Finding Balancing--The Continuing Challenge!

Now that the frenzy and flurry of Christmas is settling down a bit, I can safely say that one of the discoveries of the season for me, is that as much as things change, they really don't! I was reminded of this on New Year's Eve when I was searching for a notebook in which I was planning to write my resolutions. It is the same notebook I use each year for this activity and when it was finally located, I was rather proud of myself...until I opened it! My unique resolution method is to define a project---above and beyond the day to day activities I always complete--for each month. There are always twelve initiatives that I plan to do during the year that often have to do with the long term goals I have. Some of them remain from year to year--lose weight, be healthier, pray more often. Others have to do with my use of time--read at least twelve books, clean out the upstairs closets, play the piano on a regular basis. This year when I opened the book and saw last year's list, I was disappointed to see that I had not accomplished a single long term initiative from last year. Since all were worthy goals that I would still like to accomplish, I changed the date on the top of the page and returned to my television to watch the ball drop to signal the beginning of 2012.
The more I thought about this situation, though, the more I realized it was all about finding balance in life between the nitty-gritty pace of everyday and the bigger goals we all would like to accomplish. For me, the day to day, took over last year and the bigger issues were neglected. I began to defend myself in my own mind--It is so busy each day, most of the tasks that I do are important, etc. The bottom line is that if we do not keep one eye and at least some energy on those bigger issues, we will miss the mark of reaching for (and maybe even accomplishing) some of the high impact, global goals that we value.
I think that the same is true of life and goals at school. The language may be different as we discuss strategic planning and curriculum initiatives as opposed to resolutions, but the outcome is the same. If we do not find ways to incorporate steps toward those bigger, long term initiatives into the work that we do each day, we will miss many opportunities.
Here is one example---At Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, the faculty and staff often discuss how to use the technology tools of today to support learning for students. We see even the youngest of our children playing Angry Birds on their parents' I-phones as they wait in restaurants or in grocery lines. Surely, technology is embedded already in these little lives! The question that remains, however, is what is the best way to incorporate new technology into the curriculum so that we can get beyond the bells and whistles to real learning? Doing our homework so that we are sure our school facilities and infrastructure can support the hardware is an important first step. Focusing on where and when to use the technology in the curriculum is a next step--Where can we get the biggest bang for the big bucks that new technology costs? Finally, are we sure that our teachers have the professional development to use the tools effectively?
I am tremendously excited about how we responded to these challenges at our school! This month we are launching a tablet pilot program at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School. With the help of a partnership with Verizon, we have updated our infra-stucture, purchased a classroom set of Droid tablets, and trained the teachers at all levels in our science department to use them. The applications for the tablets are tremendous--everything from the virtual dissection of frogs to an astronomy application which is literally out of this world! During the next semester, our students across the grades will have the opportunity to use the tablets for something much greater than games. They will be able to stretch their learning and their imaginations with the assistance of new technology and under the guidance of trained faculty. I cannot wait to observe the learning that takes place.
My point, going back to balancing, is that the global initiatives--the educational dreams--we have must be integrated into the small steps of every day so that these bigger goals can be accomplished. Putting our educational resolutions on hold until we "get to them" after our day to day issues are complete, will not work. We will be left looking at our list of dreams without any accomplished as I did on New Year's Eve. Balancing the day to day with the dreams we have for tomorrow must be at the top or all of our resolutions lists!
So, at school, we will begin with the tablet pilot program which will grow to include teaching our children in new and wonderful ways. As time passes, there will be more tablets, more students using them, and applications which will dazzle and delight. At home, there will be more reading and piano playing so that next year, I can generate a truly new list of dreams to accomplish! Good luck keeping your resolutions and working toward your dreams,too! May we learn to balance all the goals we have--big and small!

Glimpses of Joy!

