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?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
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!
Monday, December 27, 2010
COOL first-graders
First-graders of Freeman Elementary in Irving, TX took on a huge challenge and partnered with the Nelson Center in Denton, TX and they succeeded way above the goal they set for themselves.
The Nelson Center provides services for over 100 special needs children. To motivate their children to do well they offer them incentives but recently they found their shelves empty and were in need of donations.
The students at Freeman Elementary take part in a community service project every year. These projects are used to instill respect, integrity, honesty, and citizenship in all of the children. The school's goal, along with producing students with the highest level of academic achievement possible, is to produce productive and model citizens.
The first-graders teamed with teachers and promoted a campaign called "Kids Helping Kids". With a goal of collecting 200 items for the center set, students and parents donated items ranging from puzzles, games, books, and Frisbees to hair and bath products. When all was said and done the total number of items donated reached 425.
School administrators were proud and rightfully so,"We are extremely proud of the first grade teachers, their students, and the entire student body at Freeman for their efforts. 'Kids Helping Kids' worked and that is exactly what they did; kids helped kids."
Here's to the first-graders of Freeman Elementary and all those that helped make their "Kids Helping Kids" campaign a huge success, you are truly model citizens-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What do you think of these first-graders and their "Kids Helping Kids" campaign?
The Nelson Center provides services for over 100 special needs children. To motivate their children to do well they offer them incentives but recently they found their shelves empty and were in need of donations.
The students at Freeman Elementary take part in a community service project every year. These projects are used to instill respect, integrity, honesty, and citizenship in all of the children. The school's goal, along with producing students with the highest level of academic achievement possible, is to produce productive and model citizens.
The first-graders teamed with teachers and promoted a campaign called "Kids Helping Kids". With a goal of collecting 200 items for the center set, students and parents donated items ranging from puzzles, games, books, and Frisbees to hair and bath products. When all was said and done the total number of items donated reached 425.
School administrators were proud and rightfully so,"We are extremely proud of the first grade teachers, their students, and the entire student body at Freeman for their efforts. 'Kids Helping Kids' worked and that is exactly what they did; kids helped kids."
Here's to the first-graders of Freeman Elementary and all those that helped make their "Kids Helping Kids" campaign a huge success, you are truly model citizens-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What do you think of these first-graders and their "Kids Helping Kids" campaign?
Monday, December 20, 2010
COOL home builders
Looking over this neighborhood of 20 or so homes, you would be hard pressed to not break off a shingle, tear off a door, and/or bust out a window. Of course you would have to worry about upset home owners in most neighborhoods but not this one, this one consists of houses made of gingerbread.
The proud architects are students and faculty of the Tidewater Community College culinary arts program. You can find this neighborhood in the main lobby of the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk, VA.
Another great thing about this neighborhood is that all the houses are not only edible but they are all for sale. When one of these houses is sold all proceeds go to the hospital. In this case the old saying "There goes the neighborhood" is actually a good thing.
Here's to all the architects at the Tidewater Community College culinary arts program for building such a tasteful and charitable neighborhood-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What do you think of this tasty neighborhood and the architects who built it for charity?
The proud architects are students and faculty of the Tidewater Community College culinary arts program. You can find this neighborhood in the main lobby of the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk, VA.
Another great thing about this neighborhood is that all the houses are not only edible but they are all for sale. When one of these houses is sold all proceeds go to the hospital. In this case the old saying "There goes the neighborhood" is actually a good thing.
Here's to all the architects at the Tidewater Community College culinary arts program for building such a tasteful and charitable neighborhood-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What do you think of this tasty neighborhood and the architects who built it for charity?
Monday, December 13, 2010
COOL big brothers and sisters
At a recent Big Brothers Big Sisters annual holiday party, held at a local sports arena in Madison Wisconsin, dozens of teens waited patiently in line to partake in throwing footballs around the field, taking turns in the batting cages, and singing and dancing while a local marching band played.
As the group's party came to a close, Chuck Housner, branch manager of the financial planning firm that organized it, North Star Resource Group, stated, "The holidays really are not complete unless there's some kind of surprise."
With those words, the volunteer big brothers and sisters in attendance filed back onto the field, each pushing a bicycle for their respective littles which totaled 70 in all. Local students from a nearby technical college volunteered a total of 135 hours to assemble the bikes and the Dean Foundation pitched in the helmets.
Nikki Housner, who has organized the firms past two events and is Chuck's daughter, states, "The gifts were important because many of the kids might not be getting much for Christmas."
Here's to all the big brothers and sisters in Madison, Wisconsin and around the world who donate valuable time to mentor children and to the North Star Resource Group who organized such a great event-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What do you think of the Big Brothers Sisters event and the surprise bicycles the children received?
As the group's party came to a close, Chuck Housner, branch manager of the financial planning firm that organized it, North Star Resource Group, stated, "The holidays really are not complete unless there's some kind of surprise."
With those words, the volunteer big brothers and sisters in attendance filed back onto the field, each pushing a bicycle for their respective littles which totaled 70 in all. Local students from a nearby technical college volunteered a total of 135 hours to assemble the bikes and the Dean Foundation pitched in the helmets.
Nikki Housner, who has organized the firms past two events and is Chuck's daughter, states, "The gifts were important because many of the kids might not be getting much for Christmas."
Here's to all the big brothers and sisters in Madison, Wisconsin and around the world who donate valuable time to mentor children and to the North Star Resource Group who organized such a great event-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What do you think of the Big Brothers Sisters event and the surprise bicycles the children received?
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
a COOL fireman
Volunteering is a noble act but Lee Vohland, 69, a firefighter for the Gibbon Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department in Nebraska gives it a whole new meaning. Mr. Vohland will celebrate his 50th year with the department this February, "I still feel an adrenaline rush when I go out on calls."
This month he also celebrated his 3,000th trip to the hospital with his unit. Most of those trips have been to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney where the emergency room staff know him by name. Rescue Capt. Clint Smith states, "If there is one thing the department can count on, it's Lee being there. I think as far as dedication, he's a big influence on the guys wanting to be as dedicated as he is."
Lee states he started with the department because, "Like many kids, I was fascinated with firefighters and EMS workers." He remains just as dedicated as he was 50 years ago though he has cut back on some things, "I answer all calls, even fire calls, but I don't don air packs anymore. I don't go into burning buildings anymore, there are younger people who do that now."
Here's to you Lee for your dedication to volunteering and to helping others-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What do you think of Mr. Vohland's dedication to his volunteer fire department over the past 50 years?
This month he also celebrated his 3,000th trip to the hospital with his unit. Most of those trips have been to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney where the emergency room staff know him by name. Rescue Capt. Clint Smith states, "If there is one thing the department can count on, it's Lee being there. I think as far as dedication, he's a big influence on the guys wanting to be as dedicated as he is."
Lee states he started with the department because, "Like many kids, I was fascinated with firefighters and EMS workers." He remains just as dedicated as he was 50 years ago though he has cut back on some things, "I answer all calls, even fire calls, but I don't don air packs anymore. I don't go into burning buildings anymore, there are younger people who do that now."
Here's to you Lee for your dedication to volunteering and to helping others-stay positive, stay generous, and STAY COOL!
What do you think of Mr. Vohland's dedication to his volunteer fire department over the past 50 years?
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