$100 dollar basket

Lucas Hall just hit the most lucrative basket of his life so far. Here at the Waverly Holiday Tournament, if they call your name you can shoot a half court shot for cash. Some one hit the half court shot yesterday for $500. Lucas had his name called today. He stepped to the line and buried it for $100. Easy money :)
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Happy Holidays!

As the Winter Break has officially started, I want to take a moment to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. I hope that your travels are safe and your gatherings, no matter how big or small, are enjoyable.
I am reminding all of you that after Christmas our boys and girls basketball teams will begin play in two holiday tournaments. The boys travel to Waverly and the girls will return to Riverton this year. Schedules can be found on The Principal's Page. Hope to see many of you at the games. Also, remember that school starts back up on January 4th.

Happy Holidays!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Strange Morning.

Well, today's power outage was not on my radar when I got out of bed this morning. Our kids and staff handled it very smoothly. Mr. Shoufler's staff assisted us with some well-lit classrooms (lots of windows) for test taking purposes. After organizing the students, explaining the plans, and sending them to their finals, the power came back on and all was well. I am sure that AMEREN disappointed more than a few students when they restored power after about a half an hour :)
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Impressed.

Last night the JH and HS bands put on a very entertaining concert. The choral groups were also very good. The Winter Concert had a nice Christmas theme. Every time I go to a music concert I am amazed. I am impressed by things I can't or won't do. Singing in front of someone is one of those things. When you stand up and belt out a solo or duet in front of 10 or 10,000 - it is just you. If you mess it up - it is just you. To me, that takes courage and that is impressive. So I wanted to mention the efforts of Amanda, Emily, and Taylor. Everyone else did a great job as well! Have a great weekend.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&

Saturday Morning

Just spent a fun morning watching the frosh boys basketball team play Illini Central @ AHS. Coach Smith's boys won by 1pt. It was well played, well coached, & well officiated. It was a nice way to spend a cold morning.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

What A Finish!

Warrior Basketball - $3
Popcorn $0.50
Beating a top-5 team in class A - PRICELESS!!

Tuesday night's basketball finale was the best game in that gym in 4 years. It had drama, passion, excitement, and energy. The crowd was loud from the minute our first three-ball was centered home until the final horn. The first quarter showcased 2 teams that filled the bucket almost every time down the floor. The game had sharpshooters, banging inside, dunks, steals, great passing and great coaching. Coach Gordon had a great game plan and the boys came out with great energy and beat the Saints. I would venture to guess that if you have to lose the trophy - it is better to give it to someone you just BEAT. The boys, coaches, students, former students, parents and other fans should be very happy with a great showing in the 2010 Warrior Classic. This is the first time since '04 the Warriors have brought home some hardware. Congrats to David Hankins for his selection to the All-Tournament Team. Let's hope this is the beginning of a great basketball season.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday. I hope all of my staff and students are able to enjoy the day off and time with family. Thanksgiving for a those of us with ties to high school students often means three things: family, food, and basketball. Our boys will be @ home Friday and Saturday. Our girls will be @ Litchfield Friday and Saturday. I hope to see all of you back on Monday (or sooner if you attend the Warrior Classic). Good luck to our boys and our girls this weekend. Also, if you had a chance to watch the Macy's parade this morning, you may have seen Celynn, Hillary and Erin marching. I heard they had a 4:30 AM wake-up! Congrats to the girls for partaking in the holiday classic in the Big Apple. Have a great day!

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Another Outstanding Veterans Day Program.

Mr Tobias and the Athens Leadership Committee put on another great day and evening for local veterans. Unfortunately, I was at an IHSA meeting Wednesday morning and had to miss the yearly morning ceremony. When I returned, I was met with many compliments regarding the morning's activities. It sounds like Janelle, Lindi, Alex and Nate gave great speeches. The HS and 6th grade bands played and the HS and CIS chorus performed as well. Wednesday evening, the veterans who were honored at the assembly were treated to a great meal. Todd Lawson prepared a pulled-pork meal for the 100 or so guests. The speaker was a Korean War Veteran who is very active in the Illinois Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association. I believe that everyone had a great evening. As the guests of honor exited the building at the end of the night, each one of them thanked us for having such a wonderful event for the local veterans. They also wanted to make sure I knew how great the students involved the activities were. I said "thanks" and added that we do have "great kids and staff here." It is true! We have kids and staff doing things like this all of the time. For the record, we have two veterans on staff at the high school- Jim VonLehmden(US Army) and Chuck Walbert(US Marine Corps). Rick Small - Jr. High science teacher- also served in the military. So, I say "thanks" to the veterans who attended, to all vets, to all those serving currently, and to Mr. Tobias and the kids who worked to make yesterday a great day. I hope everyone enjoyed their Thursday off. I also hope that we all took a minute or more to think about why we had the honor of having such a day off.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Honor Roll Numbers for 1st Quarter 2010-2011

