Monday (9/21)
Bible, speech, Spanish, French Tuesday (9/22) mathematics, accounting, etymology Wednesday (9/23) English, Hon. Humanities Seminar, drama Thursday (9/24) social studies, computer applications Friday (9/25) science, art, music NOTE: All classes meet every day, and regular work (including homework) continues even after that class's exam is over. Homecoming week is September 28-October 2. Students have dress-up days on Monday-Friday. Our SGA has provided written do's and don't's about each of the days (see file at the bottom of this entry). Students who wish not to dress in the day's theme may wear jeans in good repair (I'm not going to list all the things they may not wear--please note what they may wear) and their homecoming t-shirts. Or, of course, they may wear their school uniforms. Students in grades 9-12 will be at the building each night. Each class will have dinner together Monday through Thursday nights, and then students will work on various components of the competition--banner, spirit signs, locker decorations, skit, and CUP presentations. Seventh graders and eighth graders will have no nighttime work at all.
A person's resilience has an important impact on academic development as well as most areas in one's life. We, as a school and as families, need to consider how we help create and foster resilience in our students. What does your student do when she meets an obstacle? What if things don't come easily in a particular class? What happens if a student's plan falls apart? How does your student respond when she makes the lowest grade ever? What does your student do when he doesn't make the team or doesn't get as much playing time as he had hoped? How does your student respond when she has to work in a group of people who are uncooperative or has to be in a class where she doesn't particularly like the teacher? Sadly, many students do not know how to respond at all. Their first instinct is to quit or to get mom or dad to figure out what to do. Many students don't know how to go to a teacher and say, "I did not do well on that test. Could I come by after school and ask you some questions about it?" A number of intelligent, capable students are frequently paralyzed by anxiety or panic when things do not go as they had expected. We want our students to be able to face the challenges of life with grit and determination. Harding Academy is a great place for students to learn and practice what to do when they're thrown a curve ball. We want our students to be able to assess their situation, think through some options, seek advice from the right people, regroup, and charge ahead. What we don't want them to do is get mom or dad to run interference for them and fix the problem. We don't want students to give up and quit. And we don't want them to freeze, unable to manage the situation themselves. What we really don't want is for students to get to college and meet their first disappointment or challenge there. To prepare them for independence, we must not smooth out the bumps in the road now! Those bumps are the training ground for strong, sturdy, resilient young people who will not be afraid to tackle their problems with determination, perseverance, independence, and grit. Many studies have been done about the problems that lack of resilience and grit in students can cause not only in the present, but in their future. I suggest that you pick one or two or three of these articles, and see what the experts have to say. Click on the title to go to the article or video. "Struggle + Perseverance = Learning" by Jill Gough. "Productive Struggle v. Thrashing Blindly" by Jill Gough. "Pete Carroll on Russell Wilson’s toughness: ‘That’s just the way he is.’" "What if the Secret to Success is Failure?" "Got Grit?" "True Grit: Can Perseverance Be Taught?" (video). All grandparents have been invited to join us for a reception and then upper school chapel on Monday, September 14. The reception begins at 9:00. Students will rendezvous with their grandparents, escort them to chapel, and sit with them. After chapel, Mr. Williamson will visit with the grandparents in the auditorium. We hope to see lots and lots of grandparents. Even if some grandparents have not responded to the invitation, it would be great if they could come. Normally on Fridays, students get to wear Harding t-shirts with their uniform slacks or skirts. But on Friday, September 18, all students need to be in regular uniforms because it is Bible Ceremony Day.
Seventh graders are to wear REQUIRED uniforms:
Students in grades 8-12 will wear regular school uniforms (no t-shirts). Tim Elmore of Growing Leaders offered this wisdom to teachers and others who work with students. I think parents will find it applicable, as well. Fundamentals We Can Practice with Students My suggestion is — choose at least one student this week and practice the following:
http://growingleaders.com/blog/ Monday (9/21) Bible, speech, Spanish, French
Tuesday (9/22) Mathematics, accounting, etymology Wednesday (9/23) English, humanities seminar, drama Thursday (9/24) Social studies, computer applications Friday (9/25) Science, art, music Q: What are quarter examinations? A: Quarter examinations are comprehensive tests in each subject. Q: What do you mean by *comprehensive*? A: Comprehensive tests cover everything taught in the quarter. Q: How long do students have to take each exam? A: These exams are given in a regular 45-minute class period. Q: Are the exemptions from quarter exams? A: No. Q: How much do quarter exams count in the quarter average? A. It will vary from class to class, teacher to teacher. The quarter exam will be a part of the quarter grade, not a separate grade on the report card? Q: What do classes do once their quarter exam is over? A: Classes will continue to operate. Some may begin new units. Others may continue units that were in progress. Many classes will continue to have homework and will take grades on things like notebook checks. Friday, September 4, marks the mid-point of the first quarter of school. It is a good time for students to take stock and assess where they are and where they want to be by the end of the quarter. This is what we have left after Labor Day: September 8-11 September 14-18 September 21-25: Quarter Exams September 28-October 2: Homecoming October 2: Last day of the quarter #wheredidthetimego |
Mrs. SemoreHead of Upper School Archives
May 2016
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