The Cardinal Way

Is the glass half-full or half-empty?... When you run into a challenge, do you believe the people you serve “can” or “can’t” handle the situation?

The answer to this question is key to understanding if you truly put people first. Our role as a leader (who operates out of love) is to help people believe that they can accomplish difficult things no matter what has happened in the past. If we believe that those we serve can accomplish difficult tasks, and we are willing to struggle through the process with them, our impact can be long-lasting. On the other hand, it is not surprising that a relationship based on low expectations typically yields less than positive results. When we remove trust and belief in a person’s ability to accomplish great things, we create a culture where people do not believe they can accomplish difficult tasks and, ultimately, do not try. While this negative result is often not intentional on the leader’s part (and is often born out of frustration from behavior or effort), we need to understand the damage created by setting low achievement expectations by claiming that “people can’t, or won’t.” It takes allowing full autonomy in those we serve. It means we trust people to make decisions when we might be the one who holds the responsibility for the results.

Jay Bilas in Toughness states, “Belief can be an incredibly powerful thing, especially when those around you believe in you. Belief is one of the characteristics that lead to toughness. How can you be truly tough unless you believe in yourself? How can you believe in yourself if those around you do not?”

Do not be the parent that swoops in and fixes every problem for your child. Let them struggle; let them learn. Those who jump in quickly to solve difficult problems for people (in any capacity of life) show you what they believe about that person’s ability to solve the problem in the first place. If we remove the struggle, we remove the learning. If we remove the learning and solve problems for people who could solve the problem if given time, we ensure that our buildings will never be any better than the solutions we can come up with as an individual. Leadership is about turning over control and believing that people can accomplish the task at hand.

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

Thank you to:

• Joe Leonard and our workers for helping with the dance this past Saturday.
• the Athletic Department for host Girl's Basketball Semi-State this past weekend.
• Joe Horvath for organizing the SAT for next week.

Week 26: Grateful Friday Challenge

GGOOOOOOOOODDDDDD MMOOOOORRNNNNIIIIIIINNNNGGGGGGGG SOUTHPORT!!! We did it! It might have been touch and go for a few moments this week as we get close to wrapping up February, but here we are sitting on a Friday once again. What a time to be alive! Next week brings with it the month of March. That just sounds nice -- March! March touches April on the calendar, and that is next to May. We are doing it! It’s time to dig in and to keep kicking butt!

Can you feel the energy in the building? We have so much going on. We have winter teams that have finished their seasons. We had a lot of success this winter with sports and athletes representing the Cardinals. Boys basketball is the last sport still going and they are looking strong heading into the tournament against Ben Davis next week, but spring sports have already begun to practice, and that means that we have a new fleet of athletes getting ready to put it on the line and to fight for some wins this spring.

Today, with time running out on the month of February, your challenge is to start off class with some positive vibes. Ask the class to offer up some of their biggest wins from the semester. What was worth remembering? What needs to be recognized? What should be celebrated? Sure, it will take up a few minutes of time but it will be worth it. Listen to what the kids think is noteworthy and just see the smiles on their faces when they share something that makes them happy. Also, share your own wins as you talk to your colleagues today!

Positive vibes only! With banners flying as we go…

Mr. Maupin and Mr. Wright hosted Barbeque and Jazz in the cafeteria. Families that attended had an opportunity to eat some great food and listen to an evening of Jazz Music. The SHS music department also partnered with the middle school for this event. It was a great evening connecting the middle school and high school band and orchestra programs at SHS.

Ms. Frantz and Mrs. Tejchma took their Integrated Chemistry and Physics students to Homecroft Elementary. The students designed PBL activities to teach students about measurement. The students were partnered with small groups of 1st grade students and were able to teach them about different forms of measurement.

Mrs. Rettig had a guest speaker in her Marketing classes this week. Natalie Newlin from Perry Township's PR team came to speak to the students about marketing and communication strategies. She was able to share her perspective from working in the field and then stayed to give students feedback on their current projects.

Mr. Hanley's AP Lang students are engaging in readings, discussion, and research of topics in the field of education. Students have prepared research questions and had guest panelists from the administrative team at SHS to give them an opportunity to ask questions. Students were able to ask questions and hear firsthand from the SHS admin team about various topics in education.

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