The Cardinal Way

“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”

--Maya Angelou

If I asked you to stop and make a list of the five biggest problems you are dealing with right now, what would you write? Go ahead and take some time to think about it, and make your list.

What if I told you that with the snap-of-a-finger, all those problems could be gone? What would happen to your list? Do you think it would stay empty, or would it be replaced with a new set of problems that you consider to be the new five biggest issues you are now dealing with?

I would venture to say that everyone would fill that list back up fairly quickly. Life is really good at giving us problems. They are always there, no matter what you do; no matter how smart you are; no matter how positive you are; problems will always exist. That is just the way it is. So, the question is, what problems do you want?

I learned early in raising my own kids that, no matter how annoying or frustrating a stage of their childhood might be, it did no good to wish that stage away. As soon as they grew out of one stage, it was replaced by something equally as challenging, if not more challenging to deal with. The trouble was, once I finally felt like I was getting equipped to deal with one problem in parenting, it changed and I was faced with a new challenge that I was much less equipped to handle.

The same can be said for many challenges in our professional lives. No matter how hard we try, this year seems to throw new things at us that we are not expecting and are often not prepared to handle. It took me a long time to realize that everything we do, or encounter in life, often brings changes which in turn can bring challenges. Life is really good at never staying the same and I have learned that it can always get worse. That may sound very pessimistic, but that is not my intention. My intention is to show that we must be honest in our perceptions about our perspective on life. Change is not easy, and change presents problems because we are not equipped with all the answers.

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

Thank you to:

• everyone for their efforts in enforcing masks during this week.
• Kim Roberts for hosting One Acts tonight at 7:00 pm in the auditorium.
• Micah Brown and Cari Tracy for their help in implementing the new cafeteria procedures this week.
• Our nurses for fielding lots of phone calls on Monday from COVID cases that occurred over Winter Break.

Week 19: Grateful Friday Challenge

30 Days to Change Your Ways

Today is the first Friday of the new year. Welcome, 2022! Many of us start the new year with resolutions. Sometimes we stick with these other times they fade away, but the only way to form a new habit is to begin today. It is going to be a long haul to more daylight, warmer weather, and spring break. How we handle this time and ourselves matters most. We are over the hump of the school year and with every passing day, we move closer to the end of our time with our students. Time is passing and students need us now more than ever.

Whether the time seems long or short, let's focus on the next 30 days to make a difference. Break that long haul to spring break into chunks and look at it as we have the gift of 30 days to change lives and equip students with skills to make them successful. What can be done in 30 days? Maybe the question we should ask ourselves is: What can’t be done in 30 days? Here is a video on the power of doing something for 30 days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNP03fDSj1U

Your #SHSGFC for this week is to find something you would like to add (or subtract) from your life (or your classroom) for the next 30 school days. Build a positive personal habit, change one thing in your classroom that will get this year started on the right foot, focus on eliminating that annoying habit you want to change… This challenge is given to you this week, so you have the rest of the school year to try it out. Perhaps you renew the challenge in February and March to get us to spring break and make this semester better than the last.

Let’s start this year with the positivity pumping!
See you in 30 days better than ever,

With banners flying as we go! #FlyAsONE

Hope you enjoy this weeks 180 Days of Learning Posts

Mr. Klopfenstein invited some former Journal students back to SHS this week. The students came back to celebrate their Hoosier Star recognition from last school year. The Hoosier Star is Indiana High School Press Association's recognition for the state's top student-produced newspapers. The Journal is an impressive student newspaper and represents our school strongly every year!

Mr. Dudas started his high school teaching career at SHS this week. Mr. Dudas joined our Business Department and is teaching Preparing for College and Career. Mr. Dudas PCC students are beginning to learn more about themselves and what they might want to do after high school. Students completed a High Five survey that helped them understand their personality and strengths. These strengths will be used to help the best figure out their career interest as they move throughout the course.

Mr. Smiley is the newest addition to our Social Studies department. Mr. Smiley started at SHS this week. Today in class, Mr. Smiley's US History students are beginning to learn about the causes of World War II. Students learned some basic information about the events leading up to WWII and then took some time to participate in an activity that helped them better understand the dictators that were involved in WWII.

Mr. Davis's Chemistry students are learning about atoms are structured and bonds form by drawing Lewis Dot Diagrams. Students were given different chemical compounds and worked in groups to use their periodic table to determine the valence electrons and bonding structures of these compounds. Mr. Davis circulated to answer questions and support students learning.

Mr. Davis's Latin students are continuing to develop their Latin translation abilities. Students were given a variety of sentences to translate. Students wrote their translations on the board for the class to analyze. Mr. Davis and the class compared both sentences discussing the different parts of speech and allowing the student to talk through their thought process on how they came to the translation written on the board.

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