Where Did The First Month of School Go?

In a little over a month we have breezed through Homecoming with an outstanding show of school spirit, held a blood drive, stocked the food pantry, assisted the Menard County United Fund, taken field trips, watched a tremendous volleyball team defeat some the area's best opponents, held an open house and provided hours and hours of instruction to our students. Time really flies when your students and staff are involved in so many great things. The question is................. can October be just as rewarding?

Taking Ownership of Your Education

Taking Ownership of Your Education:
Today, a small group of high school students and teachers watched Presidents Obama’s address to the students of the nation. The message was clearly directed at today’s students. President Obama made several key points regarding the importance of an education in today’s world. Three key points really jumped out to me during the speech:
1. Taking Ownership for your own education
2. Setting your educational goals (present and future)
3. Everyone is good at something
I have been talking to several of our students about taking ownership of their own education. Students need to express concerns, ask for assistance, seek advice and put in the time to make their educational experience a successful one.
It is important to have an idea of where you want to be in the future. Although where you are today does not determine where you will be in the future, the level of education you attain will have a great bearing on where you go. Students need to look at their education in several chunks of time: this week, this semester, this year, high school, college etc. While nothing is set in stone, having a plan is better than not having one,
I truly believe that all students have at least one skill. I know students who are good at everything they do. I also know students who are great musicians, poets, comedians, actors, mechanics, citizens, communicators, athletes, friends, and any number of other individual skills. It is important that each student understand that he or she has a skill and the potential for success in a variety of areas. The key is to find that area of success and build on it.
I would highly suggest that parents and student s take the time to view the President’s message. I have included a couple of links that will provide an opportunity for just that.
The VIDEO Link:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/A-Message-of-Hope-and-Responsibility-for-Americas-Students/

The TRANSCRIPT Link:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-in-a-National-Address-to-Americas-Schoolchildren/


Have a great week!

A True Benefit!

I just wanted to personally thank everyone who had a hand in the Adam Padget Benefit on Sunday August 30, 2009. The day was a huge success. The event was a community affair that brought several groups together for a good cause. The silent auction, live auction, 50/50, meals and dunk tank proceeds were amazing. While the water was a LITTLE cold, we survived. Myself, Coaches Heriford, Wible, Hughes, and Knox, Former Coach Dion, Susie Hager, elementary principal – Mr. Szoke and Shay Laager all did our best to “talk” as many people as possible into taking a shot at dunking us. The outpouring of assistance was amazing. So again, “Thank you “to all of the community volunteers, community members who attended, my high school and our district staff that attended. A special “thanks” to Coach Oller and the Pleasant Plains football team. Coach Oller and a handful of players showed up in their Cardinal Red in support of the benefit. Coach Oller and his players also made a monetary donation as well. What great generosity from the Cardinal Football Program.

They're Back!!!

It is that time again. Teachers and students are returning to school. School is a rather boring place for me from about June 30th-August 15th. I got in this business for kids. As I moved from the classroom to the office - I realized that there were a lot of great teachers out there as well. Our students are well-behaved and great young citizens. Our staff is made up of hardworking and enjoyable people. As both groups return to AHS, the noise level increases, the amount of conversation increases and the battery is recharged for another year of work(if you can call it that). I hope you and your students are as ready for this time of year as I am. I will try my best to post "early and often." As always - if you have any concerns or question - please do not hesitate to call or stop-in.

And I thought I was busy in April?

It feels like forever since I have sat down to add a new post. May was a blur! Senior Night, a new final exam schedule, graduation, and the unfortunate events of the first week of June all ran together in one continous series of events. Schools are like small communities and everyday is filled with constant change and our little community had much going on during the last few weeks of May and early weeks of June. I hope all of you who attended Senior Awards Night were as proud of our senior class as I was. We had a great turn-out and hope to build on the event each year. Our new final exam policy appears to have a been a positive change. Many students have expressed satisfaction with being rewarded for semester-long efforts. Graduation was a difficult day for many. It should a be time of celebration for all of the students who have earned their diplomas. I believe we (staff, students, administration, and parents) did the best we could under the heavy emotional toll that many were faced with. With May behind us, June half over and a 39th birthday in the rear-view mirror - we are already planning for registration, making curricular changes and preparing the building for a return to what I consider normalcy. Only 1.5 months and we be right back at it again - HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!!!!!!