The Honor Roll became public today and I thought I would share a few statistics with you. The numbers are very positive. We have almost 50% of our students earning a 3.0 or better. We would always like to see the numbers higher – but 50% is a very respectable percent of students earning no grades lower than a C and carrying at least a 3.0 for the 1st quarter.
1st Quarter Honor Roll Statistics:
Currently we have 334 students in the high school.
93 - Frosh
80 - Sophomores
83 - Juniors
77 - Seniors
163 students earned Honor Roll or better status. 49% of our student body
51/93 - Frosh 55%
31/80 - Sophomores 39%
46/83 - Juniors 55%
35/77 - Seniors 46%
33 students earned all A’s. 10% of our student body
Have a great day!

What A Game!!!!

Last night was why people love sports. It was also why people hate sports. The emotional drain that game placed on the fans from both sides was amazing. Each team's fans went from jubilation to dejection and back all night long. Athens had outstanding support all night - great job fans. It was a tough fought game that many thought was going to "be over before it started." Our Warriors showed-up big and stood toe-to-toe with the Trojans for 4 quarters. The game didn't end the way we all wanted but, I hope you are all as proud of the effort of our team as I am. I say, “Great season, Coach Knox and the rest of the coaching staff”. Football is the type of sport that takes most of a coach’s waking hours to prepare for, evaluate, reevaluate, prepare some more for, and then actually coach the games. The players put in long hours at practice and the coaches put in more work before and after to be ready each week. I believe that this staff and the returning players have a bright future. The seniors we are losing will be missed and their efforts have been appreciated for the past 4 years

Parent/Teacher Conferences.

Parents/Teacher conferences are just around the corner. These meetings allow parents and teachers the opportunities to discuss academic and behavioral progress of students. The idea is to try and remedy any negative behaviors or poor study/academic habits. It is important that both the parents and teachers take a chance to "get on the same page." In today's world, it is difficult to check grades every night on the computer. It is difficult to get your child to talk about school work, it is difficult for teachers to always make contact with parents when an issue arises. The conferences are a great time for everyone to meet. They are scheduled after the 1st quarter in order to get a sizable picture of what the student has done to this point. As well as, provide plenty of time to take corrective action and still reach an acceptable academic or behavior goal for the 1st semester. Conference time slots fill-up pretty quick. Be sure to have your student's schedule handy when you call. Hope to see you at the conferences.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

500 meters....

Ok, so I am sitting at the swim meet in PORTA. The PORTA team is comprised of PORTA, Athens, Greenview and Plains girls. I just watched a 500meter race. FIVE HUNDRED......that's 20 lengths of the pool! I have to say that it looked extremely HARD. I can just imagine how tired their arms must be. Tonight is Sr. Night for the Swim team and our own Emily Thomas is swimming her last "home" match. We also have Meg and Kali swimming tonight. It must be the ultra-competitive side of me -but I am finding myself caught up in A SWIM MEET. Never done that before. I have never been able to attend one before. Truth be known, I am rooting for PORTA for the 1st time I can remember:) "Go Blue Jays(WARRIORS, Bulldogs and Cards)!"
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Now Batting.....

This weekend I attended a wedding in the town I began a long teaching and coaching career. As the wedding party was introduced, I felt like it was 1999 again. The wedding party was similar to the line-up card I would fill-out each day prior a ball game. My starting CF, Catcher, DH, 1b, P and a couple of role-players were in the wedding party. As each member was announced, I was expecting to hear the voice of Terry Klein saying...."Now batting, number........" It was great to see many of them together again. As the evening continued, I was visited by other baseball players - some from other years and teams as well. Eventually I made my way to the "younger" side of the reception hall and ran into 2/3rds of the Power I backfield that led my JV football team to an 8-0 record with pure power football. It. That team was so talented, I only had to find a way to share the ball with 5+ outstanding players. Other football players, basketball players, and history students were on that side of the room as well. Of course, these "kids" were now 28,29,30 years of age. We visited about their lives since their playing days and their families and mutual memories from "back in the day." I was also able to reconnect with great parents who allowed me the chance to build relationships with their kids as a coach and teacher. This weekend was a great reminder of why I entered this profession 16 years ago - to build positive relationships with students and athletes and provide them an opportunity to reach their highest potential in the classroom, on the field and diamond, and in their own personal lives. Coaching and teaching are both easy for those outside of it to criticize, but if you put your time in and put relationships first - you can make a positive impression on most of your students and players. Nights like Saturday easily prove that many of the relationships and impacts are long lasting.
Have a great week.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

