The Cardinal Way

I shared a message from my father on Monday. I know most of you have heard this story, but I wanted to share some context to what I sent on Monday.

Embracing change is something I learned from my father. My father grew up in southern Indiana in extreme poverty. He came from a home that did not have many things, but was full of love. Although my father grew up with very little, he has given my brother and me everything. His passions and desires were learned from his father. My grandfather, in the depression era, was sent to work in 8th grade. He did not receive a traditional education, but he had a great work ethic and pride in all he was asked to do. He was a World War II Veteran and, throughout his adult life, worked any job available to provide for his family. Although he was not always able to provide monetarily for his family, he was able to instill his work ethic and sense of pride in his three sons. Over time (3 generations and counting), these character traits would become more valuable than anything money could buy. My father, Sherman, took these character traits and used them to better his life. He left for college in 1968 with everything he owned in one bag. My father did not just embrace change; he saw it as an opportunity to better his circumstances. I sometimes think about how scary these times of change must have been for each of these extraordinary men – (my grandfather) fighting in WWII, going to bed hungry so his kids could eat, and valuing education. However, he did not have one himself, and (my father) being the first family member to go to college and choosing to pursue a career in education, the list goes on and on. The changes most of us face in our daily lives are nothing compared to what these men faced.

So how do you view change? Do you jump off the cliff and develop wings on the way down, or withdraw and play it safe? I hope you jump! Playing it safe has never helped any of us to get better. Playing it safely helps us get safe, often predictable, results. And for the record, I am not remotely interested in safe results. Our kids deserve better! Every one of our students deserves a school that will prepare them for a lifetime of success. It is my goal, and hopefully, our goal as a school, to embrace change, see it as an opportunity and make our school a fantastic place of growth for everyone who walks through the doors each day.

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

Thank you to:

• everyone for making an E-Learning day work for our kids.
• Amy Boone and the EL Department for organizing WIDA testing.

Congratulations to Sam Hanley, who was named the Indiana High School Press Association Advisor of the Year for Indiana today!

Week 22: Grateful Friday Challenge

You know you live in Indiana when a few weeks ago it was T-shirt weather and now we have great snowman snow sitting on our lawns! Snow brings back a lot of good memories from our youth - (You remember those days when snow days meant no school…) sledding, building snowmen, making forts, snow angels, ice skating, and snowball fights!

Today, the #SHSGFC is taking us back to our youth and the good old days of romping in the cold weather for hours and loving every minute of it. Running around with siblings or friends and enjoying the beauty and novelty of the snow. Today, we are having our bring back the SNOWBALL FIGHT!

Here is what you need to do to play:

1. Think of 5 people that you enjoy...respect...want to bean with a snowball.

2. Take 5 pieces of copier paper, and write each of your people a short note about what you appreciate about them.

3. Crumble those babies up! (Make sure you know which snowball is meant for each person!)

4. Then get crafty! Plan a time between classes when you can go hit them with the snowball in the hallways, in their classroom on prep, or just tag them when they least expect it!

5. SNOWBALL FIGHT!!! (Think Buddy the Elf in Central Park…)

Let’s make this a great Friday and spread some love with each snowball delivery.

With banners (and snowballs) flying as we go…

The next group of Latinx mentors visited our middle school. Mrs. Boone and Mrs. Marshall help to lead our new Latinx mentors who help to bridge the transition from middle school to high school. Our current mentors visited the middle school to work with Latinx students as they transition to high school and find their identity as learners in our school.

Mrs. Gearhart's biology students are learning about DNA. Students participated in a break-out room activity as they reviewed what they have already learned about the structure of DNA. The students then visited the lab, where they extracted DNA from their cheek cells and were able to see that DNA gathered together in a test tube.

For the first time in three years, we welcomed students and staff to the cafeteria after school for an Honor Roll Pizza Party. Our Seniors are the only ones that remember this experience! It was great to get back to recognizing students who have worked hard to maintain grades at a high level!

WIDA testing is in full swing this week. Students are completing the Reading and Listening portions of the test this week. A big thank you to our EL department for their efforts in giving these tests. Amy Gaisser has spent almost all of her week with 267 testing students.

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