Today I experienced some glimpses of what "joy" looks like. I attended two Christmas Concerts at our school. One of them was for the Upper School students--grades 6-12. The second was for the Lower School students--grades K-5. As you can imagine, there were singing groups and soloists of all ages. There were five year olds with jingle bells and some older more accomlished musicians playing in our newly created instrumental groups which include strings. Some of the faculty participated as well. The music teachers shared their flute and piano talents and wonderful role modeling was evident in the cello solo played beautifully by the high school chemistry teacher. The lesson, of course, is that music touches a deep core within all of us--no matter what our other talents and interests.
I think that there must be something that is an innate part of the human design that causes us to love music. Perhaps it has something to do with the inadequacy of words to capture our feelings. Music can convey love, anger,desire and every imaginable emotion. Today it conveyed the happiness of children--ten days away from Christmas! It also showed that sharing our gifts is appreciated despite our age. In our school, which encompasses all levels of childhood, it is affirming to see the younger children look up to the teenagers for good reasons. It is touching to see the teens root for the little ones and encourage the most timid of five year old efforts. It is reassuring to see middle schoolers, generally so focused on themselves, emulate the older students and try to assist the little ones.
From a broader educational perspective, I was so gladdened to see how many of our youngsters took part in the program. We have just this year resurrected our insturmental music program and I was so happy to hear the sound of progress as they played. In an era which is so focused on technology, it is increasingly important to emphaisze the aesthetic. Children need to recognize that which is beautiful just as much as they need to learn how to do research on the web. Music touches the heart and I am so pleased that, despite the challenges of our economy, we have been able to provide an expanded Fine Arts Program for our students.
This growth is, in no small part, championed by our faculty. Dr. Jeff Bunn, our Fine Arts Chair who has dual degrees in music and business, is equally comfortable playing the piano as he is playing the Stock Market! Margaret Mackie and Lauren Elfring bring out the best in our visual artists and the addition of Liz Young, the instrumental teacher, creates a cadre of professionals who are dedicated to children and their craft. I could not be more pleased with their ability to light the creative fires that are sometimes hidden within our children!
So, as I listened to the singng and playing today, I also watched. "Joy" looks like a seven year old playing the violin, a nervous fouteen year old performing a solo without a missed note, and a junior trumpet player who carried a fledling ensemble group through its first public perfromance. Joy, looked to me--as it often does--like Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School!

Once Upon a Time...and Yet Again!

Last Saturday night I entered a time warp of sorts! I (after being inpired by the Carmel Class of 1971)decided to attend my 45 th high school reunion! The last one I attended was about 20 years ago and, at that time, it seemed as though too much time had passed. In the years that followed, life happened--My husband passed away, my children grew up and married, and grandchildren arrived. My job became increasingly demanding. When those invitations to reunions came, it seemed too difficult to drive three hours back to my hometown to re-connect...and of course there were those extra pounds and wrinkles that had not been shed in time.
This past September, though, I was privileged enough to attend the Carmel Class of 1971 reunion. Folks came from many states away and resumed friendships from years gone by--The reunion room was filled with laughter and stories. I was inspired by this gathering and got up the gumption to attend my own reunion. I am so glad that I did!
I grew up in rural Pennsylvania in a more peaceful time. Our community was made up of farmers and small business owners--all hard workers. Many of the parents including mine had not finished high school let alone gone to college. They were the generation of both Depression and war and had learned from "the college of hard knocks"--to quote my Dad. A diligent work ethic was passed from them to us and doing one's best was the norm and expected. We were also expected to do better, reach higher, and achieve more than our parents had been able to do. I realized at the reunion that we had done just that. There were doctors, psychologists, and teachers. There were business owners, authors, and accountants. Though the converstaions often turned to retirement and grandchildren, it was clear that my classmates had led full, busy, and productive lives...and they were still going for more!
There was something in those conversations that evening that kept reminding me of Carmel and it has taken me several days to figure out the common thread. Perhaps love is too strong a word (maybe not) in describing the care that we had one for the other. Even all those years later after way had led to way, there was affection and laughter, and empathy. I think that it was these bonds that allowed us to move on to the adult lives we led. It is these qualities that I beleive we continue to instill in our young people so that they can do the same.
When you think about it, these were the same virtues that our parents shared with us. They are the values that are held dear in families everywhere. Schools, though institutions of learning, are havens for growing too. If that haven allows tentative young people to feel safe, try that which challenges them, accepts them whether they succeed or not, and inspires them to reach higher,then the school becomes "family" in the best sense of the word.
I have spent most of my life in schools like that and understand that I have been blessed many times over. We are challenged to create school communities that continue to invite us back--even decades later--to revel in the family of our school community. We are challenged to be sure that what is remembered is worth coming back! So, Class of 1966--I think we lived up to our parents dreams for us. Now it is up to us to be sure that those dreams are possible for our grandchildren too!