A Busy Weekend @ AHS

There was a lot going on @ AHS the weekend. Friday night's showdown with Auburn brought in one of our biggest crowds ever at the Sports Complex. Warrior fans showed up in full force! The Trojan fans made the trip up 55 in good numbers, as well. The Cheer Clinic and ACF recognition brought even more fans to the stadium. Today, the soccer team hosted Plains @ 10am and the Leadership Committee hosted a Car Show at the school @ 10am also. The sun came out and so did the cars! The FCCLA had a bake sale and sold Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Add in Saturday Detentions:), the Lions Club (thank you very much for cleaning up the stadium every Saturday), the football team on Saturday workouts, and the cheerleaders who were decorating the school for Homecoming and you can imagine how the place was hopping with people. That is the way I like to see it. Thanks to everyone who attended and participated in these events. Have a great week!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

More Than Tests

Schools these days often get so caught up in the achievement test conversation that they lose focus on the other quality aspects of high school. I am questioning that high schools should strive to raise achievement for all students. I also believe they should be places were students can get a well-rounded education that provides many "out of the traditional classroom" learning experiences. On Thursday, many kids got an opportunity to get out of the building and play/learn on the Biology Club trip to Site M. The kids spent time learning a little about biology and a lot of time having fun as a group in the outdoors. The insects, ponds, water fowl, etc. were the educational focus of the day, but the fun is what will linger. I know the kids had a blast because I heard it from each one of them I talked to after school. Many still had muddy or wet clothes. Some, had changed into whatever they could borrow - which led to a couple of hilarious outfits. They had hundreds of pictures to show off. I was able to see a pretty cool video of a giant spider turning a grasshopper into a meal for later. If you stop to think about it, we all know how spiders and spider webs work. How many times have we have actually witnessed the trap and the wrap of prey? While the idea might not fancy everyone, it might spark someone's interest in biology. This is an example true biology captured on an iPhone outside of a classroom by a freshmen. If you stop in the school, I have posted several pictures on the new monitor in the foyer - take a look at them. I hope to post more later today. Thursday's fun had a specific purpose. Often it is something besides a chapter in a book that sparks curiosity or raises interests levels for students. Mr. Trueblood understands that it is possible to make learning fun and his field trip to Site M was a great example of just that.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Thanks

Just a quick "thanks" to those parents who made it to Open House. It was nice to see many of you again. It was also nice to meet the freshmen students' parents. Open House is an opportunity for me to do nothing more than meet and greet. I was able to have numerous conversations with parents on a variety of topics: their kids, mutual friends, sports, careers, and numerous other topics. There really is no easier method than a light-hearted conversation that allows people to get to know a little more about each other. Many staff members mentioned meeting new parents this year. Thanks again for attending and we look forward to seeing you @ Parent/Teacher Conferences in early November.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Open House This Wednesday.

Open house is this Wednesday evening from 6-730pm. This is an opportunity for parents to meet their children's teachers. We have three new staff members this year. This would be an excellent opportunity to put a face with a name. Each year, students may get a teacher that they have never had. Again, open house is the time to meet these teachers. Open house is not the time to talk grades etc....yet, it would be a great time to set-up a meeting if there are concerns about your child's academic success. I would strongly encourage you to take time to stop in and visit with the staff Wednesday night.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Community Service @ AHS Today.

At this very moment, I am sitting in the HS library donating blood to the Red Cross @ our Annual National Honor Society Blood Drive. This is a great cause and we generally have a very nice turn-out. Mrs. Shannon Swaney, NHS Sponsor, sets the whole thing up each year. Teachers, students, & community members give here each year. NHS students and others volunteer to assist the Red Cross and the donors. I am currently about 1/2 into a 2x Red Cell Donation. Elizabeth from the Red Cross is taking care of me @ the moment. Earlier, there was quite the group of students waiting see if I would pass-out. Now the group is being amazed or grossed-out by the concept of putting the "left-overs" (platelets and plasma) back into the body.............. David Hankins, RaeAnne Dutz, Emily Knoles, Morgan Stevens, Kristen Faucon, Nate Pierce (who decided that the platelets and plasma looked like "pee"- nice, I know) and numerous other kids have all been working and stopping by to "check" on me, some with cameras ready for the big faint! OK, so now I am finished with the donation(26min) and am enjoying a snack and bottled water. It really doesn't take much time and there really isn't any pain involved. I have been giving blood since college and figure that it is the least I can do. Who knows, some day I might need someone else's blood to survive an accident. On another note, this is another opportunity to spend time with the students in a non-academic setting. Our kids here are great. If you had the same opportunities to visit with and get to know them like I do, you would no doubt have the same feelings I do. Finally, we are here until 2pm - come on out and "give the gift of life!" Next week I will post all the names of students and staff that gave blood today. Have a great weekend!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

A Tuesday Full of Choices.