Busy Busy Busy.

This has been a pretty good couple of weeks for Athens High School. Tyler Holland wins the WYSE State Championship, the Bass Fishing team wins sectional, and the school had its yearly prom. This is just another typical busy and involved week for the students at AHS. Track, baseball, and softball all played several games or ran in several meets over the past two weeks. The girl’s softball team actually played a double-header on Friday night – one @ PORTA and then one @ HOME against a team traveling south to play in a tournament. The girls had to make a quick trip back from PORTA to play at home under the lights. Throw in the ACT and the PSAE, planning for Senior Week and preparing for Prom and the kids have been really busy. Of course, there were the pesky teachers assigning HW and tests as well. Our students have plenty of opportunities to get involved in the school community. The simple fact is that most kids are involved in some activity or group that is school-related. Our philosophy is that we would like as many students and staff involved in some sort of school activity as possible. I would like to think we are living up to that philosophy. So, if your child seems a bit run down the last few nights – there is probably a really good reason for it. The general feeling among educators is that students who are involved in school activities have less time to become involved in the numerous activities that have no positive benefit for anyone partaking in them.
Now that we have about a month of school left - things will continue to speed up. It is normal and we are here to help if you need us. Have a great week!

BASEBALL SEASON IS UPON US!

Tonight was a great night - It was a baseball fan's New Year! The season has started and all is right in the world again:) For anyone who knows me, this is my favorite time of year - and it wil last until late October!! Like all fans - I hope my team wins it all - but it is not necessary - for me to enjoy the season. I hope that your teams play well and keep you intersted in the game for as long as possible - if you are not a baseball fan - you have NO IDEA what you are missing. I hope for your sake - that some day you catch baseball fever and gain an appreciation for the greatest game ever invented! Have a Great Week!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!

This weekend I watched the AHS Drama Club’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz three times. I know that three times seems like a lot – but…….. I wanted to preview it on Friday afternoon when they performed a portion of it for K-6th grades. For a short time, I was able view it with my 1st grade daughter on my lap. Not a bad way to spend part of your Friday! We watched about 30 minutes and felt very good about what we witnessed. Friday night, I took the entire family. When we arrived, it was obvious that we would be having a large crowd. Originally, there were 170 seats set-out. With the help of the custodial staff, and willing parents – We were able to get another 3-4 rows of chairs out before the lights went completely out. The floor seating was nearly filled and there were several young kids in the 1st three rows of the bleachers. I heard an unofficial count of over 220 people who attended opening night. Saturday night, I again attended - this time with my mother. I had such a good time on Friday –and the kids did such a great job, that I drove to Jacksonville to get my mother so that she could see the play. She has seen the original and read the book too many times to count – she would be quite the critic. She loved it!
Mr. Tarrillion should be very proud of his efforts. The students should be very proud of their efforts. Both evenings were filled with great singing, acting and humor. The kids have been practicing for quite some time – it really showed! Tiffany, Nate, Brad and Abby were great as the main characters. Taylor and Lindi were excellent witches. Olivia and Emily were hilarious as the gatekeepers. The entire cast did a great job. Mrs. Nance offered her services on the piano – and they were very much appreciated.
I hope everyone was able to see one of the performances this weekend. I have the feeling – that this is only the beginning for the Drama Club.