It's a Sign---REALLY!

Don't you love it when a plan comes together? Isn't it great when the "good guys" win and virtue is rewarded? I am still a sixties girl at heart with some leftover, world changing idealism that comes to the surface from time to time. Every once in a while something whets my imagination and brings back that "We can overcome and do anything" feeling. This wave of inspiration came once again last week from the installation of a sign. I am not talking about any sign. I am talking about an electronic sign that has been installed at the end of our driveway near the soccer field. Each time I drive past it and see it's red letters blinking and the messages rotating, I think of how that sign came to be. So, it is not really the sign that has given rise to my nostalgia and my sense that "good' will triumph, it is a story...a Mt. Carmel story.
For many years it has been the job of the members of the National Honor Society to change the letters on the sign at the end of the drive. The sign, installed in the mid-eighties, had movable letters in a plexiglass case. Over the years, the door to the message board (which opened up and out) had broken. There was a high possibility that when changing the sign, one could get bopped on the head or need to fight with the wind and rain to hold the sign up during the letter changing process. Overall, the signage job was less than glamorous. Last year, the two leaders of the Honor Society (also the two who got the signage job most frequently) came to me and asked if we could get a new sign--a modern sign. I looked at their eager faces and then at our check book and told them "No!" "Signs cost $17,000," I told them, "and there is no money budgeted." They looked back at me,and asked if they could earn it. I said they could try and the story continued.
The National Honor Society leaders whipped up the enthusiasm of the students and they raffled, fundraised, and begged the money for their sign. We ordered it in June and it finally arrived last week. The final act of generosity to make our sign funtional was that of a young family. They read about the sign project at Church, realized we didn't have quite enough money and volunteered to help with the installation. Though the dad worked for a rival sign company, this kind family made the installation happen saving us the last dollars we were short and allowing the task to get done. So, the end of the story may seem to be that the sign has been installed and is working. Though that is quite an accomplishment and a good story, that is not the REAL story. The real story is about persistence and hope. It is that story that is the sign I was looking for last week and it is the one that inspires.
The REAL sign for me is that people, especially kids, can get behind a cause and make change happen. If we believe in our goal and are willing to work hard, the mountainous tasks before us can be conquered. Who would have thought that two seniors could rally a community? Who would have thought that someone with the exact skills needed would read an announcement at the back of Church? Who would have thought that in this age of pessimism and doubt, people would rally in support? I think we all need a sign now and then to remind us that anyting worth while takes work and that good is not always accomplished easily or quickly. Congratulations Ally and Robbie--The sign is blinking away! Thank you Salyers family for your generous help! Three cheers that hope exists in the world--We have the sign to prove it!

Volunteerism at Its Best!

A few weekends ago I witnessed a miracle of sorts! The Fall Festival, which is months in the planning stages, happened with a convergence of perfect weather, hundreds of volunteers, and the good spirit of an entire community. In this age of "all for me" and "I am out for myself", the good spirit of that weekend renewed my faith in the power of people to do good for a cause in which they believe.
Our Fall Festival which has happened on the first full weekend of October since the mid-sixties has a dual purpose. First of all, it creates tremendous spirit in the community of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Every group in the school and parish sponsors multiple booths of games or food. Rides are rented from a local amusement firm and the parking lot is transformed into a fair. The Festival is a full weekend of events and volunteers take shifts to man the booths. Over the course of the weekend hundreds of people participate. There are games for young children where everyone is a winner everytime. There are games of chance for lucky adults and there is food in abundance. The pit beef is to die for and there is nothing better than fried dough with powdered sugar covering nose to chin once a bite is taken. Friday evening has been dubbed Alumni Night and this year we renewed our relationship with more than two hundred graduates of our school. They came with stories of jobs and opportunities,introduced us to new spouses and children and reminisced about their days on campus. The value of this Fall ritual is priceless and everyone who particpates feels the energy and excitement that I like to call "Carmel Spirit."
The second purpose of the Festival is that it generates funds to support our school. The Carmel community understands that education is everyone's repsonsibility and people young and old work together to make the event a success. This year, though final tallies are not available, the Festival will generate money that supports students, upgrades technology and helps us maintain our beautiful but aging buildings. There are some families--the Brotzmans, the Satterfields,the Bonners, the Webers, the Cummins who give above and beyond for the success of this venture. There are many who do their share and more. For all of these generous folks I am grateful. We surely can put the funds they generate to good use! We can also look to them as examples of volunteerism at its best--Young people can benefit from the example of these volunteers who give both their time and their treasure for something in which they believe--the community of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

