The Cardinal Way

"Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value." - Albert Einstein

As educators, it can be easy to focus on success in terms of meeting academic goals, achieving high test scores, or maintaining a certain level of productivity. However, Einstein's quote reminds us that success should not be the primary goal. Rather, educators should strive to become a person of value.

Becoming a person of value means focusing on positively impacting students' lives. Whether building meaningful relationships with students, providing emotional support, or helping students develop important life skills, we know our calling has much more to do for students than just academic success.

As we wrap up another school year, remember that academic success is not the only goal. Instead, let's focus on becoming people of value and remember our positive impacts on our students' lives. Take the time to remember how you have helped our students become successful, well-rounded individuals who are prepared for the challenges of the future.

And, in the last few days of this year, continue striving to be people of value who create a positive and supportive learning environment that goes beyond just academic success.

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

Congratulations to Conner McNeely, who has been selected by the Indiana Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese as its 2023 Indiana High School Teacher of the Year!

Thank you to:

• our custodial and grounds crew as they begin to prepare the school for graduation.
• our social committee for the staff lunch today.

Week 35: Grateful Friday Challenge

Happy Friday! Happy end to the official Teacher Appreciation Week! Happy weekend coming up! Happy day all around...

I did a little research last night and when I looked up the word ‘appreciation’ in the dictionary, I found this definition:

1. The recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something

2. A full understanding of something

This is arguably the hardest time of year for most teachers and students. Summer vacation is just around the corner, for most of the students (and teachers) high stakes testing is soon to be over for the year. Sometimes it seems as if at the end of the year we must be at the top of our game trying to hold the attention of the students sitting in our classes, trying to get them over the hump after a long struggle of a year, and we need a break too.

Let’s appreciate the little things that students and colleagues do to make SHS great. There are a number of ways we have given thanks over the course of the year - let’s bring some of those back to show our appreciation for those special individuals who push us/students/themselves to be better each day. How can we do this? So glad you asked…

Write them a hand written note.

Stick a positive post-it on their door.

Go out of your way to tell them in person.

Send them a quick email.

Tweet about how awesome they are on social media. (Use #SHSGFC!)

Offer up a quiet moment of gratitude for them and what they do for all of us.

Keep being super! If you are frustrated right now with school, students, and life in general... remember a few years ago at this time, the Cardinal was lonely and we wanted nothing more than to be in the building! Happy teacher appreciation week!

With banners flying as we go…

Mrs. Richardson and her choir students hosted one of the last concerts of the year. This week the Pops Concert brought some great tunes to the auditorium. It is always wonderful to see the growth of all of our music groups over the course of the school year!

Mr. Snodgrass and Mr. Stanich support the Mini-mover program at SHS. Our students work with special needs families in the area to modify Power Wheel vehicles to meet the needs of the individual child. This project is a great community outreach program for SHS. WISHTV interviewed Katie Essex during the Night of Engineering about this project. Check out the news story here.

The Night of Engineering was a great success this year. Mr. Snodgrass and Mr. Stanich's students presented their passion projects during this evening. Mrs. Jordan was also there with her culinary students who prepared hors d'oeuvres for the guests who attended.

ILEARN testing has begun in our Biology classes this week. Our Biology teachers have been working through the practice tests and ILEARN tests throughout the week. We appreciate the efforts of our Biology teachers for taking class time to give these tests so we do not have to interrupt the school day or students' schedules to get the testing completed!

Today wraps up our AP testing for the school year. Thank you to all of the teachers who have worked to prepare our students for these exams. Also, thank you to our counseling office for organizing and proctoring the tests over the past two weeks.

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