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

Final Exams?????

This evening, the subject of final exams was discussed by a group of people that were curious why we give them. There are any number of reasons for giving and not giving final exams at the high school level. There are those who feel that they prepare you for college. There are those who feel that finals are the true indicator of what you learned from a course. On the other hand, there are those who feel that the only purpose they serve is to lower grades at the end of the year. Other schools do not mandate finals. Why do we? Why can't seniors be excused? The list of questions and opinions that were shared tonight goes on and on. In February, we will create a small team of students, teachers, and administrators to discuss the topic of final exams at Athens High School. Until then, I would like to hear your feelings regarding final exams. Why should we continue mandating them or why should we modify or discontinue them? BTW - Good luck on your finals this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Winter Is Here!

We all know that winter driving conditions can be dangerous. The problem with winter driving is that we often feel rushed, just like during warmer weather, and we forget to give ourselves extra time. The weather in central Illinois is unpredictable! Today was the first real taste of winter conditions that we have experienced thus far, and there were several cars in the ditches by 8:30am. The blacktop, Route 29, the Post Road, and the numerous country roads that our students, parents, and employees drive everyday are prone to poor conditions. It is easy to say "remember to give yourselves extra time each morning." In reality, it is difficult to get everyone out the door on time every day. I have two grade school children and every morning is a different adventure. With this in mind, I plan to give my family a little extra time each morning to make it out the door. I hope you will all do the same. Drive safely and enjoy the upcoming holiday season.