Back on August 14th, 2010, Cooper Doucette, 15-year-old sophmore at Nashua North Hills High School in Nashua, NH, suffered an injury that broke his 5th cervical vertebrae while taking part in a football drill during practice. He was immediately taken to a local hospital where he received treatment and care that helped to stabilize him. After undergoing surgery to repair his broken vertebrae Cooper took the challenges of rehab and recovery head on.
Along with the surgery, rehab, and recovery comes the stress and financial burdens that can really take a toll not only on Cooper but his family as well. To assist them in dealing with these stresses "Supa Coop" was formed.
"Supa Coop" is a "committee of family, friends, teachers, coaches, and members of the community who are trying to raise awareness and funds to help Cooper as he rebuilds his life with hope, independence, and dignity." The goal of "Supa Coop" is to help alleviate certain stresses which will allow Cooper's recovery to be the main focus of him and his family.
For more information about Cooper Doucette, to learn about certain fundraising events such as the Polar Plunge, or to just donate please visit www.supacoop.org. Also, please click on Cooper's facebook page link for pictures and medical updates.
Here's to the family and friends of Cooper who realize the importance of living with hope, Independence, and dignity-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What do you think of "Supa Coop" and their efforts to help Cooper and his family alleviate some of the burdens that come with such a tragic injury?
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
COOL reading
There's nothing like getting up in the morning, brewing a fresh pot of coffee, and retrieving the morning paper to view the happenings either in the sports page, local news page, front page, or the arts and entertainment page. Sitting in your preferred spot and reading while enjoying your favorite brew really sets the tone for the day.
Another cool section to read in your preferred paper is "Random Acts of Kindness (COOLNESS)" that usually appears at least once a week. The stories range from simple acts of kindness in a grocery store line, some shoveling during the winter months, to offers of being carried up ramps at a sporting event or changing seats so that the climb up the ramps won't be necessary. Usually the kind (cool) act is performed by a complete stranger who wishes to remain anonymous. The stories are short in nature but tend to leave a lasting impression on the recipient of the cool act and the reader.
The next time you find yourself browsing through your newspaper, either paper or online version, search for these random acts of coolness stories, they are sure to get your day started off right and just might motivate you to spread some coolness in your world. Keep reading, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
Have you found a "Random Acts of Kindness" section in your preferred paper? What do you think of the stories and how do they effect you?
Another cool section to read in your preferred paper is "Random Acts of Kindness (COOLNESS)" that usually appears at least once a week. The stories range from simple acts of kindness in a grocery store line, some shoveling during the winter months, to offers of being carried up ramps at a sporting event or changing seats so that the climb up the ramps won't be necessary. Usually the kind (cool) act is performed by a complete stranger who wishes to remain anonymous. The stories are short in nature but tend to leave a lasting impression on the recipient of the cool act and the reader.
The next time you find yourself browsing through your newspaper, either paper or online version, search for these random acts of coolness stories, they are sure to get your day started off right and just might motivate you to spread some coolness in your world. Keep reading, stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
Have you found a "Random Acts of Kindness" section in your preferred paper? What do you think of the stories and how do they effect you?
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
a COOL day
It is said that most people live an eight day week: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Someday. Someday is a significant day in many lives. People leave important things to get done on Someday. Someday they will thank friends and family or tell them that they love them. Someday they will spend more time with their children. Someday they will get around to doing that one thing they really enjoy or look for that job they really want.
The problem is, Someday always seems like tomorrow. The cool thing is that people can begin to live a nine day week. That ninth day is Today. Do those important things today, thank friends and family today and tell them you love them today. Spend more time with your children today. Do the thing you really love today and go out and get that dream job Today.
The cool thing is there is no better time to do something than Today and better yet, everyday is Today.
Here's to those that take advantage of the ninth day of the week, Today. Go enjoy it and remember there is never a better time to be cool than Today-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What day do you do most things on-Someday or Today?
The problem is, Someday always seems like tomorrow. The cool thing is that people can begin to live a nine day week. That ninth day is Today. Do those important things today, thank friends and family today and tell them you love them today. Spend more time with your children today. Do the thing you really love today and go out and get that dream job Today.
The cool thing is there is no better time to do something than Today and better yet, everyday is Today.
Here's to those that take advantage of the ninth day of the week, Today. Go enjoy it and remember there is never a better time to be cool than Today-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What day do you do most things on-Someday or Today?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
a COOL turnaround
John Hopkins Middle School in St. Petersburg, FLA has been known for fights, pepper spray, arrests, and teachers begging for help. So far this year it appears to be a better educational facility as student fights are down, teacher morale is up, and the parents relieved.
Rosa Robinson, a parent of a seventh-grader and chair on the school advisory council, states, "It's been pretty peaceful...you can walk the hallway and feel the difference. Before, forget about it. It was running around and craziness."
Last year, 2009, prior to the holiday break the school had racked up 40 arrests but this year they saw only 16. A staff survey rated morale as good as "high" to "good" at 60% which only last year had very low morale and prompted one staff to state, "We have no control of this school." Even the students attitudes are changing for the better, "People's attitudes are changing," says Chrisaih Ware, 14.
The reasons for the positive change range from expectations of student behavior have been made more clear, and consequences are quick and consistent. Some "chronically disruptive" kids have been given the opportunity to continue their education at alternative schools and teachers have credited the positive change to a new leadership team that now "takes care of problems and corrects them."
New Principal, Barry Brown, is hesitant to wallow in the praise, "I don't want the praise to be premature." He prefers to wait to the end of the year and gauge the progress then. Steve Frump, geography teacher, sees and praises the difference, "I haven't had to deal with in-class disruptions at nearly the level I had to last year."
