The Blind Side

I am not very good at sitting down and watching movies, but last night our family started the movie The Blind Side.  Wow!  What a movie!  The entire time I was watching, I was thinking about some of our students. (If you are not familiar with the movie, Michael finds himself without parents (due to drugs) and another family adopts him.  He ends up being an NFL Star! He was doing terribly in school and teachers were giving up on him, except one - and after getting a tutor and a place to live, he excelled!)  We have many students that have endured complicated home lives.  This story reminds me that all students have a background; a story that many of us are not aware of. As professional educators, it is our job to never give up but to seek to understand and provide opportunities for our students to be successful.  

My favorite character in the movie was Ms. Sue.  She was Michael's tutor. Before Ms.Sue, Michael struggled in school and many believed he didn't know how to read as homework was hardly completed. She believed in the growth mindset as she told Michael that he didn't know the material, YET!  She was great at holding Michael to high expectations while at the same time supporting his needs. It took a lot of hard work, but watching him walk across stage for graduation with a high school diploma and a 2.5 GPA was well worth the effort and led Michael to go on to earn a college degree. 

We all have an example of a Michael in our classrooms.  To help these students be successful, it is important to build relationships, be kind and yet hold students to high expectations.  At Perry Central, we are fortunate to have a system of supports through learning lunch, 8th period and tutoring that helps make sure students are not falling behind in their academics (high expectations of doing the work) while at the same time supporting our students with engaging classroom projects, counselors and kind, smiling faces.  It is a lot of hard work, but when graduation comes, it is worth every minute of it!  Thanks to all of you for making a difference in our students' lives. 
 

School Notes: 

ISTEP Trial Test - All students in grades 7,8 and 10 must participate in an ISTEP Trial test on February 7th at the beginning of 4th period.  If you have students in these grades, we will be issuing you test tickets closer to time.  This should only take 10-15 minutes in theory!  Please just mark you calendars and more information will come out soon.  15 school days until ISTEP window opens!  

12 Days to ISTEP - The PBIS team has been working on test taking tips to share with students in grades 7,8 and 10.  Teachers who have 7th, 8th and 10th grade students first period will be asked to share these tips each day as we count down to ISTEP.  Watch your email for details! 

SAT/ACT Test Prep- Please encourage students to take advantage of the SAT/ACT Test Prep Sessions that will be available to them for FREE starting this week.  Sessions are in the mornings 7:05 - 7:55 a.m.  On Tuesdays, students can practice English with Ms. Petty in her room and on Wednesdays, students can practice math with Mr. Linne!

Snow Make-Up - We will now be coming to school on February 19th to make up our school days, along with the first four days of Spring Break (first week.)

Indiana Youth Survey -   The week of February 5th opens a survey that all students in grades 7-12 need to take.  The information we get from this survey is very important.  Students in grades 7-10 will take the survey in their science classes, 11th grade in US History and 12th grade in English.  More information will be coming.

Important Dates: 

Friday, February 9 - Boys Varsity Basketball @ Northeast Dubois 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 10 - Boys Varsity Basketball @ Home vs. North Posey  3:00 p.m.  (Career Pathway Night!)

Tuesday, February 14 - PLC Meeting  3:00 - 4:00

Thursday, February 15 - 8th Grade Field Trip

Tuesday, February 20th - Corporation Safety Meeting  3:00 - 4:00 p.m.