Coaching Junior High Baseball has kept me extra-busy the past 8 weeks. I hope to write more often when the season ends. I did want to take minute to thank the parents that attended the Post-Prom organizational meeting last night. The Post-Prom is a good thing. It provides a safe environment with fun, friends and food. Not to mention, students can win prizes just for making a smart choice to avoid potential trouble. On the same note, we had a guest speaker yesterday on the topic of life choices ad being there for others. The speaker was Eddy Weiss. I asked Lucas Brown to introduce Eddy because Lucas plays a major role in TMD. TMD is a group at school that promotes making good choices and working with the younger students in the district. Last night the group had a "Kick-off Party" @ the HS and had 33 kids show and 15 others wanted to come but had sporting or work commitments. To have more than 10% of our HS enrollment in such a group is amazing. TMD was started just 3 years ago and has quickly grown and made itself visible in the district. Mrs. Erin Emery (HS English) and Ally Brown(class of 2010) started the program and should be commended for the groups success and purpose. So, I guess today's thoughts all tie-in with making good choices. "Kids will be kids" translates to."they won't always make the best choices"....but, it is nice to know that we have positive options for them like Post Prom and TMD.
Have a great day
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Early Mornings!

Often, I write about the exploits of school teams and clubs. This morning, as I was at the sports complex looking for my wedding ring (that I left in the dugout from the game the night before - it is not comfortable hitting infield drills with a ring on...but that is a different story) I was treated to the early morning sounds of "I'm a Believer" by The Monkeys. Our marching band was out there in the chilly wet morning grass playing several songs and going through their field show. As I watched and listened, I noticed that in the band there were kids who also golf, play football, run cross-country, play JH baseball and softball, swim and play high school volleyball. Not only are they involved in a school sport that takes up personal time - they are putting in even more time preparing for marching band. I appreciate the fact that these kids are finding more than one way to get involved and more than one way to represent Athens High School. Have a great day!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Picture Packets/Yearbooks

FYI parents: HS picture packets will be passed out Thursday during study hall. Look for these at home in the next few days. All students will be photographed for a free student I.D. card. Picture day will be September 23rd.

Last year's yearbooks will also be distributed tomorrow. The yearbooks will given out during lunch. There may be an extra copy if someone decides they want one - but did not order one.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

A Great Week for Warrior Spirit!

Last week was filled with great examples of Warrior pride and enthusiasm. The volleyball team gave us an exciting battle with rival Illini Central. The Lady Warriors dispatched IC in two fast-paced and action-filled games. The student section and the parent sections were rocking and rolling with the action. The JV FB team won a tight game in OT against Pawnee. The CC team also had a good week.
On Friday, the cheerleaders put together an amazing Pep Assembly. Coach Mayfield and the girls refreshed our student-body on the words to the school song in a sing-a-long. The cheerleaders had large cut-outs of the lyrics held end-to-end. Nate Pierce was recruited to play the part of the" old bouncing ball over the words," from shows like Sesame Street. As Nate bounced from word to word, the students recited the words in unison. 98% of the students (roughly 330) stood and sang the school fight song. It was quite impressive. The assembly ended with the popular class cheer contest and all 4 grades gave it their best. It was a great way to end the school week and kick-off a home football Friday night.
The football team provided all of us with a great victory over a nearby rival. The Warriors defeated the visiting Cardinals of Pleasant Plains by a touchdown. James' hard-nosed, up the gut runs combined with Sean's 4 touchdowns made for some good ol' smash-mouth football. David's key runs on 4th down, Brandon's decision-making and a couple of key fumble recoveries all played key roles in the victory. Looking at other conference scores, it looks like there will be a lot of parity in the SANGAMO this year. Coach Knox and the rest of the staff were sure to enjoy the victory, but I'll bet they wasted no time in starting their preparation for Riverton. The Hawks travel to Athens this coming Friday. Hopefully, I will have another great week to report on. Have a great week!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

It is Starting Today

Today marks the official 1st day of school for administrators and teachers. Over the next two days we will be preparing for the students to return. I have had plenty of visits from students this week who "can't believe school is starting," yet they have already been in to walk around ask about their lockers, schedules and new teachers. We will get the show started on Friday and hit it for real on Monday! This is the best time of the year.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

3 Days and Counting!
We are getting very close to a very special day for parents, students and principals. Graduation is this Saturday and I couldn't be happier. Not because kids will be leaving, but because they should be leaving. Our job is provide necessary skills and character traits that will serve our graduates well in the future. I feel we do that at AHS. I tell the kids that leaving after 4 years is "expected and is considered a success by this principal." So, while I have greatly enjoyed these seniors - it is time for them to go out and make new challenges for themselves. They will be missed, yet they have to go - because that means we (both the students and staff) were successful.

