Homecoming Week

We are at that time of the school year when Homecoming activities dominate our daily activities at school.  The kids come to school dressed according to the theme of the day and the teachers take the opportunity to let their hair down and be a little goofy while everyone prepares for the assemblies, parades, sporting events, and dance.  One lucky couple will join a legacy of royalty while others join the court or just enjoy loud music and bouncing around a tarp covered hardwood floor. These events, while distracting as hell, form a connection between the student body and the classroom learning that takes place every week but homecoming week.  During this week I tend to notice the kids that are disconnected from the hoopla of the homecoming.  For whatever reason, they choose to not participate in any of the themed days, dances or attend any of the events associated with homecoming.  I 'm not sure I understand their decisions or their lack of participation.  I really think it's more than just a matter of being too cool.  It is a symptom of disengagement.  The question we need to ask is this: If homecoming type activities are the things that engage and create ownership for our kids in school  what happens to the kids that choose not to play or participate.  When I was in school everyone attended the homecoming dance and even more attended the game.  Today we will have about 2/3 of the student body attend the dance and even less attend the game.  Does this mean that 1/3 of the kids are not taking ownership in the school?  If there is no ownership in the school is there ownership into their own education?  I think that homecomings are more important to education than most people realize.  Perhaps the meaning has changed from the traditional return to our Alma mater.  Perhaps homecoming today is more important in terms of creating a "home" for those disengaged learners.  It is an attempt to get buy-in from our students.  I think a measure of engagement in the classroom could be the level of participation in homecoming activities.  What are the new homecomings for the future.  What are the activities that gain access to the minds of the students of tomorrow?

Thoughts on Professional Development

9-28-10     Our most effective professional development activities have been gleaned from our staff needs survey, presented by experienced competent staff, and are activities that directly impact student learning and classroom instruction.  This is not to overstate the obvious, but too much emphasis is sometimes placed on outside experts that bring the flavor of the month in to a school with all the answers to the problem of the week.  We take the evaluations at the conclusion of PD activities seriously and attempt to modify and correct problems that are identified.  At times, teacher needs and district necessities require a balancing act to make everything work.  We have managed to strike that balance in a positive productive way.  Food always helps and refreshments are a necessity.  We are currently partnering with Living Well Village, a local camp that focuses on healthy living, to conduct a school wide service-learning project.  Some of our professional development time has been utilized to identify opportunities to expand the walls of our school into the community and specifically into the Living Well Village.  Teacher leaders are wax that holds this whole endeavor together.  We have some tremendous teacher leaders.  I have a fantastic staff and my assistant principals have formed a team that seems to address most of our needs.  Of course that is the basis for every successful organization, that is, clearly focused professionals working towards a common goal.