Even with all we know about teens and alcohol, there are still plenty of parents out there who struggle with whether or not they should serve alcohol at their child's graduation party. I can't tell you how many times I've heard parents say that their kids are going to drink anyway, and they would rather have them drink at home than out in a car somewhere. Oh, really?? I know plenty of teens who don't drink and don't want to hang out with kids who do. I guess if you believe your child is going to drink no matter what, then he probably will. But there's nothing wrong with expecting that your child will NOT drink until he's of legal age, if then! Furthermore, even if aforementioned argument is true for your child, what about other people's children? They won't be drinking at home, they'll be drinking at your house. You sure you want that responsibility? And, of course, there's always the risk of being arrested for serving minors.
Think of it this way....kids don't need alcohol to have a good time. That's an adult thing. The adults might be bored at a kid's graduation party without the booze, but so what? The party's not for them, it's for the kids. The graduates will be deliriously happy regardless of the refreshments you serve. It should be a fabulous, stay-up-all-night laughing your head off with your friends for maybe the last time ever kind of event. And wouldn't you like them to do it without puking or dealing with a hangover the day after?
If you're trying to be the cool parent by letting them drink, you're way off base. Trust me, they won't think you're cool...they'll think you're pathetic.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Last Week for Seniors!
This is the last week of classes for seniors. They brought in the "Senior Sofa" today and they are finishing up the last of their course work. It's amazing how much they've grown in the last four years!
In order to participate in the Graduation ceremony:
ALL CLASS ASSIGNMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED BY MAY 19. NOTHING AFTER THE 19TH WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Check our End-of-Year Procedures below for more information.
SENIOR SCHEDULE
Seniors must complete the following requirements:
1. All class assignments and requirements must be completed by May 19. Except for exams. Nothing after the 19th will be accepted.
2. Outstanding debts and library fines must be paid on or before May 15th.
3. Lunch Accounts must be paid by Wednesday, May 8th.
4. Lockers must be cleaned.
5. All books and classroom materials must be returned.
6. All financial obligations must be reconciled.
7. Seniors may be exempted from final exams if they have a B or better and NO UNEXCUSED ABSENCES in that class during the second semester or at the discretion of each teacher.
8. A list of fines and unexcused seniors will be published by Friday, May 8th.
Seniors who have NOT met the above academic requirements will be required to take ALL EXAMS and follow above procedures before leaving. If you are required to take an exam and you don’t show up to take it, you will not receive credit for the class.
Monday, May 18 - Senior Exams during normal class hours
Tuesday, May 19 - Senior Exams during normal class hours
COMMENCEMENT PRACTICE
Seniors are REQUIRED to attend BOTH commencement practices. Working students are to make the necessary arrangements with employers to be present. Please be prompt!
Thursday, May 21 - 10:00 – 12:00 Commencement practice
Friday, May 22 - 10:00 –12:00 Commencement practice
Sunday, May 24 - 3:00 p.m. GRADUATION
*******REPORT TO THE AUDITORIUM AT 2:00 P.M.
COMMENCEMENT TICKETS
No commencement tickets will be issued. Ample seating on the main floor and bleachers will be available. If you need to make special arrangements for seating, please contact the high school office at 482-0450.
In order to participate in the Graduation ceremony:
ALL CLASS ASSIGNMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED BY MAY 19. NOTHING AFTER THE 19TH WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Check our End-of-Year Procedures below for more information.
SENIOR SCHEDULE
Seniors must complete the following requirements:
1. All class assignments and requirements must be completed by May 19. Except for exams. Nothing after the 19th will be accepted.
2. Outstanding debts and library fines must be paid on or before May 15th.
3. Lunch Accounts must be paid by Wednesday, May 8th.
4. Lockers must be cleaned.
5. All books and classroom materials must be returned.
6. All financial obligations must be reconciled.
7. Seniors may be exempted from final exams if they have a B or better and NO UNEXCUSED ABSENCES in that class during the second semester or at the discretion of each teacher.
8. A list of fines and unexcused seniors will be published by Friday, May 8th.
Seniors who have NOT met the above academic requirements will be required to take ALL EXAMS and follow above procedures before leaving. If you are required to take an exam and you don’t show up to take it, you will not receive credit for the class.