A Few Deserving Award Winners

Several of the staff at Athens High School have recently been recognized for their daily efforts. Mrs. Joann Benz, Guidance Counselor, was recently awarded the Jackson Beebe Memorial Award for Outstanding Educator of the Year. The award is presented annually by the Menard County Jaycees. Mrs. Benz is an asset to our school and district. She is actively involved in school improvement, student assessment, student advising, counseling and many other duties on a daily basis. She is an excellent resource for teachers, students and parents. She was nominated by an AHS student because "she goes above and beyond for all students in the high school. She seems to do the work of three people." Mrs. Benz is very deserving of this recent recognition. The AHS Leadership Committee has started an AHS Employee of the Month Program. This program is designed to allow students the opportunity to nominate teachers that they feel have gone above and beyond throughout the year. The program was started this January. The January award went to Jerry Beierman Sr. Mr. Beierman is currently the CACC bus driver. He was nominated by the students who ride his bus to the Capital Area Career Center on a daily basis. The February award winner was Ms. Suzanne Gaedtka. Ms. Gaedtka is a Spanish teacher at AHS. The students who nominated Ms. Gaedtka described her as "caring, patient, willing to help, encouraging and big-hearted." Congratulations to all of these AHS employees for the accomplishments and recent recognition.

Students Doing Positive Things This Week

Over the past few days our students have been doing some really great things outside of the classroom. The Bass Fishing Team hosted a tremendous Fish Fry on Senior Night. The food was excellent and the dinner just added to a great Senior Night atmosphere. The Senior Night ceremony highlighted our student-athletes who have given back to the community and school in the athletic arena over the past 4 years. There was a very touching portion of the ceremony that honored the late Josh Hoffman. Josh would have been out on the floor for Senior Night if not for an unfortunate accident in 2007. Our student body was both moved and supportive of the team and Josh's parents during a jersey presentation.

Another example of our kids doing great things is the Safe Driving Fair. The Driver's Education students and the TMD club are assisting me in creating a fair-type atmosphere that will promote safe driving habits. The school was awarded a grant from IDOT, Ford and Allstate to promote save driving. The students have given their time to assist me in this endeavor. 37 of them have done so.

Thursday morning FCCLA hosted the section workshop at the Athens Christian Church. 220+ students from 13 high schools attended the workshop/conference. Our students and their sponsor, Alice Slager, put on another great event.

Lastly, several high school students assisted CIS with their Health Fair. The older students supervised, participated with, and interacted with 4th-6th graders and had a great time doing so. These students represented the high school among a very important crowd - our own youngsters. The intermediate students admire - almost idolize many of the high school kids - and this group DID NOT disappoint.

This has been a little soapbox on how OUR students are doing all kinds of great things both in and out of the classroom. Have a great weekend.

An Evening With The President of the United States

I wish I could tell you that I had a great seat at the Lincoln Dinner located in the Crowne Plaza. I did not. I did however, have a great presidential experience. After school, I mentioned to my son that Air Force One was scheduled to land at the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport around 6:30pm. He thought it would be great to go and "see President Obama." As a private pilot, I was interested in seeing Mr. Obama AND Air Force One. We loaded up and drove into town. While discussing where to go, I took the first turn into the airport instead of the second. This turn led me to the entrance to the Air Guard. At the gate were two very friendly - yet heavily armed - Guardsmen. They were more than willing to point us in the right direction - you talk about feeling like an idiot? Oh well, off we went to the terminal area. Upon our arrival, it looked as though about 100 people were already on hand. By the time we left, the number doubled. We waited and waited and waited. We had hustled to the airport because we listened to the radio as he lifted off from Peoria at 5:03pm. We figured we would be there just a few minutes before touchdown.....we were wrong. The original arrival time was 6:20pm - and they were pretty much on time. We waited with numerous friendly people. There was an older couple who were very excited and very cold. There were people of all colors and nationalities. As the sun began to set -the temperature began to fall. The cold made the wait seem like forever. My daughter covered up with all the jackets and blankets I could find in the truck. My son was continuously scanning the sky with binoculars. Eventually, the lights of Air Force One became visible in the distance. The sun had disappeared and good pictures were out of the question. We watched in awe as the giant 747 landed right in front of us. After a short trip to the RR for my daughter, we were able to get back and see President Obama walkout of the Jet and start down the steps. Our view was quickly obstructed by the Secretary of State's Bomb Squad Vehicle. We were a good 150 yards from the aircraft. My kids were so excited - they could hardly stand it. As the president disappeared from view, they were ready to get into the truck - where it was warm - to talk about "seeing the President!" We finished the evening watching WCFN’s coverage of President Obama’s Speech. The key here for me is that I think it is important to take time for what interest your kids. We have gone looking for Lincoln, because my 4th grade son is interested in the events and places of Lincoln's life. In the end - it was cold, it was long and it will be a life-long memory for my kids - the day they got to "see the President of The United States," even if it was 150 yards away:)
PS – Air Force One was pretty awesome as well.

