Sunday, August 30, 2015

Failing Forward vs. Failing Backward

In speaking with a good friend of mine the other day he made me stop and think. He pointed back to times that I have made the comment, "Failure is not an option." He pointed out that when people don't truly know me they may misunderstand what I mean when I make that comment. His reflections made me really think that many times what we say isn't always received and interpreted how we meant it.

So, that being said I want to make sure I clarify for everyone what I have meant when I have said, "Failure is not an option." I am by no means saying that people shouldn't fail. I am actually encouraging people to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes in moving forward. I have a FIRM belief that we must hold high expectations for ourselves and for ALL those we come in contact with in our lives. I don't want anyone to ever give up. I don't want anyone to ever be complacent. I want staff and students to strive for excellence and push themselves to try new and innovative things.

I  have had some of my best moments in education watching a teacher try something new with his/her students. Then engaging in great conversation afterward about what to modify and edit. As educators we must be innovative and constantly reflective on our practices. For each year our "clients" are new and different from the year before.

Something important to know about me as a person. I think BIG. I believe that anything is POSSIBLE. I will PUSH myself and my staff continually to surpass what we have done in the past. Not because I am not proud of the accomplishments, but because I know there is always more. Just like an athlete in training that will go to the gym day in and day out and push for one more repetition of the weights. Why? To ACHIEVE what to some might be the IMPOSSIBLE but is really POSSIBLE.

Let's look at how we can embrace the idea of "Failing Forward" vs. "Failing Backward." If we Fail Forward we take responsibility for our mistakes and we LEARN from our mistakes. We understand that failure is part of the process. We maintain a positive attitude while challenging outdated assumptions. We take risks and PERSEVERE!!



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SENIOR SUNRISE & FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL




IT'S ON!!!

National College Colors Day
 2015 is FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th! We need to show how college crazy we are!! We will all wear our college colors and take a staff group photo to post and tweet @noexcusesu using the hashtag #neulead.  




Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! 
Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!


Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence! 


HAVE A GREAT WEEK




Sunday, August 23, 2015

A Family United

Ask anyone on the FHS campus what defines we who are and you will undoubtedly here the response, "We are a family here." This is not just a canned response but what we live and breathe at FHS. We are a family that supports one another, cheers each other on, and works together to problem solve and make each day even better than the last.

If one stepped onto campus at lunch last Friday this would have been exemplified then more than ever.  Students were out in mass promoting their clubs and getting others to join. Staff and students were joining forces to welcome more individuals into their clubs. There was no sense of exclusion but one of inclusion. Check out a short video clip of the lunch activities.



I want to also mention that the first week of school there was a freshman student that was very nervous since he was small and felt that he might get picked on. That message was shared with the football and basketball teams and in moments they reached out to him and made him feel welcome. He now hangs out with them at lunch and is enjoying high school because he feels that he "belongs" and that there are others that "have his back."

Veteran staff have stepped up to be mentors to our first year teachers this year! Colleagues are reaching out to one another to help set up teacher and department web pages, AERIES grade books, Google Classroom, and the list goes on. We are in a great time of sharing and supporting. No one should feel in the dark or alone on an island. If you need help just ask.

The Fairfield Falcon Family has been going strong for many years. We have the great honor and privilege of recognizing many past FHS alumni that have gone on to do some amazing things in the world of athletics. On Saturday, September 19th there will be 20 new inductees into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Once a Falcon always a Falcon! You can read here in today's article in the Daily Republic about the Benefit Dinner and the individuals that will be inducted. http://goo.gl/Qs3q2J


IT'S ON!!!

National College Colors Day
 2015 is FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th! We need to show how college crazy we are!! We will all wear our college colors and take a staff group photo to post and tweet @noexcusesu using the hashtag #neulead.  




Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! 
Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!


Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence! 


HAVE A GREAT WEEK






Sunday, August 16, 2015

The First Few Days of 2015


We have been back in action for only three days and already a lot has been accomplished on the FHS campus. Students were welcomed back to several new teachers on campus, refurbished classrooms in the K wing, and the addition of the Sem Yeto campus. The campus has been a buzz with positive energy.

Teachers got to work on day one engaging students in academics. Dr. Aldritt chose to engage students through their cellphone in an interactive activity. Mrs. Balthazor had students working in groups using critical thinking skills. Colonel Avery and Sergeant Frazier had the JROTC students on a scavenger hunt using the GooseChase App.  The Chromebooks are being checked out daily and many teachers have begun their Google Classrooms with their students. There is no time to waste at FHS! School spirit is alive and has been ringing through the quad. Leadership students were out every day at lunch pumping school spirit and providing music for the campus. Friday at lunch ushered in the Fall Sports Club Rush. The quad was packed with students signing up for sports and jumping into the the typical FHS "line dance on the F."



We are only a few short weeks away from the 3rd Annual Athletics Benefit Dinner where we will be ushering in a Hall of Fame!! Graduates from FHS that have now gone Pro will be honored and inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame! Here are just a few that will be inducted on September 19th!!


Demario Warren, Defensive Coordinator at Southern Utah University

Desmond Bishop, linebacker for the San Francisco 49'ers

Keshia Baker, 2012 Olympic Gold 4x400m team



Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! 
Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!


Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence! 


HAVE A GREAT WEEK



Sunday, August 9, 2015

Taking the side road every once in a while......

In only a few days we will officially begin the 2015-2016 school year. Students will enter our classrooms first thing Wednesday morning. Many students are returning for another year of high school with us and others are starting for the first time. The one thing that holds true for every student is that no "first impressions" have been made yet. Wednesday is the day to "set the stage." Each of us can build rapport with our students by greeting them at the door, smiling, sharing something about who we are, laughing,  and making a promise to respect each and every student.

As I begin my 18th year in education I am just as excited as I was for the first day of school 17 years ago. What my time away this summer has helped me find is that taking the road less traveled can be very constructive. For those of you that know me you know I like to be "connected." I am constantly on social media and communicating with staff via email and text. However, it intrigues me to get off the freeway of life and take the side roads every once in a while. On the side roads you can slow down and see the beauty of your surroundings. It is then that the purpose of what you are doing starts to become clear. I want myself and all staff to find mastery in what we do, if that means slowing down then so be it. If it means speeding up then so be it.

I am as passionate as ever about our school working on thinking out of the box and empowering our students. I want us to prepare our students for graduation and post secondary success every minute of every day. What I also want is to encourage each and every one of you to take risks and to push yourself to try something new this year. You don't have to rush and feel pressure, but instead take time to really listen to your students. See what they need and what they haven't been exposed to yet. Then, take off on your creative journey as their teacher. Don't become complacent. When you find yourself having struggles or fears, reach out to a colleague and find support. We are an unbelievable school with an amazing staff. As every speaker noted at last year's graduation, we are a FAMILY for today and forever!!

Here is to an AMAZING 2015-2016 school year!