Thursday - Spring Break!

So are you excited or what? Over a week off from school! What are some of the things you're most looking forward to over spring break?

Monday - Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Check out this article listing six traits that many millionaires possess. Of the six traits, which one do you think is your strongest? Which is your weakest?

BTW - do you even care about making lots of money, or are you more focused on other things?

Thursday - Sleeping

Do you get enough sleep each night? Or are you like my teenage son and stay up a little too late each night and then (barely) drag yourself to school each morning? What tips do you have to getting a good nights sleep?

Check out this article on foods that can help/hurt your sleeping.

Tuesday - Town Hall 2.0

If you saw the town hall meeting, what did you think? What were some of the best points?

Friday - March Madness (?)

Do you get caught up in the madness? Or could you really care less?

If you follow the tournament, what are some of the games you're looking forward to and who are some of your cinderella teams? Who do you think will win it all?

Even though I'm a Michigan alum, I do have to admit that I find myself rooting for MSU at this time of the year ... so I'm hoping MSU goes all the way! ;-)

Thursday - Sweating the Small Stuff

There's been quite a few comments this week about the "new" rules that teachers have been emphasizing this week (like no headphones, no cell phones, etc.) When teachers met this past Monday morning and agreed to recommit ourselves to enforcing the district policies, several of us argued that it was important to "sweat the small stuff, so we won't have as much big stuff" to deal with.

This argument is essentially the broken window effect - click here for details.

What do you think? Do you think it's a good idea for us to "sweat the small stuff?"

Wednesday - Sub day!

Without dropping any names, share one of your favorite memories about having a substitute teacher!

Tuesday - Town Hall Meeting II (?)

I've heard quite a few comments about our live town hall meeting we did last week. Some of the comments were from adults who were concerned about negative things that were said, but for the most part the people I've heard from thought it was a very positive event. More than a few of you have suggested we do another one.

That leads to today's question - if we did another town hall meeting what topic, or topics, do you think we should focus on? Who should come to the meeting? Should we try to organize follow up activities that classes can do after watching the event?

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Favorite comment from yesterday ... gotta give it to our parent who weighed:

"As a parent, I feel that the diversity, the IB, and the wonderfully talented staff is what drew me to send my child to Eastern as a school of choice. I think that these things should be advertised more.

The negative for me is the disrespect of some of the kids and the lack of choices to remove them from the building. I feel that too much time is spent on approx 15-20 kids in each grade level and that takes away from the kids who want to be at school.

Mary Fuhrman"

Monday - Quaker Highs and Lows

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Check out the Blog that helped push us on down the road to 95% - click here!

Wednesday - Listening Project, day 1

Please take a few minutes to reflect on the film, The Listening Project, and respond to the following questions:

1. Of all the places our narrators visited (China, Canada, India, United Kingdom, Palestine/Israel, Japan, Mexico, Tanzania, South Africa, France, Russia, Brasil, Afghanistan), which one (or ones) made the biggest impression on you? Why?

2. What are some of the main feelings that others have about the US (as portrayed in the film)? Are they justified?

3. Do you think there is anything 'we' should do to address some of the perceptions others have about us?

Friday - A Quote About Practice

"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." - Beverly Sills

What place have you been heading towards by way of the long and hard road (in other words what's something that you do that you care about and you put a lot of practice/hard work into it)?

Thursday - Fav Posts

Check out my favorite posts from yesterday ... take a few minutes to read back old posts from the past - what has been on of your favorite posts from the past?

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Favorite post from Wednesday:

"Nicholas Moccia said...

I personally believe that every person should have an arsenal, once an apocalyptic event occurs, the survivors will need to defend themselves from raiders, any left over wild animals, and possibly even zombies.

"Ray Graham said...

I think the world would be a safer place if everyone was carrying loaded M-16's"

Obada Ejoh said...

This country would definitely not be safer if everyone had easy access to guns. If guns are already a problem, it would be soooo much better for everyone to have one or two or five. Heck, why not give every child a gun as well? Surely, they, too, need protection, no?

Bad idea.

Wednesday - Guns, guns, guns

Check out this article on gun control - the Supreme Court might "strike down U.S. cities' outright bans on handguns, a ruling that could establish a nationwide ownership right..."

Where do you weigh in? Would this country be a safer place if we had stricter controls of guns, or would it be safer if everybody had the right to pack heat?

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My favorite post from Tuesday ... too many to pick just one - lots of funny ones (like only losers need an incentive to do what is obviously right and lots of hate on the after party with all the references to its "lameness", and of course I love all the comments along the lines of - "free food, count me in!" (that last one is one of the core values that I live my life by - no joking).

"If I were a junior I wouldn't need any motivation because I would go anyway, so that I can graduate. ~~Morgan McCoy"

"Jac Erickson said...

Depends what they got at this after party, I dont play that cookies and punch stuff. Maybe a lil disco ball action and potato skins XD"

"Jose Silva said...

Maybe it will motivare me but it depends on what is at the "after party". If there is food then im there."

"Valerie Forrest said...

Last year when I was a junior, the fact that the MME was a graduation requirement was enough motivation for me, not some fancy partyy. I think that it is a good idea though for the juniors because students this year don't seem to care as much about graduating on time."

(i.e. "Us Seniors were tough winners, you juniors are soft bums" lol)

"i will attend all 3 days just to get my pizza"

-Zach VanAmber"

Tuesday - MME Party!

Last night at the joint PTSA/SIT meeting we finalized plans for the MME days next week. Our goal can be simply stated: Every Junior, each day, testing to the best of his/her abilities! Our main strategy is simple as well -we'll give each student who tests all three days a "Golden Ticket" at the end of the test on Thursday. Students with Golden Tickets will be allowed entrance into the MME "after party" sponsored by our PTSA and hosted by our NHS. The after party will last from 10:15 am on Thursday until the end of the school day.

So that leads to the question of the day: If you were/are a Junior, will this motivate you to attend all three days, in rain or shine, in sickness and in health?

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My Favorite Post from Monday ... Why? Because I'm from Rochester, NY! (also - much love to everyone who is planning on studying computers/video in the future):

"Hmm Well First I Wanna Graduate From Highschool And Im Planning On Goin To A University In Rochester, NY I Really Dont KNo What I Want To Be Yet Maybe A Nurse :)

~Fatma Osman"