The New Year

Boom, and they're off. That's what the first couple of days have felt like to me. I don't recall last year going so smooth nor fast. It's been a blur. Today was the first day with my Morning Meeting group. MM is part of our overall behavior program. Man, I'm inspired. After meeting with my advisory students today, the power of this 20 minute block of time is so amazing. Smiles, confidence, and the opportunity for us "guys" to bound. Huge!

As I was working this morning, I thought about the potential of a parent group made up of fathers. This idea sprang forth from one of our community members who made the comment that fathers needs the opportunity to serve kids and what a great opportunity it could be.

Call it fathers for the future or something like it, where fathers meet to discuss what we can do as fathers to help the school and especially the young boys whose father isn't in their lives. How powerful would that be? Stay tuned on this idea.

I'm also very excited about construction. Not that it doesn't get in the way, but things are looking good as the crane continues to help put the roof together.

All in all, I'm feel very fortunate for a good start.

Cheers,
Mr. Bowman

It's the little things . . .

It's the little things. So much of my life is because of those who have come before me. Whether that be my father, my grandfather, other family, but also . . . all the others. For the many people that sacrificed time, energy, support, discipline, and a host of other attributes that I now call myself . . . it's all because of those who have gone before me.

My father used to say to me when he would do something good for someone and they would want to repay him somehow that "go do the same thing for someone else." How powerful. As I was going through my pages of pictures from the summer, I paused at the one I included here because it reminds me that any successes I have in my life is because of those who have come before me and laid a foundation and a trail for me to follow.




As I post this blog, I'm reminded of those who now do the little things. Case in point: Thatch. Ever wonder who picks it up? Too many times in our jobs, in our lives, we forget the little things and we take it all for granted. We take for granted our garbage is dumped every week, or that we have running water, or that it takes real effort to keep a lawn green and cut.

I watched two custodians tonight as they picked up thatch and helped to make the yard what it is, and again I'm reminded, it's the little things that really are the big things.

The Most Prestigious!

Hi folks. With the new school year about to start, I thought I would include this interesting tidbit of information. The research crew at Harris Interactive is out with the results of a new poll today that puts teachers in the mix of the six "most prestigious occupations."

According to Harris, half of U.S. adults polled by telephone between July 10 and 16 identified six occupations as having "very great" prestige: firefighters (61%), scientists (54%), teachers (54%), doctors (52%), military officers (52%), and nurses (50%). They are followed by police officers (46%) priests/ministers/clergy (42%) and farmers (41%).

Go, teachers, go!

August Arrives

August has arrived. You know this in administration because the myriad of meeting and schedules that accompany this month force you into the reality that yes, indeed, school is about to begin.

I was just at the Reading First Conference in Yakima the last few days. I can remember last year, seeing people and barely knowing them. Staff members whom I barely knew the names of. And when I saw people arriving and talked with them this year, I was so thankful that a) I get the privilege of working with these people and b) the potential for greatness.

I will say that our preliminary WASL scores and DIBELS scores are sobering, and though initially, I was a bit disappointed, there are things to be celebrated. I am encouraged about the potential of this year.

There was a picture a few months back on the cover of PRINCIPAL magazine. It had this guy in a coat and tie, raising this arms to the sky and the caption read, RESILIENT. We were beat down hard last year from a bunch of different factors and now, as I post this blog, it's the final time I'll mention fire, tough situations, etc. in future posts.

It's a new year.

Surely full of challenges...
Definitely full of potential.

Engage!