No Place for Hate

As many of you know, counselor Cari Land has been the force behind our new homeroom addition, Face Time.  Once per week, Face Time provides an opportunity for students and teacher to ponder a thought provoking question or to share out concerns or kudos.  A really awesome chance for kids to connect with each other, problem solve together, and to ultimately discover that we are all more alike than we sometimes realize.

What you may not know, is that Cari has also been working behind the scences for the last few months in helping our school become a No Place for Hate campus by the end of the year. Per the program's website, sponsored by the Anti Defamation League (ADL), No Place for Hate is "an anti-bullying, anti-bias awareness program currently in over 170 Central Texas schools helping to create and sustain inclusive school environments where all students feel valued and accepted despite individual differences".  Inclusivity and respect for others is not only a goal for HP, but the district as well.  I believe we are well on our way.

As part of efforts to reach the goal of becoming an official No Place for Hate school, this week our campus participated in daily activities highlighting positive and inclusive practices.  Monday through Friday, Mrs. Land, with the help of the campus Character Committee, implemented activities underscoring positive messages, both through student and staff actions, as well as through clothing that underscored each day's message.  So, Monday became "Mix It Up Monday" where students were encouraged to wear mis-matched clothing, but also encouraged to sit or play with someone new during the day.  Tuesday became "Turn It Around Tuesday", where we all wore shirts backwards to symbolize "backing away from bullying behaviors".  Each day had something unique, each day was fun, and each day saw more and more kids getting it.  A real positive week for all!  We wrapped up the week with Freestyle Friday with everyone (yes, even staff) wearing something that best expressed who we are as individuals. Cool.

Let's keep the positive and inclusive vibes going Scotties!  Awesome job everyone, most especially Mrs. Land. 

Margaret's Mix It Up Monday

Mrs. Land and Turn It Around Tuesday crew

 

Mix It Up Monday to
Turn It Around Tuesday to Way Back Wednesday to Thankful Thursday to Freestyle Friday - Scotties Rock! 

No Place for Hate is where it's at!

Many other cool happenings in our school this week as well.  Zach Scott's very first after school theater class began on Monday and I was able to catch the initial get to know you activity facilitated by teacher Rog Wall.  Kids seemed very excited to be there so looking forward to seeing this program grow! 

Who wants to act?

Ms. McDaniel and I had the honor of walking to Fluency Center co-coordinator Jeannine Ripp's lovely home early this morning to attend the parent fluency center volunteer "thank you for your service" breakfast.  Both she and compadre Maria Raper are passing the torch this year to Heidi Murphy and Leslie Donovan in all things fluency practice, so it was a special morning for us to thank these ladies for their amazing talents and time devoted to the program.  More good things ahead I have no doubt.

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!

Finally, I had the pleasure of attending the third Blanton Museum Art Central program today with two fourth grade classes.  On tap today was a discussion of museum careers, student freestyle sketching in the Go West exhibit space (very appropriate on the Freestyle Friday!), as well as some written analysis around individual paintings in another area of the museum.  I think the most thought provoking piece for my group was the Robert Wilson video portrait entitled Princess Caroline of Monaco, 2006.  Students, when prompted, thought the piece was "eerie", "like an epic tale...with some mystery about to unfold", and "kind of gloomy". Hmmm... Lots of good conversation brought to the fore by Blanton school and family program manager Jennifer Garner.  Any day at the Blanton is a good day and a good way for our kids to foster learning through art.

Gabby sketching Tom Lea's The Lead Steer