our era. It also is a bit of an escape from studying or dealing with issues.

We all have a need to escape from our world now and then. Thank you Auntie Libby of thinking of the "big kids." Next time you hear "Don't Fear the Reaper" or "Train Kept a Rollin'" you can see me on guitar.

Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?

I have grown up in an era of baseball where money ruled and free agency didn't allow for the tradition of baseball to thrive. You could rent out your services to the highest bidder and lend your services to one playoff run. The next year you could be somewhere else.
In other cases, owners making millions of dollars and paying little for players while fans watch an inferior product on the field. What is it David Letterman said, "Today is opening day and the Pittsburgh Pirates have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs."
But now, we are in an era of steroids, denial, lying and cowardice. Players are juicing to make it to the big leagues, compete at a high level, and even eclipse records. Anything to be the best! This fact is nothing new, anything to be the best.
Human nature and competitiveness make sports so high pressured and make athletes do immoral things. Money and fame bring out the worst in some. I pine for a simpler day if there ever was one.
Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?

Lincoln Again

"The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time"
-Abraham Lincoln

I wonder if when he came up with these quotes or speeches he thought "Oh, that is a good one." He has so much attributed to him that I wonder if he did give himself credit for some of them.

The amazing thing about Lincoln is that he was truly self taught, self-driven and self-sustained. He didn't get anything from anyone. People looked at him in his youth as someone who would never amount to much. As he grew in age and political stature, people thought he gave a nice homespun speech compared to the big machine politics of the cities and the Northeast. Finally as the Election of 1860 came about, they finally looked to him as a moral guide for a generation. A generation that needed a moral guide. This was a guide who built his own future based on his moral principles and hard work.

It was said he spoke with conviction. He spoke with certainty. He spoke with intelligence. I bet he did know when to give himself credit

Week of Lincoln

We are celebrating the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln all week at Rye Junior High School and particluarly on Febraruy 12th. There are a number of activities that are highlighting the man, his perserverence and his Presidency. A pretty amazing story from humble beginings, he is a testament to how someone with an incredible intellect and work ethic could rise to such a stature. My first Lincoln quote is:

The books and your capacity for understanding them, are just the same in all places... Always bear in mind your own resolution to scuceed is more important that any other thing. - Abraham Lincoln

Tough Call

One of the most important decisions a Superintendent has to make is to call off school on a snowy day. This morning as we woke up to very little snow knowing we weren't going to school. Parents were looking at the weather and said the school should have been in session. As I sit know looking at 7 inches of snow and what would have been dismissal time, it would have been tough to get kids home in this weather.
There are a lot of reasons why I don't want to be a Superintendent but his is one aspect of the job that appeal even less than others. I don't envy Superintendents at 4:00 in the morning having to make an educated guess about the weather, New England weather. I don't look forward to my third shoveling stint, but there is no guesswork to that!

Being Off Schedule

I created a nightmare for myself this morning. I fell behind schedule. Now I am all out of sorts.
It is quite interesting how I have become such a creature of habit. Each day the routine is similar, everything should be within a couple of minutes to stay comfortable with the schedule. I wish it wasn't so.
I wish I could just do whatever the day needed. Wake up later sometimes, wake up earlier on other (yea right). The free spirit gene skipped a generation.
I just wish that I could get over the mood that being off schedule gets me into. I would love to learn a new trick or two.

One to One NOW!

With the prospect of economic slowdown, the good news is that prices of everything are going down. This is the time to get our One to One laptop initiative off the ground. The need is clear and the skills our staff possess are more than enough to move our instruction forward. We have been through the discussions and presentations and it is time to trust the future. Our students lag behind each day they are not able to put the technology in play in their work. Enough with the wait, let's get going.

Watershed Moment

There are times in history that are watershed moments. The Election of 1800, the Election of 1860, the passage of women's suffrage, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the release of the Iranian hostages come to mind for moments that changed history. Today brings promise of change. I look past the clearly obvious fact that President elect Obama will be our first African American President but rather to the potential of having a statesman who could have such a positive effect on our society and culture. This is a moment of trial and challenge and how we react as a country (and world) will be greatly influenced by our new president.
It is a day filled with excitement and hope. Maybe it will be a watershed for great things to come.

Assessment

How do we know what students are really learning? If they come home each night and work hard, hand in quality work, and perform on a test or project well, we assume they are doing well and are ready for the next step in school. But what is the material that they are learning? Is it what they really need to know?

There is an assumption that we are preparing them for the next school or step in their life. But I propose that we really are working in many cases without knowing what is essential in the next step of their lives. Are we really preparing them for the life ahead? What exactly is the life ahead?

I would challenge our society to ask, what is truly expected from our learners and citizens?

That is enough for now.

Patriots

Is it really any fun watching the playoffs without the Patriots in them? I enjoyed the season of the underdog and they had their two chances to get in the playoffs, Indy and the Jets second game. I don't blame the Jets for not beating Miami in the last game but I am confident that Baltimore would have had a little harder time with the Patriots offense than they did with Miami. Good games this past weekend but not as fun as if the Patriots were there. Tough being a "homer".