Giving Kindness is Free...

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What if everyday were similar to a day between Thanksgiving and New Year's? I ask this question because as I walked through the malls and stores this past weekend, it's ironic to me to see how many more kind and giving people you come across during this one month stretch. I find people saying please more frequently, I see people donating to causes, and I certainly hear the words "thank you" more often for simple gestures like letting someone go onto the escalator first. What would our society be like if every day were like this?

I ask this question because I wonder, does everyone suddenly change into some bizarro personality because that's what they think they are supposed to be during the holidays or do all of the really polite, well-mannered people suddenly emerge from hiding and spend time in public during this month? We all know manners, how to be respectful, how to treat others... so what is so hard about being that way every day? I am excited for our school's Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program to get off the ground in the coming weeks because it's about time we find more ways to acknowledge positive behavior. Too often, people don't do the little things in life because we feel like they may go unnoticed or not given praise. Maybe the praise and recognition we need is not external but internal. Perhaps the feeling that one gets when they do a small gesture of kindness or go out of their way to help another is what we need. We all know that society would be a better place with more random acts of kindness... it's time to stop preaching to the choir about it and start leading the orchestra.

Black Knight Kudos ...

Thank you to everyone who participated in any of our giving programs prior to Thanksgiving. What a great gesture as a school community to provide for others.

Congratulations to the Junior class for a well organized and attended Open Mic Night!!

This Week at RFA...

12/1 - Ed. Policy Committee Meeting
12/2 - STASS Meeting
12/2 - SBIT Meeting
12/2 - Faculty Meeting
12/2 - Board of Education Business Meeting
12/3 - NYSSMA Field Trip, All-State
12/5 - SAT Examination
12/5 - Robotics Competition @ RFA

Worth the Read...

Take a Moment to Self Reflect and Grow...

How often do we focus on the positive behaviors in our classrooms? More often than not, when a kid does something kind it goes unnoticed because as adults we know 'that's what they are supposed to be doing'. But they are still kids and they are still learning. Maybe instead of addressing every negative behavior and drawing more attention to an unruly situation, try spending a week making a big deal about every positive interaction or behavior. Go out of your way to say "thank you" to a kid that you witness doing something great, especially if you don't know them.

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