Girls Basketball Regional Game

Tonight the Lady Warriors defeated the Lady Saints of Calvary 60 to 48. Our girls played a great game. Their shots were falling, their passes were crisp and on target, and they rebounded very well. This group has made great strides since last year. This year the girls have one junior and the rest are all under classmen. Coach Phillips and Coach Heriford have these young ladies working and improving every game. They never lack for hustle or effort. They are truly a joy to watch. They play again Tuesday night at 6:00pm against Warrensburg-Latham at Athens. Come on out and cheer on your Lady Warriors. Congratulations to Coach phillips, her staff and the girls for a great win.

Money For College

Finding money for college is a difficult task for many. There are scholarships, savings accounts, tax sheltered pre-pay programs, student loans, grants and the list goes on. Navigating the choices can be tricky and frustrating. The FAFSA process can be confusing and time consuming. Student loans are the only way some kids will ever be able to pay for school. I took out student loans for both my under graduate degree and first graduate program. I am still paying for my Master's Degree. Tonight, the school offered a free Financial Aid Night at the school. In the past, there were only a few parents every year who would attend. This year, the number was much higher. Twenty plus families and/or students attended this evenings program. Lincoln Land Community College provided the "expert" for no charge. The information provided was applicable to applying for admission to and for financial aid to any college or university. The increase in numbers could be attributed to many things including, the current economic climate or greater publicity. No matter the reason, we were glad so many attended and hope to see more next year. If you missed the program, do not hesitate to call Mrs. Benz or Mr. Curry for direction in finding funding for your student's further education. Also, check out the FAFSA website for more information on the process - http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ . You can also go straight to Mrs. Benz's Guidance Webpage at http://sites.google.com/site/ahsguidance/ .

Sadie Hawkins Dance

Tonight about 100 of our students attended a Sadie Hawkins Dance put on by the FFA and the FCCLA. It has been a while since we have had a dance other than Prom and Homecoming. The smaller crowd and casual atmosphere made for a good time. From seniors to freshmen, a wide variety of students attended. Afterwards, as the students were leaving, many remarked that they thought it was going to be "lame," but in fact they "had a really good time." Most preferred the smaller crowds. I was a bit surprised to see a large group of kids doing the "Thriller." Michael Jackson put that song out when I was in High School :( The FFA, FCCLA and numerous random students all stayed to help clean-up afterwards. Mr. Brown, Mr. Butler, and Mrs. Slager sponsored and supervised the event. These type events are great for me, because I get an opportunity to talk with students outside of the educational setting. Athens High School has really great kids and tonight was just another example of why I enjoy this job and these kids.

Great Advice

I actually stole this off of a Starbuck's Cup. I think it is a great message for anyone.......


The world bursts at the seams with people ready to tell you you're not good enough.

On occasion, some may be correct. But do not do their work for them.

Seek any job; ask anyone out; pursue any goal.

Do not take it personally when they say "no" - they may not be smart enough to say....

"yes."

Keith Olbermann
Broadcast Journalist and host of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann