The Cardinal Way

Adversity -- no one wants it, but we all get it.

Last week, I talked about adversity testing our strength. And, this year tested our strength more than any other. The vital characteristic that needs to be coupled with adversity is resiliency.

We have no control over how long the trials and tribulations of this year will last. In that, we must remind ourselves that the only difference between happiness and sadness lies in our perception of events and not with the events themselves. I know this seems unfair, but our mental toughness helps us get through our most challenging times.

In one of his writings in his Meditations, Marcus Aurelius tells us, “It’s unfortunate that this happened. No. It’s fortunate that this has happened and I’ve remained unharmed by it - not shattered by the present or frightened of the future. It could have happened to anyone. But not everyone could have remained unharmed by it.”

I quoted a stoic last week as well. I find myself going back to these writings in difficult times to remind myself that humankind has always lived in troubled times. Adversity has always been there. No matter when or where you look throughout time, people have faced many challenges.

We need to find ways to be responsible for our emotions, not suppressed by them. Our circumstances are what they are. We cannot control that. But, we can control how we handle ourselves in those circumstances and use them to continue to grow strong.

Be a Cardinal; Change Lives; Put a Mission into Motion

Thank you to:

• our music department for hosting two concerts this week.
• Sara Neville and Bryan Schuerman for taking students to participate in a service project with the Ray Skillman Clothe-a-Child Drive.
• Cathee Cullison and Amanda Schnepp for organizing the Southport High School Christmas project to support our families.

Week 17: Grateful Friday Challenge

You did it!! CONGRATULATIONS!! World's Best Teachers! Tis' Friday!… and it's the last Friday of the year (well, of the school year- so close enough)! We are about to put a bow on the 2021 Fall Semester, and wow, doesn't that feel nice? Doesn't it make you want to sing? Doesn't it make you want to dance? Doesn't it make you want to look for holiday memes to share with your friends? Or does it make you want to say FFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDGE…. Yep- me too!

Today the #SHSGFC is a three-part challenge… (Do one, or all three… just remember to share!)

1. Figure out your favorite holiday song, find a link to it on youtube, and send it to your friends to help them get into the spirit!

2. Let's Elf ourselves! Download the Elf Yourself App by Magic Mirror, snap a few pictures of your friends, and share the video. (If you want other options, other apps with a few free ways to elf yourself include: XmasDance-3, Dancing Elf, or Jib Jab… try them out! But prepare to laugh!)

3. Find or create a Holiday/End of the Year meme to share. There are some really great ones out there, but if you can't find one that fits the exact sentiments you want to share, you can always follow the following steps to make your own: making your own memes.

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is… participating in the #SHSGFC.

With banners flying as we go! #FlyAsONE

Hope you enjoy this weeks 180 Days of Learning Posts

Mr. Jamriska's students are creating Jackson Pollock style paintings to represent a quote and the mental or emotional mindset of Ishamel Beah within the story - A Long Way Gone, Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. Students are also working on a written analysis that will follow the creation of their painting to explain how their art represents the selected quote.

Welcome to the newest member of our teaching staff, Cierra Means. Cierra has taken over some of our art classes this week. This week, Ms. Means 2D art students are working on a color wheel project as they wrap up the semester. Students had to create a design on their color wheel and then match complementary colors in that design as they painted the color wheel.

Our performing arts department hosted a couple of music concerts this week. Students from various levels performed on two different nights. Each night contained performances from the choir, band, and orchestra. It is great to see our entire music department performing together on the same night.

Ms. Neville and Mr. Schuerman took students from the Human and Social Services classes to Kohl's to work with Ray Skillman for their Clothe-a-Child Drive. The Ray Skillman Corporation had raised of $180,000 for holiday needs for children across the community. Ms. Neville and Mr. Schuerman organized a field trip so students could have the opportunity to help shop and prepare gifts through the program.

Homecroft Elementary 5th graders all wrote short stories a few weeks ago and sent those stories to Mrs. Roberts' theater students. The theater students read all of the short stories and then each of the students selected one short story they wanted to adapt into a short play. The students wrote their adapted plays and presented them to the class. The class decided on the plays to perform. Today, Mrs. Roberts and her theater students invited the Homecroft 5th graders to the SHS Auditorium to watch four of their stories come to life. The students performed those short plays for the students and some of their families who were in attendance.

Website: http://websites.msdpt.k12.in.us/sh/
Location: 971 E Banta Rd, Indianapolis, IN, United States
Phone: 317-789-4800
Twitter: @SHS_Cardinals