Senior Week 2010

This past week was the Annual Senior Week at A.H.S. Our seniors get a week of special treatment as a reward for their 4 years at A.H.S. Monday, they were fed breakfast or allowed to sleep-in for an hour. Mrs. Slager and other staff cooked pancakes, bacon, etc. Tuesday, the students dressed in their caps and gowns and took graduation group photos and individual cap and gown photos. Also, they took the annual senior group picture for the yearbook. This year, they parked several trucks in front of the football field and they all climbed in the back of the trucks. Wednesday, they had two hours off in the middle of the day for a massive dodgeball game and then went outside for a giant kickball game. Thursday was my favorite day. Thursday, we took 47 of the seniors to a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium. The weather cooperated enough for us to have a good time as we watched the Cards defeat the Marlins 4-2. It was a great week for a great bunch of seniors.

FFA BANQUET - SUNDAY
This evening at CIS the FFA held its end of the year banquet. At the banquet the group thanks supporters, recognizes members, hands out awards and awards the Ingram and Frank Memorial Scholarships. New officers are also installed for next year. The kids, Mr. Brown and Mr. Butler put on another great evening. The food and the company were excellent. Our FFA Chapter is one of the most active and most decorated in the area. We had more 1st place finishes in CDE contest than any other area chapter. Their service to the community and the school are very much appreciated.

ATHENS GIRLS STATE-BOUND!!

Congrats to the Athens Lady Warrior Track Team as they send 5 girls to State: Kelsey, Holly, Kristen, Lauren, & Madeline will represent us at the State Tournament. Coach Gastorf has a tremendous group of sprinters this year.

A NIGHT OF MUSIC:
Tonight was the HS/JHS band and chorus concert. After coaching my daughter's softball practice I went to the event which was held @ CIS. The JH band sounded great! I especially liked the Buddy Holly tune. The chorus and show choir each performed nicely. The JH jazz band rocked a little Freebird for everyone. The HS band did 3 pieces including Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music, and one other. A surprise treat came from Mr. Ernst, Ian Turner and Wil Myers playing Pat Benetar's "Heart Breaker" while seniors -Amy Heikes and Tasha Bryant belted out the lyrics. Congratulations to Tasha, Dana, Amy and Lindi for the awards they earned tonight. Thanks to the teachers, students, boosters and parents for a great evening.

After the meet and greet and a few pictures, just when we were feeling like it was time to leave........Mr. White offered us cake. This was an impromptu gesture that led to another 30 minutes of "visiting" with the Secretary. At this point he offered us coffee and even poured a cup for Ally's mother and I. He then signed a few posters and books. He began to tell stories and visit with everyone. It was obvious that this was off the script. He seemed to really enjoy the students and their families. There were more pictures and stories. He even asked where the "Head Master" was for a second picture:) He was quite the host. His desire to spend extra time with the students and families did not go unnoticed. A man with his schedule - taking that time was remarkable. He ended the day by saying that "all we expect from you (the students) is your best!" What a great afternoon for all in attendance.

CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT Cont..

Well, the ceremony was very nice. The three winners each read their letter to the Secretary. The youngest, Carra (5th grade) wrote about how a book helped her overcome her fears at gymnastics camp. it wasn't just any camp - she was one of a few who spent the summer at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY. The middle school winner, Jana (8th grade) wrote about a book that opened her eyes to the negative powers of rumors and "mean-talk.". I believe the book was called 13 reasons. Ally's letter was about a book in which a girl deals with early struggles that mirror similar issues in Ally's youth. It was quite the personal narrative. After the readings, there was a meet and greet and a few pictures with the Secretary. He was very polite and genuine. As we started to think it was time to leave........there was more to come.....

Celebrating Achievement!
I am currently at the Illinois State Capitol awaiting the Secretary of State, Mr. Jesse White. I am here to be part of the ceremony to recognize the 3 winners of the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library - Letters About Literature Contest. Our own senior, Allyssa Brown won the level 3 division - being selected from over 6300 entries. Myself, Ally's parents, brother and friends (Jenny and Abby) will soon spend a few minutes with Mr. White. This is a great accomplishment for Ally! This is another example of the good things going on at Athens HS.

