Time to Inspire

A few years ago our theme at Carver was Time to Shine. If you were in the bus room when I was speaking to our third and fourth graders about the upcoming MAP test that year, you will remember I told them it was their Time to Shine. It just came out. It wasn't anything I had planned to say, but that's how it became our theme for the next school year. That was also my favorite Carver shirt of all time. We've moved on to other themes since then (and other shirts), but I love that one so much I've kept the words up on Mrs. Perkin's window so everyone can see them when we enter the building. Although, it's always going to be a Time to Shine, it's now also a Time to Inspire. We must inspire our students, our parents, our community and each other.

I recently worked on an Emaze presentation for an upcoming Elementary Principal's meeting which will be held at Carver in a couple of weeks. After the last slide was created, I hit the view button to see the entire presentation.  INSPIRING. That was the word that came to mind immediately.  It's only been one semester of school and Carver students, families and staff have been a total inspiration to me and I hope many others.  Let me take a minute to brag on everyone associated with our building so you can all see what we've done to INSPIRE others this year.

Our staff should be an inspiration to anyone who has contact with them. They have a willingness and desire to participate in any activity I present to them. I asked them to participate in activities this year such as door decorating, Carver Cares Christmas Cookie Caravan, Mannequin Challenges, Veterans Day ( a group of Carver staff singers was added to the program this year) a Kindness Workshop and Worthwhile Wednesdays every week and they do it without hesitation.  Why? Because they want to INSPIRE and BE THE DIFFERENCE (that is our current theme). INSPIRING

Our students are just as impressive. They too have a desire to be the best they can be and they show this by participating in the new ideas they have been presented with this year such as our High Five Highways/Fist Bump Fridays, Carverville (it's not new, but it gets better and better each year), Leadership Helpers, Math Ninjas, Carver CATS news and more.  They stepped up when we raised money for Baby Logan and Shop With A Hero.  They answered the call to donate for the Food Basket Brigade and two classes went to visit and take gifts to Oak Pointe Assisted Living. They are currently writing acts of kindness they do throughout the day on the glass doors inside the front of the building so everyone can see how kind they are for kindness week. INSPIRING

So as we head into the second semester where often times, teachers feel overwhelmed and lose their energy, that's not the case here at Carver.  We are as excited and eager as ever to try new ideas. Wednesday night will be our first ever Kindness Workshop and again, when I presented this idea to everyone, they were all on board and their enthusiasm is contagious. Our hope is to inspire the kids and their families, the community, and ourselves. INSPIRING

As I close, I challenge everyone to reflect on who inspires you. For me, it's many people. My mom who worked 40 plus hours for over 40 years in factory work and never complained once. Dr. Mark Mitchell who saw something in a young, naive teacher, and convinced her, by his example, that she could make a difference in kids' lives as an administrator.  Alma Stipp who made me strive each and every day to be the best administrator I could be by trying to emulate what I saw in her. Too many teachers and staff  to mention who I get to work with every day who put in countless hours to make the educational journey exciting for our kids' from 7:30 to 3:30. Many who are on our current administrative team who have taught me stepping outside of my comfort zone is actually fun. I hope that I have done my part to inspire others as well. I received a message from a teacher shortly after I began writing this particular blog that said, "You have really been inspiring with your blog and Worthwhile Wednesdays." I took that as a sign I was on the right track. INSPIRING