Notes From Notestine
Learning From Failure
People can learn from failure. Do you remember your first "F" on a test? Many of us remember the agony of a bad grade because we felt embarrassed in front of our peers. Failure can be agonizing at the time, but rarely is it catastrophic. Most of the failures we experience are "expectation" failures." We expected one outcome and something different occurred.
Colin Powell is quoted as saying, "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure." The greatest barrier to success can be the fear of failure. In the education business, we strive to achieve as high a ratio of success to failure as possible. However, it is important that we as parents understand and embrace the small failures of our children. Tough times are often when children learn the most about themselves. Parents have the responsibility to help our children learn from small failures. If we always shelter our children from failure, they will have no history of handling hardship. Several weeks ago I saw an 8th grade girl at lunch who was obviously upset. When I asked her why, she said "I failed a Science test with Mr. Dietz." Several of her friends encouraged her to attend tutorial with them. Several days later, all was well again! She was happy to inform me she earned an "A" on the latest Science test. I am sure that in the background, there were parents who supported their daughter without blaming someone else or denying the failure. This young lady learned from her small failure and now has a greater appreciation for her success. A lesson well learned.
Abraham Lincoln led this country through a time of great constitutional, military and moral crises. He was one of our greatest leaders. He was prepared to be a leader because of failures he had experienced, such as:
- Failed in business at age 21
- Was defeated in a legislative race at 22
- Failed again in business at age 24
- Overcame the death of his sweetheart at age 26
- Had a nervous breakdown at age 27
- Lost a congressional race at age 34
- Lost a congressional race at age 36
- Lost a senatorial race at age 45
- Failed in an effort to become vice president at age 47
- Lost a senatorial race at age 49
- Was elected president of the United States at age 52
Enjoy the journey and an occasional failure!
Parents Corner
Important Changes in Exam Schedule
Friday, May 18, has been the date reserved for our annual trip to Sun Valley Beach. We are disappointed to announce that Sun Valley is closed. Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful at finding a safe, appropriate venue as a replacement. Therefore, we have made a change to the exam schedule which involves shifting the events of the last week of school forward one day. The last day for MS students is now Thursday, May 24, and here is the revised schedule.
Friday, May 18: Review Day
Monday, May 21: Review Day
Tuesday, May 22
8:25-8:30 Homeroom
8:40-9:50 Math Exam
9:55-10:15 Break—students may go to the dining hall for fruit/water
10:20-11:30: History Exam
11:30: Final announcements made for the day
11:45: Buses/ MARTA shuttle depart
**Students with accommodations eat lunch at 11:45 and return to Room 322 to finish exams at 12:15.
3:45: All students off campus
Wednesday, May 23
8:25-8:30: Homeroom
8:40-9:50 Science Exam
9:55-10:15: Break—students may go to the dining hall for fruit/water
10:20-11:30: English Exam
11:30: Final announcements made for the day
11:45: Buses/ Marta shuttle depart
**Students with accommodations eat lunch at 11:45 and return to Room 322 to finish exams at 12:15.
Thursday, May 24
8:25-8:30 Homeroom
8:40-9:50 Reading/ FL Exam
9:50-10:05 Return to homerooms to clean out lockers
10:10-11:30: End of the Year Assembly
Students with accommodations will go to Room 322 to finish exam.
11:45: Buses/Marta shuttle depart
3:45: All students off campus
Friday, May 25
Exam make-up day
Teacher post-planning day
Campus closes at noon
Wednesday, May 30: 6:30pm 8th Grade Honors Banquet- US cafeteria
Thursday, May 31: 6:30 pm: 7th Grade Honors Banquet- US cafeteria
Beginning Monday, May 21, there is no late bus or MARTA shuttle. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, buses and MARTA shuttle will depart at 11:45 and 3:45. On Friday, they will depart at 11:45 only. We strongly encourage students to go home at 11:45 on exam days. A quiet study hall will be available from 12:15 – 3:40 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for students who cannot leave campus early or who are staying to use their accommodations. All students must depart on bus, MARTA or be picked up by 3:45 on these three days. Because of this late change, we will have supervision for students on Friday, May 25, until noon in the computer lab. Students must come to school in uniform. This has been a great school year, and we want to thank you for your support! If you have any questions, please feel free to call the MS.
Dates to Remember
Friday, May 11: Rising 8th graders must turn in blue registration form for 8th grade classes to HR teacher.
Tuesday, May 15: 7th graders "bubble in" course requests for 8th grade.
Recycle Your Old Electronics
Woodward Academy is sponsoring the second e-cycling drive of this school year. The Main Campus drive will be held on Saturday, May 19, from 9:00-11:30 am. Woodward North families may bring their items to the North Campus front office by noon on Thursday, May 17. Please consider joining the e-cycling effort by properly recycling your old computers and electronics. You will receive a tax-donation form from CFY and help the Terranova School, Woodward's sister school in Zambia. Visit the e-cycling page for more information: www.woodward.edu/go/ecycle/.
Notes From Nurse Whyte
The Middle School Infirmary has seen a lot of students with fever, sore throat, cough and nausea. The school policy is that students must be fever free for 24 hours prior to returning to school. If your child does not have a fever, but does not feel well, please keep them home until they are feeling better.
Student Spotlight
Girl Talk
The last Girl Talk meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16, during homeroom study hall (2:45 - 3:15pm). Students who attend will be done in time for both tutorial and the bus. Girl Talk is a national student-to-student mentoring program that pairs middle school girls with high school girls. Monthly meetings are held during which the Upper School leader presents valuable lessons that address issues middle school girls face every day. Middle school girls are encouraged to share any positive news, concerns or problems they may have. The Upper School leaders are there to listen and to offer support and guidance when needed.
Any students who would like to attend the meeting are welcome to come by Mrs. Dedeaux’s office (Room 125) to sign up. The deadline is Friday, May 12. It is open to both 7th and 8th grade girls.
Correction in National Spanish Exam Results
In listing results of the National Spanish Exam, 8th grader Abiram Srivatsa was inadvertently missing from the list. He achieved 3rd place along with Isabelle Johnson and Dwayne Watkins and scored in the 97th percentile. Congratulations Abiram!
Club Updates
Book Club Meeting: The last Book Club meeting will be held Monday, May 14, after school. Students are reading the fantasy, "Eragon," by Christopher Paolini. This novel is a journey of experience, revenge, romance, betrayal and a "special sword." It also involves three stages of the "quest" which reading students have studied this year in class. Members will view the movie and have special refreshments. Plan to ride the late bus.
Eagle Club: Homeroom totals for Save The Children:
Hutchison - $265.00
Parsons - $135.80
Twiss - $125.00
Tatum - $110.09
Freeman - $105.00
Hildebrand - $110.00
Stratton - $95.24
Bandrowski - $80.00
Jefferson - $80.00
McCreery - $80.00
Bandrowski - $65.00
Crawford - $70.00
Wade - $55.00
Sorrow - $45.00
Holland - $40.00
St. Amand - $35.00
Juhan - $25.00
Marmo - $20.40
Trotter - $20.14
Johnson - $10.28
Huggins - $5.00
Moody - $5.00
Williams - $20.00
Parent Programming Events - all parents invited
No events are currently available.