I am now able to blog from my phone about school related activities. I am hoping that this will lead to more current and more frequent posts.

The Changing Face of Educational Technology

I am currently on break from an online workshop for school administrators. The topic is technology in education. Of course, this is a major source of interest for me. I believe that the influence of technology in education will grow dramatically in the near future. Schools are places where new technologies can be used to increase student engagement. The issues that we have to overcome are fear of the new technologies and the resistance to use and support such technologies. Many of these technologies can be used to create and design. Creating and designing are skills that our kids will need along with the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. There are schools out there embracing these technologies and using them to enhance instruction, collaboration, and communication. I would hope that by the time my tenure as ended at Athens High School, we have become one of those schools

My Return to 1st Grade

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to read to a group of 1st graders. Mrs. Roemer was kind enough to ask if I would read to her class during Dr. Seuss Week. Of course, I accepted the offer. I would never pass up an opportunity to mingle with the students at C.E.S. My daughter is in second grade and I have coached basketball, softball and soccer teams for the past three years that many of these students have played on. My favorite part about walking the halls of C.E.S. is hearing someone say "Hi, Coach Curry." It is nice to know that you have had a small part in the development, whether it be academically, athletically, or socially, of many students at that level. Anyway, back to the story of Thursday. My day was as hectic as ever. I was scheduled to read at 1:30pm. I was kept busy by a few visitors - until 1:15pm. As I hurried to my vehicle, I couldn't find my keys??? I realized, when I tried to get into the vehicle, exactly where they were......locked inside. With little time to spare, I ran back into the building, found Coach Jay Heriford, got his keys and drove his truck to Cantrall. I arrived right at 1:30pm. Mrs. Roemer, the quick-thinker she is, had used the time for bathroom breaks. As the kids began coming back in the classroom, I realized that this group included my neighbor, Rachel, and several other kids I had coached over the past three years. I took my seat in the chair on the reading rug. The students all gathered around and asked 8 million questions about 8 million different topics! :) After answering all the questions posed, I introduced my favorite beginning reader book - I Will Teach My Dog 100 Words. This has been my favorite ever since I first read it to my children. If you have never read it and have a reason to read this level of book, I highly recommend it. I also read Go Dog Go!. Both of these books are from the same genre as Dr. Seuss. The kids were very attentive, considering I was taking up part of their recess time:) They were great active listeners during the 1st book. For Go Dog Go!, they would finish each page for me (in unison) - they must have all read that one before. After each book, I answered a few questions. When I finished the second book, I received numerous high-fives and hugs and then they all ran off to line-up for recess. They thanked me as they bounced around in line waiting for Mrs. Roemer to OK their departure for recess. In the end, it was a great ending to the day. I want to thank Mrs, Roemer for the opportunity. I should also thank Coach Heriford for the keys to his truck! Of course, because I was already in the building, I did take the opportunity to poke my head into the computer class to say "hi" to my favorite Cantrall Elementary Student - Emma Curry.

Access To Technology

It is not a secret that not all students have equal access to technology use at home. The reasons for this are many. Cost, location, and individual family beliefs are just a few. I have found that each of these restraints there are possible remedies that are affordable (which I understand is a term that is relative to each instance) and practical.

Allow me to address the cost issue. There are still many without a computer at home or with an out of date machine at home. Even many those who have a computer do not pay the extra money for Microsoft Office. A low-cost option for purchasing a computer would be a netbook. Check out http://www.netbooks.com/ for information on netbooks. Netbooks are smaller machines without optical drives (CD/DVD). These netbooks have little actual “onboard” memory when compared to laptops. The need for the memory can be alleviated by using thumb/flash drives or online storage areas. Netbooks run from $250-$400 dollars and are extremely portable and usually have excellent battery life. In addition, often these netbooks come with video cameras built in.

