Thursday, January 26, 2012

Art Classes and Clay!

Students in Mrs. Bird's Art 9 class are learning the fine art of sculpting the human head. Students will complete the unit by preparing a  pencil drawing of a human bust and staining or glazing the sculpture.

Listening to Native Voices in English III

On Friday, January 13, 2012 Mrs. Lanphear’s English III class had the pleasure of hosting a guest speaker. Mr. Doyle Pipe On Head, a member of the Oglala Sioux tribe, came to Room 106 to speak with students about some of the oral traditions and customs of Native people. In the previous days students had been learning about archetypes and reading oral stories in a unit focusing on “Native Voices.”
         
            Mr. Pipe On Head expanded on the original purpose of the stories (to help explain and understand the natural world while teaching lessons about behavior), explained that Lakota was originally an oral, not a written, language (although now there is a developing Lakota font), and he shared how oral traditions support the idea that relationships are more valuable than material things. The stories often focus on courage, fortitude, generosity, and wisdom in daily life. Finally, Mr. Pipe On Head spoke about how people are now writing the oral stories down and how challenging that is due to the stories being “organized in terms of activity,” using verbs and adverbs. The visit aided classroom instruction, with Mr. Pipe On Head even sharing a myth explaining why some ducks have red eyes.
 
         The class is just beginning their semester-long course and is studying literature as a way to view American perspectives through various historical and cultural contexts.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Jan. 20th - Noon Dismissal Schedule

        
Block 1                  7:55 - 9:00
   Block 1A                     7:55 - 8:29
    Block 1B                     8:32 - 9:00
Block 2                 9:05 - 10:00
Block 3               10:05 - 11:00
Block 4              11:05 - 12:00
Lunch                 12:00 - 12:45  

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Self-Esteem

Self-Esteem is Asset 38 of Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets, the qualities, experiences, and relationships that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. 


Here are the facts
Research shows that young people who feel good about themselves have positive relationships with parents and peers, increased academic achievement, and a decreased susceptibility to negative peer pressure. Loving yourself is as important as loving other people.
About 48 percent of young people, ages 11-18, report having high self-esteem, according to Search Institute surveys. Telling and showing young people you accept and value who they are helps them to feel good about themselves.
Tips for building this asset
A young person's self-esteem can be affected by many people and situations. Notice how what you say and do affects the young people around you. Young people's self-esteem increases when they feel loved, respected, and accepted; taken seriously; and listened to.
Feeling safe and secure, and able to make choices and do good deeds also boosts self-esteem. The most important key to building other's self-esteem is to let them know they matter and are an important part of society.
Also try this
In your home and family: Compliment your child and let her or him hear you saying positive things about her or him to someone else.
In your neighborhood and community: Take the time to learn about what the young people in your community think and feel about current events. Ask them not only about school and hobbies, but also their opinions on important issues. Let them know you value what they think and how they feel.
In your school or youth program: Publicly congratulate young people's successes with written notes, calls home, or verbal praise. If some students or group members are having a problem, talk to them-or their parents or guardians-privately.
Want to know more about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit www.search-institute.org/assets.   (Information from bainbridgega.com)

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Emphasis on the 40 Developmental Assets

Chadron Public Schools promotes the 40 Developmental Assets which address the eight areas of human development. The assets identify 40 positive experiences and qualities that all of us have the power to bring into the lives of children and youth. For many people, the assets have become a source of ideas and inspiration in the face of frustration and even despair.

This month, we want to take the time to emphasize the four assets that promote positive identity. In this posting I'd like to take the time to visit about Asset #37 - Personal Power.

Having personal power means understanding and accepting the things we can and can't control. When we feel empowered, we feel more confident to make our own choices - to get good grades, to participate in activities we enjoy, and take action to find solutions to problems.

Recently, our student body had several examples of good choices from raising money for our Mike Smith Assembly on Anti-Bullying, donating food for our food drive, and donating money to the local Shop-With-A-Cop program to buy needed clothing and gifts to children for Christmas. Another good choice our students made was the organization and participation in the celebration of filming our school Lip Dub before winter break.

I encourage our students and staff to continue to find ways to make good choices in serving others so that we can make a difference in the world which will continue to build our sense of personal power.

We're Back in Session!

I hope everyone had a great winter break. We're back at full steam getting ready for a busy spring semester. Many activities will be taking place from sporting events to other extra-curricular activities. Keep current of upcoming activities by viewing the activities calendar online.

On other news, we are still pursuing a school bond renewal that will replace: roof, HVAC, windows and lighting which are many of the needs we have for our building. I have given several tours already and have more scheduled to show community members the many problems we have with our aging facilities.  Feel free to call Central Office to set up a time for a tour of one of our buildings.

I wish all of our students the best of luck this semester. The spring semester always seems to go very fast so work hard throughout and enjoy the rest of the school year!!