Cross-posted on the Burlington High School Principal’s Blog There’s no doubt that the release of the documentary Bully will lead to some deeper discussion on bullying and what we can do to reduce the number of incidences of bullying in our schools and communities. Discovery News posted a great article on the topic last week titled Why...
Students
GLHS’ Got Talent!
Last weekend was our annual Varsity Varieties Show and it was simply amazing to see all the talent on stage and behind the scenes! The Arts, both visual and performing, are a major aspect of GLHS, helping us to create a positive school brand. I often talk about our school brand with our students...
But…Why?
The lights go out and it’s just the three of us ...
When Educators Reflect as Parents…
As a principal, one of my favorite things to do is listen to success stories shared by the teachers. As a father, one of my favorite things to do is listen to success stories shared by other parents. When the two worlds collide, the moment is even more special. One of our brilliant educators...
Reflections about learning from a high school senior: guest blog post
Students in our Space Technology class at Gahanna Lincoln High School just completed a space simulation in which they were asked to design a rover that would complete specific tasks. In years past, they would do a space shuttle simulation. But this year, science teacher, Fred Donelson (@mrdglhs) changed things up a bit to simulate the landing...
No Homework During School Vacations…Seems Like A No-Brainer?
I received this video embedded in an e-mail from Vicki Abeles and the folks at Race to Nowhere which talks about schools that have decided that there will be a no homework rule during school vacations. After watching the short clip and listening to the rationale, it seems like a no-brainer to me. Why...
Online Learning – Another Misguided Mandate
Idaho recently became the fourth state to add an online learning requirement for students to graduate from high school. As is typical with these types of bureaucratic decisions, this initiative makes for great headlines but its impact on student learning remains questionable. There’s a big rush to add online learning opportunities for students without...
Profound Impact
As educators we routinely wonder whether or not the advice that we impart on our students actually has had a positive impact. Sometimes were are given direct feedback, but other times were are left to wonder. During the past couple of weeks we have organized two assemblies where I have educated the entire student...
What Did You Learn At School Today? (From Your Students)
I spend a great deal of time thinking about the shift that we need to see in our schools in order to best prepare our students for their future. Lately I’ve been thinking about the question that many parents ask their children when they get off of the school bus or when they sit...
Pause Before You Post
Have you ever read one of those emails that just got under your skin? You know that email or post that just elevated your blood pressure to the point where you felt like your head was going to explode? You then frantically type out a response and hit the send button only to think,...
Moving Forward While Romanticizing the Past?
We often look to our past through a lens of ‘that is how things should be done today’. This past week I have read a few articles and posts about how we need to return to the old, better ways of doing things and how ‘kids these days’ are lazy and have such a...
Embedding our graduate profile
Our school recently underwent our accreditation process and reviewed the foundational documents that direct the vision for our school. As a school, we decided to use the Middle States Association’s, “Excellence by Design” protocol to drive this process and I am happy to report that our school has improved our planning ethic and successfully...
A Single Note Can Make It All Worthwhile
There was a single note on the teacher’s desk. Turning the envelope, she slid her curious finger under the seal, anxious to read what awaited her. Just the crackle and hiss of that seal being broken blocked out the ambient sounds of anything else around. Wrestling the note from the casing, she realized she...
Fostering Resilience: ALL Kids Have a Future
cc flickr photo by TMAB2003 I have been pondering educational matters…specifically, the challenges schools face in addressing the needs of ALL students and how this consideration should impact our efforts at positive school reform. I firmly believe that we need to explore all successful/viable options for improving our schools with the understanding that a...
We need schools where “everybody knows your name.”
“Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn’t you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles...
What my students taught me…
If you are a regular reader of my blog you know I will be leaving the classroom and continuing my career in education as an assistant principal. I am excited about this transition and I look forward to continuing my growth as an Educator. As you might also know, I firmly believe in the practice of...
Small Changes, Huge Results
Cross-posted at the Huffington Post. A few weeks ago I was fortunate to have the NJ School Boards Association (NJSBA) visit to produce a live event called Learn@Lunch: Technology as an Engagement Tool. You can view the archive of the event here. A little over two years ago something like this would have never happened at New...
A Vacation Reflection – Handing Over Control To The Kids
One of the highlights of my trip to San Diego last week was a day at the San Diego Zoo. The place is amazing, encompassing over 100 acres with over 4,000 rare and endangered animals. However, my post is less about what I saw and more about how I saw it. You...
Educational Ice Axes: The Art of Self-Arrest
Some days, this job of being an educator is difficult. For awhile now, I have been watching a student, with whom I have invested a great deal of time, slowly slipping into the educational abyss. Today, he took another slide in that direction. I am not a mountain climber, but I know enough about...
Service Learning and Saving the World
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead “Which part of your school are you most excited about?” This is a question that I get all of the time. The answer is often surprising because it...
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