The lack of Microsoft Office can be solved in a few ways. The school uses Office 2007. If a student does not have the newest the version of Office, they can save work from school as a 1997-2003 Word/PowerPoint document. This will allow their machines, with older version of Office, at home to open projects and assignments from school. This function is accessible via the File-Save As function. If a student does not have access to Office at home then two free Office Suites are available for download that can then be loaded on to your personal machine and provide compatibility with MS office. These are fully functional Office Suites that can replace MSOffice. They are OpenOffice @ www.openoffice.org and Lotus Symphony @ http://symphony.lotus.com/software/lotus/symphony/home.nsf/home . Both of these are installed on the computer and will take up memory – like MSOffice would. Other options, if the Internet is reliable, are Google Docs @ www.google.com and ZOHO at www.zoho.com . These programs are absolutely free. They are very compatible with MSOffice and almost all other file types. These two allow you to create, edit, and store your documents/presentations on the web – no memory needed. This makes them great tools for a netbook. These also allow for real-time collaboration or in simple terms: two or three or more kids can work on the same project at the same time in totally different locations. All of your documents can be reached via the Internet or downloaded as an MSOffice file (or any other) if needed. Google Docs and ZOHO offer several other services for free as well. Take a few minutes to visit these sites to see what each of them can do. They do require “joining” or signing-up. I have used Google Docs for 3 years and ZOHO for a few months and they are excellent tools. ZOHO is more compatible with MSOffice 2007 at the moment. Also, they both offer free email services.

Location can be a problem when it comes to accessing the internet. I live in an area where our only real choice is satellite. Others have dial-up. Others have no internet. The cure for no internet is to go to where the internet is: The Athens Public Library, the school, a WiFi hotspot, or a friend’s house. If you have a netbook – you can easily carry it with you. If not, use a library, school computer, or a friends and save your work to Google Docs or ZOHO.com and it will be accessible the next time you are on ANY computer.

Of course, cell phones are now almost as powerful and useful for personal computing as a laptop or netbook. I can easily create a document on my cell phone, email it and access it later from my computer. Cellular Internet is common today as well.

Lastly, I have no answer for the student whose family does not think that they are ready for the internet or does not want the in-home distractions of today’s technologies (and they can be real distraction). This is an issue that individual families must tackle.

I hope this blog has provided some useful technology information. Of course, if you are reading this – you have access to the internet. If you have friends or student has friends who struggle with any of these issues – please share this info with them. Also, I invite you to have your student take the survey on my Principal’s Page regarding home technology use. The information will provide clues to how to better serve our students’ technology needs.

Have a great week!

Mike

30 YEARS IN THE MAKING

WARNING: THIS HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH LIFE AT AHS & MORE ABOUT LIFE IN THE CURRY HOUSE EVERY 4 YEARS:)
It is Sunday night and I have just finished watching the United States vs. Canada Olympic Men’s Hockey game. What an game - what an event! The USA won 5-3. Now, I am an on-again, off-again NHL fan, but the Olympics are a must for me. As I watched the game with my son, I realized it was 30 years ago that the United States defeated the Mighty Russian Team at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. I was 10 years old at the time and playing hockey myself in Champaign. I understood the athletic accomplishment of that great game and some of the the political shockwaves that accompanied it. I can still see Jim Craig draped in the US Flag skating around the ice. The team went on to win the Gold Medal in their next game. Tonight, on the edge of my seat (literally:) - my wife thinks I am crazy), I watched the game with my 10 year old son and tried to explain the significance of defeating Canada at “their’ game in “their” house. I explained that 8 years ago the Canadians defeated the US in “our” house – Salt Lake City. As the commentators talked about the 1980 Miracle on Ice, I tried to explain the impact of that victory. I found myself talking and thinking about terms we do not often use anymore: “Iron Curtain,” CCCP, The Soviet Union, Cold War, and communism. If you are under 30, you may have not used those words ever. I also tossed out names of athletes that my son had never heard of: Mike Eruzione, Mark Christian, Ken Morrow, Jim Craig, Herb Brooks, Vladislav Tretiak, Fetisov, Markarov, and Viktor Tikhonov. Oh! How we get older each day:( If you watched the 1980 game you know that Al Michaels had a great call at the end of that game: He and Ken Dryden started a countdown and then Al screamed out......“Do you believe in miracles?” Tonight’s victory may not have a been a miracle, but it was an exciting and unpredicted upset of the team from the country that “invented the sport of hockey.” I guess the reason I am rambling about tonight’s game is that even as things change (and they have since 1980) some things stay the same – like the pride and excitement of watching “our” team pull an incredible upset of another country’s team in front of the whole world. I hope that this 2010 US team can make run at the Gold Medal, and I hope that 28 years from now I can watch another great US victory over Canada or Russia with my grandchildren! Of course, they will have no idea what I am talking about either:) If you have not watched any of the 2010 Winter Olympics – you are missing a great event! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!
HERE IS A GREAT LINK TO PHOTOS FROM SUNDAY'S UPSET WIN:
http://www.nbcolympics.com/photos/galleryid=435776.html#day+united+states+canada
AND IF YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT - GO TO:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_on_Ice

"Take a Hike"

