205 Words

How would you capture your life in 205 words?

This weekend's CBS Sunday Morning Show had a segment on obituaries and the people that write them for newspapers.  There was an emotional piece on 9/11 and the obits that the NY Times staff wrote for the few thousand people that died in the Twin Towers that horrifying day. 

The writers that chronicle death for the Times only have a precious 205 words to articulate the life of these people in the newspaper.  One would presume due to economic and space limitations.

Could it be Halloween that provoked me to choose this topic for my blog this week?

Could it be the recent 73rd birthday of my father?

Could it be my impending birthday which brings me one year closer to middle age?

Do you think about your mortality?  How often do you think of the faith, hope and love that you have given, shared and received in your life?

Do you struggle at times to discern if your career defines you more than what you have done for and with your family and friends?

My response is yes to all of the above.  How about you?

I will leave you with scripture from 1 Corinthians 13.


If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Thank you for reading.  Looking forward to your comments.  Our "Parenting and Technology" session is this Tuesday at 10 am at CtK.  Please check-in at the main office.  All parents are welcome.

Boys are falling behind!

Boys' grade averages are below their female counteparts in secondary school.

Young men are more likely to drop out of secondary school and less likely to graduate university than young women.

Men are now outnumbered in most professional programs including law and medicine.

The average Canadian university campus is 58 per cent female.

Boys are unmotivated and have been brought up in the most recent generation to support their female counterparts.

These are some of the findings cited in a Maclean's article last week. 

As educators, we have been aware of the physiological and emotional differences between male and females.  Females mature physically and emotionally faster than boys and are better able to focus on assigned tasks.  This article corroborates this by citing a recent brain development study.  In short, the brain of a five-year-old boy is roughly equivalent to that of a 31/2-year-old girl.  Hence, girls start school with a very significant academic advantage.  The rest is history!

Our School Improvement Plan has specific goals and strategies that address understanding and identifying the learning styles of boys prior to instruction, implementing differentiated learning, graphic novels and esteem building activities for example. 

Are boys disinterested due to how they have been raised?  Are girls dominating due to physiology and a nurtured sense from their mothers who had to endure and fight decades of discrimination?  Are elementary and secondary schools to blame for feminizing the curriculum to promote girls and keep boys from being discipline problems?

Here is the Maclean's article.

http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2010/10/18/are-we-raising-our-boys-to-be-underachieving-men/

Thanks for reading!  Looking forward to your comments.  Parent/Teacher Interviews are this Thursday, October 28th from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. 

21st Century Learning

I was at a 21st Century Learning Conference in Chicago last week.  It was very informative, interesting and daunting quite frankly.

I have the utmost confidence that the education we deliver in our Catholic Learning Community is comprehensive and faith based.  Our wonderful and dedicated teachers by in large deliver the curriculum in an engaging manner that is differentiated to meet the varied needs of our students.  Guided by our gospel values, students crictically, creatively and ethically synthesize information in a collaborative learning environment.

Yes....CtK has many smartboards, several computer labs, wireless technology, multi-media projectors, laptops and interactive clickers.  Yes....our staff uses class portals, wikis, blogs and many different websites to augment the delivery of their instruction.  In fact, this blog is the only one of its kind in our board by an administrator!

That said, this conference confirmed what I already knew.....that schools across this province fall short preparing our students for the 21st Century. Given that we are already ten years into this century, we have some catching up to do.

What does a 21st Century Learning school look like?  Feel free to go to the link below and view a number of such secondary schools in the US.

http://www.bobpearlman.org/Learning21/21stcenturyschools.htm

Thanks for reading.  Looking forward to your comments.

Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center

I was at the United Center this past Saturday where I watched the Detroit Red Wings defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2.  The highlight of the evening took place before the game.  Specifically, the raising of the 2010 Stanley Cup banner in recognition of the Blackhawk's Stanley Cup victory during the 2009-2010 NHL season.  The multimedia pomp and circumstance was impressive.  The ritual of passing the banner from the hockey greats of 1961 who last won the Stanley Cup for Chicago to the players that were on last year's squad was mesmerizing.  However, the pinnacle took place when everyone joined the vocalist and organist in singing the American national anthem.

Say what you want about our friends south of the border.  As a Canadian, I was brought to tears from the baritone vocalist who sang with precision in a big, broad and resonating voice while the Blackhawk fans roared.  You could literally feel the sound waves pass through your body.

Americans faithfully believe in their country and in what the Star Spangled Banner represents. It reinforced my place as a Catholic educator.  Despite the trials and tribulations of Catholic education, I must remain resolute in my dedication to it because of our faith and what it represents to our students. 

The emotional reminder provided by the Americans was timely as we approach Thanksgiving. I give thanks for a wonderful family, outstanding teaching and support staff and a Catholic Learning Community that provides faith, guidance, inspiration and motivation to our students.

Thanks for reading.  Progress Reports will be distributed on the 14th.  Looking forward to your comments.

World Teachers' Day!

Tuesday, October 5th is World Teachers' Day!

Below is an excerpt of what I sent to our staff via email Sunday afternoon.

In recognition of this upcoming World Teachers’ Day, I would just like to thank you for your “level 4” work on a daily basis. Our admin. team could not ask for a better teaching staff.  Your dedication, creativity, thirst for professional learning, collegiality, and leadership has been inspiring to me.

Your consistent care and compassion to our disenfranchised students truly speaks to  Matthew 25:40  - And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

 As the Principal of CtK, I am very proud of you and the Catholic Learning Community that we continue to nourish by “Doing it Right!”


Please take the time to thank our teaching staff when you get the opportunity.....perhaps through this blog.  They are wonderful people who have truly dedicated their efforts to meeting the needs of your children. 

Looking forward to your comments.  Hope to see you this Tuesday from 10 to 11 am for our first Parent Engagement session called "Helping Your Teen Succeed in High School."  Please sign in at the main office.