Infinate Games

 

I just started a new book this weekend, The Infinte Game by Simon Sinek.  In his book, Sinek talks about the difference between finite and infinite games.  In Finite games, like football or chess, the players are known, the rules are fixed and the end point is clear.  Winners and losers are easily defined.  On the contrast, infinte games, like education or politics or life, the players come and go, rules are changeable and there is no defined endpoint.  There are no winners or losers in an infinate game; one can only be ahead or behind.  

From Simon Sinek's viewpoint, as an organization, it is best to lead your organization or classroom in infinite games.  Infinite games build stronger, more innovative and inspiring organizations that are built on trust and become change-agents in our world, instead of staying focused on winning games that are not even important, like state testing! Staying focused on meeting students where they are and taking them as far as we can go (with no clearly defined ending) will lead us to greater success in the end; moving our students ahead and bettering our society.  I feel like all of you are infinite game leaders.  You are always working hard to inspire our students, build cultures of trust and innovation in the classroom and inspire our youth to be change-makers in our society.  

I want to thank all of you for your openness to learning more about a poly-tech approach to learning;  integrating project based learning/work place challenges along with our focus on relationships and credentials of currency in the workplace.  This shows your drive to creating innovative, edcuational experiences that can better prepare our students for the 21st century, that could impact many generations to come. 

Happy Birthday to Phil on Monday!!!!!

Important Information: 

Poly-Tech Visit - On Monday, November 28th, we will be hosting several individuals from New York.  They are the team helping Indiana develop poly-tech high schools.  Perry Central is excited to be written into the grant with the opportunity to expand our programming.  The high school library will be closed on Monday for our meeting.  We will also be giving a tour of the school from 8:30 - 9:00.

PBL Training - Reminder to junior high teachers that you are encouraged to participate in PBL training from Dawn Lynch and Emilee Brinkman.  The next meeting is December 15th from 3:15 - 4:15.  If you want to see what you will be learning, you can click HERE to see their "commercial".  We are grateful to be learning through all of this together!

Upcoming Dates: 

November 30 - 11th grade field trip 

December 1 - Spanish students to Nut Cracker

December 5 - Surprise and Delight - Auntie Anne's Pretzels

December 6 - Early College Mentoring Meeting 7:25 - 8:00 a.m. (Invitations will be sent by Dana)

December 8 - CTE Ribbon Cutting/Open House  11:00 - 1:00 

December 19 - Returning College Freshmen to speak to 11th and 12th grade & Early College Teachers

December 20 - Faculty Meeting 

December 21 - Finals for Periods 2,4,6

December 22 - Finals for Periods 1,3,5,7

                                                 CREATE - Authentic Learning Opportunities:

Workplace Challenge - Michael Jarboe and Glenn Etienne will be in partnership with the Civil Engineering class after break as they develop their workplace challenges.  Glenn Etienne from CES has agreed to come in and talk to students about his company and the work he does along with giving them a couple of challenges:  

                1.  CTE Parking Stalls - students will use distance/angles to maximize use of space using 100 ft tape, paper, pencil and creative minds!  They will present their plans back to Glenn.  

                2.  Drainage Project As-Builts - document the location, elevations, slopes and pize sizes of new drainage systems (as-builts).  

8th Grade PBL - Science and English teachers are working together for a Project Based Learning opportunity.  Students are learning about Environmental Science including water quality, forestry and soil quality and then they will be producing an informational text in English about their findings.  The audience is our community.  Looking forward to their final products.  Thank you, teachers, for being vulnerable and trying something new!