On Thursday January 28th I went hiking with the Biology Club and Mr. Trueblood to Starved Rock State Park near Oglesby, IL. It has been a while since I have taken a two-hour bus ride with 40 freshmen and sophomores. The weather was cold – the wind burn on my face for 12 hours would have proven that. Along the way, Mr. Trueblood spotted bald eagles on several occasions. The students were able to see frozen waterfalls and water ways. They climbed up and down steep stairways leading into deep trenches and onto cliffs. They were great during the entire trip. I had a great time walking and chatting with different groups of students at different times. I have wanted to take this trip for the past two years and finally was able to do so. Several students struggled on a few of the slippery trails. In the end, I did not fall – not even once – there were many slips and close calls – but no actual falls. I can’t say the same for all of the students. We were even joined on the hike by Mark Oller, the bus driver. I think this is a trip I will make again next year.

Happenings at AHS this Month

It has been a few weeks since my last post – I apologize. I wanted to talk about what our students have been up to lately. The students at AHS have become involved in many charitable endeavors over the past few weeks. Two senior girls have spearheaded a Relay For Life movement at the HS. They have spread information, organized a Purple-Themed Week, and began the process of signing up teams for the Relay that will be held at the Athens High School Sports Complex in the summer. The Girls Basketball Team had a Breast Cancer Awareness Night. They sold t-shirts and encouraged everyone to wear pink. Also, they made a donation to the American Cancer Society. To top off the event, the girls wore pink AHS uniforms in the game on the Breast Cancer Awareness Night. Coach Heriford and the girls should be commended for their efforts. Our Leadership Committee used the recent Mega-Basketball Day to raise money for the Haitian Earthquake Relief Effort. The group raised $300.00 for the cause. “Thank you” to all who donated or participated in the Rainbow Shot on Saturday. Student Council took an opportunity to turn the mega-Basketball Night into a week-long event. They sponsored a Spirit Week. Activities included: Class-Colors day, Predator or Prey day, favorite Sports Team day, and Green and White day. They also had a Pep Assembly on Friday. Mega-Basketball Night was a success on all fronts except the score board. The evening featured four games. The JV girls started the evening at 3:00pm. The girls lost a close one to MWC. The JV boys played at 4:30 and narrowly escaped with a 3-point win over MWC. The varsity girls were next. Unfortunately, things did not go their way. The night ended with an exciting boys varsity match that came down to two free-throws with .8 seconds left. MWC was able to sink both and escape with a two-point victory. The Poms Squad performed two dances as well. The crowd was large and enjoyed a fine evening of basketball. Mr. Jamerson should be commended for yet another successful home athletic event. As you can see, our students continue to be active in academics, athletics and other great activities.

Top : Girls' Pink Uniforms

Middle: Fan Support for the effort

Bottom: Relay for Life "Purple Day" participants

The Long Lay-off is Over!

It has been a long time since I last posted a blog. Life is busy for everyone and my life is no exception. Since the NHS Induction Ceremony, I talked about in October...October, I know, I know...There have been many happenings at Athens High School:

Academically, all grades have received either the PLAN or a Practice ACT test. First Quarter Honor Roll was announced. Second Quarter will be coming soon. Final Exams went smoothly.

Athletically, The Volleyball team advanced to the Regional Finals before falling to AC Central. AHS hosted the Warrior Classic Boys Basketball Tournament at Thanksgiving. The Girls participated in the Riverton Holiday Tournament and the Boys had a nice run to the Consolation Finals in storied Waverly Holiday Tournament.

Musically, several students auditioned for and made All-district and All-state teams. The JH/HS Music Concert was a success as was the "cookie-walk."

Clubs and organizations, TMD worked with the youth at CIS. We have a group currently working for the Relay for Life foundation. Leadership Committee has worked for the food pantry.

We have celebrated the accomplishments of several Students of the Month and Spotlight Students. Both groups can be found on our website. The Leadership Committee has recognized two teachers as an Employee of the Month.

I know that I have missed many things...... I plan to try and set aside some time weekly and continue to blog about the great things that happen here every day.

Copied from October

National Honor Society Induction 2009-2010
Last night the Athens Chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 14 new members: 12 juniors and 2 seniors. The event was wonderful. The ceremony, minus a few candles that would not light, was fantastic. The best part was the socializing after the ceremony. Parents, students, and staff stood around and talked about the students and all the positives things that they are doing. It was time for pictures and laughter. It is a great opportunity that I have - to be involved in the lives of so many kids on a daily basis. Events like last night give me an opportunity to visit with the parents and share stories about their kids and learn a little about the families as well. Mrs. Swaney put on a great show. Thank you to Mrs. Anderson for her assistance with the music.