Welcome back! We are now officially on the home stretch of our school year. This is the fourth quarter and you still have time to finish strong and to feel good about your school year.
Yesterday was Memorial Day in the United States. It’s the day when we remember, honor and thank the service men and women who have given their lives to preserve our way of life.
On December 13, 2002, an eighth grade student at Churchville-Chili Middle School, Brian Scipioni, died unexpectedly of meningitis. I was asked to prepare and read to an emergency staff meeting, and minutes later to the school community, a message of condolence and hope. The message I put together began a nearly nine year record of twice-weekly “Words of Wisdom,” which I wrote and delivered to our school community. Many of my messages are assembled on this website as well
Today is the first day of February which means it’s the first day of Black History Month. It began in 1976 to commemorate the achievements of African-Americans down through history, but it also provides a door which can open between the races, to begin the dialogue on what unites all of us and what provides our unique heritages.
A news item in the Democrat and Chronicle might have slipped your attention last week. It had to do with a reenactment of the funeral of Susan B. Anthony.
Do you remember the game where a message is whispered to one person who then whispers it to another and on down the line until it comes to the last person? I learned that game with the name telephone.
I talked about second chances on Friday, how life is full of second chances, we just have to be willing to look for them. I saw real live evidence of that over the weekend.
One of my favorite sources for thought starters is Fred Rogers. His little book, “The World According to Mr. Rogers,” is a real gem. Here’s what Mr. Rogers has to say about being strong:
I was listening to the radio the other night and I heard the song, “Tin Man,” by America. There is a lyric in that song that says, “Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man that he didn’t already have.”
I was listening to a song the other day that first became popular when I was a junior in high school. It was written by Peter Yarrow, one of the trio of Peter, Paul and Mary. The song has become a classic. It’s called, “Puff the Magic Dragon.”