Monday, May 18 - Senior Exams during normal class hours
Tuesday, May 19 - Senior Exams during normal class hours
COMMENCEMENT PRACTICE
Seniors are REQUIRED to attend BOTH commencement practices. Working students are to make the necessary arrangements with employers to be present. Please be prompt!
Thursday, May 21 - 10:00 – 12:00 Commencement practice
Friday, May 22 - 10:00 –12:00 Commencement practice
Sunday, May 24 - 3:00 p.m. GRADUATION
*******REPORT TO THE AUDITORIUM AT 2:00 P.M.
COMMENCEMENT TICKETS
No commencement tickets will be issued. Ample seating on the main floor and bleachers will be available. If you need to make special arrangements for seating, please contact the high school office at 482-0450.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mother's Day
As Greg Mortenson said in Three Cups of Tea, "When you educate women, you change the world." Read to your children and your grandchildren!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Want to feel good today?
Just take a couple minutes to watch this. You'll end up smiling, I promise!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Teacher Appreciation Week
I'm not sure what the point of Teacher Appreciation Week is, or who thought it up and decided it would be this week. But this is a great time of year to thank a teacher because most of them are on the brink of losing their minds right about now! I can't think of another profession whose members are better educated, work as hard, or take as much crap as teaching. School administration runs a close second, but I won't get into that right now. The other day I was talking to a guy, who is a maximum security prison guard, about thankless jobs. He decided his wasn't as bad in that area as ours! And the amazing thing is that teachers LOVE what they do even when they're stressed to the breaking point half the time.
It's not a great time to be a public school educator in Michigan. Enrollment is down and we're funded according to enrollment, so needless to say, we're bleeding cash on a regular basis. As teachers retire and are not replaced, the remaining teachers are faced with larger class sizes. Many are being assigned to areas that they would rather not be assigned to and having to teach classes that they perhaps haven't taught in years or ever! That's one of the many lovely things NCLB has done for us. AND although there's no money for people or books, there's plenty of money for technology and it's coming whether we want/need it or not. So everybody better get with the 21st century and figure out what to do with it. Did I mention there's no money for technology training? Yeah, just the technology itself. Good luck everyone!
Here's an example of what teachers go through. I had been spending a lot of time with a particular student athlete who was in some trouble inside and outside of school. His mother wasn't happy with the fact that he was going to have to sit out a hockey game. In an e-mail to me she said that she wasn't through with me. That she was my master and I was her slave. I was offended at the time, but my years since have proven her to be correct. We ARE slaves to the public. As a teacher, you're in a classroom of 30 teenagers from 30 different homes, with 30 different levels of intelligence and maturity, and 30 different personalities; you have to teach them all the same content, make sure they all succeed, and do it in a way that pleases their parents. And you do it five times a day, five days a week, 36 weeks a year.
So, yeah, there definitely should be a Teacher Appreciation Week. If nothing else, we can appreciate each other!!
It's not a great time to be a public school educator in Michigan. Enrollment is down and we're funded according to enrollment, so needless to say, we're bleeding cash on a regular basis. As teachers retire and are not replaced, the remaining teachers are faced with larger class sizes. Many are being assigned to areas that they would rather not be assigned to and having to teach classes that they perhaps haven't taught in years or ever! That's one of the many lovely things NCLB has done for us. AND although there's no money for people or books, there's plenty of money for technology and it's coming whether we want/need it or not. So everybody better get with the 21st century and figure out what to do with it. Did I mention there's no money for technology training? Yeah, just the technology itself. Good luck everyone!
Here's an example of what teachers go through. I had been spending a lot of time with a particular student athlete who was in some trouble inside and outside of school. His mother wasn't happy with the fact that he was going to have to sit out a hockey game. In an e-mail to me she said that she wasn't through with me. That she was my master and I was her slave. I was offended at the time, but my years since have proven her to be correct. We ARE slaves to the public. As a teacher, you're in a classroom of 30 teenagers from 30 different homes, with 30 different levels of intelligence and maturity, and 30 different personalities; you have to teach them all the same content, make sure they all succeed, and do it in a way that pleases their parents. And you do it five times a day, five days a week, 36 weeks a year.
So, yeah, there definitely should be a Teacher Appreciation Week. If nothing else, we can appreciate each other!!
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