1971--It Was a Very Good Year!

Two weekends ago I had the opportunity to attend the fortieth class reunion of the Class of 1971. It was a delightful event in so many ways! First of all, this group that graduated 51 strong, had never had a class reunion. Secondly, as they gathered, it was clear from their shrieks and shouts that they each had maintained a fondness for each other and still felt a connection to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School. They shared many common memories of those formative years and stories abounded of the "senior cut day" that lasted only fifteen minutes, basketball, cheerleading and the selection of the cougar for the school mascot.(It sounded like the squirrel was in the running and I am certain that classes that followed were grateful for the choice of the mighty cougar!)Finally, the evening reminded me of the richness that every class brings to the ongoing story of our school and the value that alumni play in our future.
Members of the Class of 1971,diminished by the passing of six classmates, met in almost full attendance for an evening of good conversation, catching up, and sharing memories. Though several members of the class had remained in the Baltimore area, many came from afar for the reunion. Some arrived from Florida, Texas, and Virginia while some came from points north. The theme for their senior year was "Becoming" and many conversations of the evening centered on what they, in fact, became. The accomplishments of their adult lives were shared. Photos of children and grandchildren were passed from one to another. One class member did a great job of creating a booklet with recent biographical information that focused on "What We Became." What I saw that evening was a group of men and women who had shared their growing up years. In retrospect, they appeciated the caring teachers they had, and treasured the experiences in sports, plays, and in leadership roles that helped create the confident adults they became. Though many years passed, there was a bond that remained. As one classmate remarked,"We may not have done a great job of connecting over the years, but we were a class that got along and truly loved one another."
After I met the friendly and energetic members of the Clas of 1971 I began thinking of the dynamic that happens to all classes in a school. Each class is composed of diverse and unique individuals who achieve, accomplish, and succeed based on their own talents, determination, and gifts. Those individuals, however, form a class whose members bond. The class takes on a personality of its own! Some classes are known for their academic excellence, some for athletic prowess, and some for their sense of compassion and service. Each class contributes to the ongoing history and story of the school. Each class takes into itself what I like to call the "Carmel Spirit."
The Carmel Spirit includes the values that center on some foundational tenets. They include cherishing and building a sense of family in the school community, achieving academic excellence according to one's gifts, developing a willingness to serve others, and integrating faith into every aspect of life. This spirit is one which I hope all Carmel students "catch" and then create as they move forward in life. I could feel those qualities the other evening from the members of the Class of 1971 as I have from the classes with whom I have worked over the years.
It is my great hope that as young people graduate, reach adulthood and are able to reflect back on their Carmel experience with the wisdom of years, they appreciate what they learned. I also hope that they support the current efforts of the school to share the Carmel Spirit with a new generation of young people.
So, it was wonderful to meet the Class of 1971! Leonita and Margaret as well as others did a wonderful job of finding classmates, inviting, cajoling, and remembering. It was a special evening for all who attended including me! I know that the Carmel Spirit is thriving among the members of this class and I could tell--even forty years later--that 1971 was truly a very good year!