John Hopkins has shown promise and has lots going for it: A student newspaper that is nationally recognized, An orchestra that is among the best, and a Chorus and drama program that constantly gets superior ratings.
Here's to the new principal and staff at John Hopkins Middle School for continuing to believe in their facility, their students, themselves, and for realizing the importance of an education for the youth of today-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What do you think of the positive turnaround John Hopkins Middle School has made concerning the negative behaviors that once graced its halls and the staff that continues to endure there?
Rosa Robinson, a parent of a seventh-grader and chair on the school advisory council, states, "It's been pretty peaceful...you can walk the hallway and feel the difference. Before, forget about it. It was running around and craziness."
Last year, 2009, prior to the holiday break the school had racked up 40 arrests but this year they saw only 16. A staff survey rated morale as good as "high" to "good" at 60% which only last year had very low morale and prompted one staff to state, "We have no control of this school." Even the students attitudes are changing for the better, "People's attitudes are changing," says Chrisaih Ware, 14.
The reasons for the positive change range from expectations of student behavior have been made more clear, and consequences are quick and consistent. Some "chronically disruptive" kids have been given the opportunity to continue their education at alternative schools and teachers have credited the positive change to a new leadership team that now "takes care of problems and corrects them."
New Principal, Barry Brown, is hesitant to wallow in the praise, "I don't want the praise to be premature." He prefers to wait to the end of the year and gauge the progress then. Steve Frump, geography teacher, sees and praises the difference, "I haven't had to deal with in-class disruptions at nearly the level I had to last year."
John Hopkins has shown promise and has lots going for it: A student newspaper that is nationally recognized, An orchestra that is among the best, and a Chorus and drama program that constantly gets superior ratings.
Here's to the new principal and staff at John Hopkins Middle School for continuing to believe in their facility, their students, themselves, and for realizing the importance of an education for the youth of today-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What do you think of the positive turnaround John Hopkins Middle School has made concerning the negative behaviors that once graced its halls and the staff that continues to endure there?
Friday, January 14, 2011
COOL hockey fans
Singing in front of a crowd can be daunting enough for an 8-year-old girl without the help of a technical malfunction that cuts out the microphone in mid-song. That's exactly what happened to Elizabeth Hughes in front of hockey fans at a Connecticut Whale game, members of the AHL (American Hockey League), as she sang the national anthem.
As her voice rang out and the fans stood, Elizabeth's microphone went silent and after a brief moment of awkwardness the crowd joined in to sing along with her until the end. In the brief moment of silence one could hear one ignorant fan laugh but then quickly shushed as the rest of the fans sang out loud.
Elizabeth kept her cool and sang along after ignoring the rude laughter. Another cool moment could be heard as the hockey team members began tapping their sticks at the conclusion of the song and the fans rewarded her with loud applause.
Here's to all those hockey fans who came to Elizabeth's support and showed what it means to be COOL-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What do you think of these hockey fans and how they supported Elizabeth as she managed through a technical malfunction in her attempt to sing the national anthem?
Check out the video at http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/local_news/water_cooler/hockey-fans-to-the-rescue-after-little-girl%27s-mic-fails-during-national-anthem
As her voice rang out and the fans stood, Elizabeth's microphone went silent and after a brief moment of awkwardness the crowd joined in to sing along with her until the end. In the brief moment of silence one could hear one ignorant fan laugh but then quickly shushed as the rest of the fans sang out loud.
Elizabeth kept her cool and sang along after ignoring the rude laughter. Another cool moment could be heard as the hockey team members began tapping their sticks at the conclusion of the song and the fans rewarded her with loud applause.
Here's to all those hockey fans who came to Elizabeth's support and showed what it means to be COOL-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What do you think of these hockey fans and how they supported Elizabeth as she managed through a technical malfunction in her attempt to sing the national anthem?
Check out the video at http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/local_news/water_cooler/hockey-fans-to-the-rescue-after-little-girl%27s-mic-fails-during-national-anthem
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
COOL quotes for the new year
"What the New Year brings to you will depend on what you bring to the New Year."Vern McLellan
"One resolution I have made and try to always keep is this-To rise above the little things"John Burroughs
"A Happy New Year! Grant that I may bring no tear to any eye, When this New Year in time shall end Let it be said I've played the friend, Have lived and loved and labored here And made of it a happy year."Edgar Guest
"May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions."Joey Adams
"Youth is when you are allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you are forced to."Bill Vaughnv
"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. The pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."Bill Vaughnv
"People are worried about what they eat between Christmas and New Year, but they should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas."Author Unknown
"Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right."Oprah Winfrey
"New Year's Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time."James Agate
"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man."Benjamin Franklin
In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want-Traditional Irish Toast
Here's hoping you had a cool and safe New Year and wishing you enjoy cool times, meet cool people, and continue to do cool things throughout the year-stay generous, stay positive and STAY COOL!
"One resolution I have made and try to always keep is this-To rise above the little things"John Burroughs
"A Happy New Year! Grant that I may bring no tear to any eye, When this New Year in time shall end Let it be said I've played the friend, Have lived and loved and labored here And made of it a happy year."Edgar Guest
"May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions."Joey Adams
"Youth is when you are allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you are forced to."Bill Vaughnv
"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. The pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."Bill Vaughnv
"People are worried about what they eat between Christmas and New Year, but they should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas."Author Unknown
"Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right."Oprah Winfrey
"New Year's Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time."James Agate
"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man."Benjamin Franklin
In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want-Traditional Irish Toast
Here's hoping you had a cool and safe New Year and wishing you enjoy cool times, meet cool people, and continue to do cool things throughout the year-stay generous, stay positive and STAY COOL!
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