The Power of Prayer

I was talking to our Athletic Director recently and he described some of the events of the past week as "surreal." In one sense he was correct, but in another it was a week that --as always-included the humorous, the happy, the generous, and the sombering. When you are surrounded with many students each day, each with their own ups and downs, there is always the possibility of drama both real and created! Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, serving as a "home away from home" to more than six hundred students is just like that.
Last weekend we celebrated Homecoming at our school, a weekend full of pep rallies and athletic games which generate both school spirit and excitement. Last Friday began with an out of uniform day and all the students could wear school colors or their school sports jersey. At the pep rallies, one for the Lower School (k-5) and one for the Upper School (6-12) there was a sea of blue and gold and LOTS of noise! Cheerleaders led a competition yelling match , grade against grade. This long standing tradition is great fun and it allows kids to really get into the excitement of the day as they chant at the top of their lungs, "Spirit, spirit, we got spirit! How about you!" In addition to the shouting, all the members of the sports teams are introduced and there are some fun games with volunteers from each class. Both of the pep rallies were great events and the little ones especially were quite impressed by the chance to cheer for their older classmates. Being a Cougar fan starts at a young age and lasts forever!
That evening included a "dress up" dance for the high school age students which was sponsored by the Student Government. Seeing the girls with their new outfits, fancy hair and high heeled shoes and the guys with shirts, ties, and adult attitudes gave a glimpse of the young adults they are and the grown-ups they will become. They had a great time with dance competitions, great food (graciously prepared by several of our dedicated teachers--nothing is too much for the kids!) and lots of time with friends. Perhaps the most impressive part of the night for me, was the willingness of all the student leaders to set up the dance, clean up the debris at the end, and cheerfully cooperate with one another so that everyone including the teachers could look back at the evening and smile. This was a great example of leadership in the making. Big jobs, little jobs, glamorous jobs and not so glamourous jobs were all done with enthusiasm and good spirit.
Though the weather interfered with game plans, volleyball and men's and women's soccer games were all finally played between the raindrops during the next day. Though scores were mixed each team fought hard, played with spirit and good sportsmanship, and had fun.
Our football team played on Saturday evening and this is when the real drama began. As the first quarter started, our team showed some gusto and skill and played well. Since this is only our second season, folks were pleased that the Homecoming game had the possibilty of a winning outcome. But, in the second quarter, a sombering event happened and everyone was snapped into a different reality. Our quaterback, Kory Puller, was hit and at the end of the play did not get up. Josh Lamont, our Athletic Trainer, was quick to respond and verified that the injury was serious. Time passed and paramedics and eventually the Shock Trauma helicopter arrived. Kory was flown out and the prayers began.
The bottom line is that,after a very frightening several days and many assesments, Kory is recovereing and the great hope is that he will be 100% before too long. The secondary, but also important lesson in this story, revolves around the way that the community responded to the scare. After Kory left the game, the team, though certainly shaken and worried, decided to finish the game. They finished it by playing hard but not getting any fouls called and playing with skill and sportsmanship. They should be proud of themselves for stepping it up and I hope they know that I am proud of their ability to contain any negative reactions and channel their energy into good, fair, clean play.
The other students and teachers spent the weekend texting news about Kory and praying for him. A petition was prayed for him at every Mass that weekend at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. Every student in every class prayed for his recovery throughout the next week. Cards were made and signed and sent. Kory was on our mind and in our heart. He did get out of the hospital and late in the week, I got word that he was in the gym. Of course I went down to see him but was caught up short. There he was still dealing with the headaches caused by his concussion, in a neck brace, a back brace, and in a wheel chair. The sight of this young, basically healthy, happy athlete, so compromised did more than give me pause.
These are my thoughts--How great in a Catholic school and community is it that we could all support Kory through our prayers? How powerful are those prayers as they carry our hopes and dreams to a God who makes all things possible! How grateful are we that this great young man is on the mend! How wonderful is it to see him, despite his obvious pain and discomfort, cheering for his classmates! Being a Cougar is more than playing games and cheering at pep rallies. It is being part of a community where people truly care about each other and love each other especially when things are tough. It is a faith community where we all believe in the power of prayer.
Now that the worst of that frightening event is over,we all should add a petition of thanksgiving to our prayers. We thank God for Kory's recovery and for our community. We should never take health, friendship, nor faith for granted nor forget our vulnerability. Our prayer should always include, "Thank you God!!!"